Due to unique characteristics such as their high strength-to-weight ratio (enabling light-weighting) and long durability, thermoset based composite materials provide significant advantages over conventional materials such as steel or aluminium. This makes them very attractive for a growing number of applications across sectors, ranging from aerospace and automotive to construction, railway, energy, and sports. The increasing diversity of applications, added to the unique improved characteristics these materials bring, has contributed to increasing the demand and production in Europe.
BIZENTE project presents an innovative solution to resolve the end-of-life of thermoset composites based on the development of a new technology focused on a controlled enzymatic biodegradation.
The main goal of the project is to demonstrate the potential of 3 groups of ligninases to resolve the end-of-life issues of the thermoset composites based on the selected thermoset resins (epoxy, unsaturated polyester and vinylester) by developing an enzymatic biodegradation technology.
BIZENTE has defined the requirements of conventional composites for industrial sectors (aeronautical, energy, construction, railway, etc.) according to the pre-selected thermoset resins matrixes. The knowledge on the chemistry and specificities of these materials will allow partners to better understand these materials and be able to establish the different soluble models and the type of modifications that enzymes will require. The requirements of these matrixes will be set as control or reference to be achieved in the development of valorised resins within the project too.
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