Cooperative project to develop bio-based thermoset molding compounds

SKZ Plastic Center, Süd-West-Chemie GmbH and Baumgarten Automotive Technics GmbH launched a cooperative project to develop free-flowing thermoset molding compounds based on renewable, bio-based materials that can be processed by injection molding.

The three-year project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMEL) as part of its “Renewable Raw Materials” program.

Cooperative project is launched to develope bio-based resins.

Two optimization strategies

The newly developed bio-based molding compounds will be used in technically demanding applications. It will therefore compete with petrochemical-based thermoset molding compounds and engineering thermoplastics.

The project pursues two optimization strategies in the development of bio-based molding compounds.

The first is to develop molding compounds with a bio-based content of at least 95%. Another is to develop molding compounds with the highest possible bio-based content, more than 70%, and an optimized property profile.

The mechanical properties and economic competitiveness of the developed bio-based compounds will also be evaluated.

Comprehensive cooperation for expansion of bio-economy

The cooperating companies have various responsibilities. SKZ is responsible for the synthesis and optimization of the bio-based resin systems as well as the formulation development and compounding of the molding compounds.

Süd-West-Chemie GmbH is in charge of developing a scale-up process, while Baumgarten Automotive Technics GmbH takes control of developing an injection molding process for the bio-based thermoset molding compound and producing demonstrator components.

The results of the project offer the possibility of replacing petrochemical-based thermosets with bio-based thermosets and contribute to the expansion of the bio- and bio-based economy in Germany.