Recognizing the challenges faced by industry in moving towards a more sustainable product future, Dragonkraft Europe has launched a new bio-resin system for the composites, coatings and adhesives markets. The formulation can be used for many applications and the curing speed can be adjusted to suit user requirements. The system is said to produce a high strength flexible cured resin with a shrinkage and high temperature resistance. It adheres to many surfaces including wood, non-brittle finish. It is also reported to have excellent wet out and self-leveling properties, with low plastics, metals and fibreglass, making it a good alternative to two-pack epoxy adhesives. When compared to traditional resins it shows equivalent resistance to a number of common chemicals. Advantages offered include:

DSM has introduced Beyone™ 1, a new high performance resin system. This revolutionary resin combines excellent mechanical strength and fatigue resistance, ease of processing, and reduced impact on the environment. The Beyone™ 1 resin is a BluCure™ Product, is styrene-free as well as cobalt-free, and contains approximately 40 % of raw materials based on renewable resources. This resin is targeted at applications in building, infrastructure, marine and wind energy. Composite components need to provide structural integrity, while being exposed to high dynamic loads and fatigue. The resin is unique in that perspective, combining the great processing characteristics typical for polyester and vinyl ester resins, and excellent strength and fatigue resistance associated with epoxy resins. The low resin viscosity enables easy impregnation and high processing speeds, saving cost and yielding high process output. Close to 40% of the raw materials used for this resin are derived from renewable resources, diminishing considerably the ecological footprint and already clearing the way for continued supply in future when availability of fossil-based raw materials may be reduced.

Composites Evolution has introduced flax/PFA bioresin prepregs. PFA (Polyfurfuryl Alcohol) is a thermosetting bioresin derived from hemicellulose crop waste such as sugar cane bagasse and is similar in nature to a phenolic resin. Aside from its environmental credentials, PFA has fire retardant properties equivalent to phenolics, as well as excellent chemical resistance. These PFA high performance bioresin prepregs are based on aligned fabrics, which can be natural flax, glass or carbon, and are the result of over 4 years’ extensive research and development. The materials offer a combination of light weight, high mechanical properties, excellent fire retardant properties and low environmental impact. The prepregs can be consolidated by vacuum, autoclave or press and are designed for a range of applications in mass transport, aerospace, furniture and construction. The glass/PFA prepreg systems have been shown to have excellent fire resistance and are able to compete with glass-phenolics. The flax/PFA prepregs are 100% bio derived, as they are made using Biotex Flax fabrics to provide the levels of performance and processability normally associated with glass reinforced materials. This is the first time that PFA and Biotex have been combined in this way, giving the benefits of Biotex Flax material with a sustainable resin which does not have impact the food supply chain.