IM20231EN

MYSTERY OF IRELAND’S CRUMBLING HOUSES SOLVED

WHY WAS ROMAN CONCRETE SO DURABLE?

KVK INNOVATION TOP 100

‘ROMAN’ SUN ROOF TILES

FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTE TO REUSABLE MATERIALS

About

Innovatieve Materialen

(Innovative Materials) is a digital, independent magazine about material innovation in the fields of engineering, construction (buildings, infrastructure and industrial) and industrial design.

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Gerard van Nifterik

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Drs. Petra Schoonebeek ps@innovatievematerialen.nl

Innovative Materials platform:

Dr. ir. Fred Veer, prof. ir. Rob Nijsse (Glass & Transparency Research Group, TU Delft), dr. Bert van Haastrecht (M2I), prof. Wim Poelman, dr. Ton Hurkmans (MaterialDesign), prof.dr.ir. Jos Brouwers, (Department of the Built Environment, Section Building Physics and Services TU Eindhoven), prof.dr.ir. Jilt Sietsma, (4TU.HTM/ Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (3mE), Kris Binon (Flam3D), Guido Verhoeven (Bond voor Materialenkennis/SIM Flanders, Prof. dr. ir. Christian Louter (TU Delft)

4 Swiss scientists solve mystery of Ireland’s crumbling houses

In County Donegal, Ireland, for years unstable concrete has caused massive damage to thousands of houses, leading to agitation, protests, demonstrations an even to disputes in Parliament. A government taskforce has been dealing with the issue since April 2016. However, Swiss experts from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) now believe they have found the cause.

6 Riddle solved: Why was Roman concrete so durable?

Scientists have been trying for decades to learn the secret of Roman concrete, particularly in structures that have endured harsh conditions, such as docks, sewers and seawalls, or structures built in seismically active sites. The material has been indestructible for two thousand years and the question is: ‘why is that?’

An international team of researchers now discovered that the Romans used strategies to make their concrete that provide several important self-healing properties. The trick is in using quicklime during mixing.

10 Super reefs of concrete

In Denmark, scientists and artists are currently working on an artificial reef made of newly developed concrete. The 'Super Rev' (Super Reefs) project aims to restore 55 square kilometres of reefs off the Danish coast.

18 KVK Innovation Top 100

Each year, KVK presents the KVK Innovation Top 100, a showcase full of successful innovations from small and medium-sized businesses. According to KVK, the strength of the Innovation Top 100, is to show what Dutch SMEs are capable of. The Chamber of Commerce Innovation Top 100 is deliberately not associated with a (money) prize. Over the past fifteen years, this prize has grown into the largest and most important innovation prize for SMEs. The new ranking was announced at the end of 2022 and contained a large number of innovations in the field of materials and material applications.

26

‘Roman’ sun roof tiles

At the end of December, the European POCITYF program paid attention to a special project in the Pompeii Archaeological Park. POCITYF is a European Union project to make historic cities greener, smarter and more liveable. The problem with historic sites is that it is difficult to make them more sustainable without coming into conflict with the aesthetic appearance of such a location. Solar panels on a roof of a Roman temple are of course not a sight. So why not 'invisible' roof tiles?

30 Changing shapes at the push of a button

Programmable materials can change their characteristics in a controlled and reversible way with the push of a button, independently adapting to fit new conditions. They can be used, for example, to make comfy chairs or mattresses that prevent bedsores.

32 From industrial waste to reusable materials

To make visible where industrial waste ends up. That was the challenge for PhD student Rusnė Šilerytė (TU Delft). This waste can often be reused, but that happens far too little. ‘Data are available; however, these should be looked at from a different perspective’, says recent PhD graduate Rusnė Šilerytė.

Cover: Novel Gray wins Sustainability Isola Design Award, page 8

Biochar: Capturing CO2 as insulation material

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology Empa, want to develop a novel type of insulating material from plant-based raw materials that can permanently bind CO2

A new research project by a team of scientists led by Jannis Wernery from Empa's Building Energy Materials and Components Lab is based on the idea of binding CO2 in newly developed insulation materials over the long term. The idea is to convert plant-based raw materials - ideally waste products from agriculture and forestry - into insulating materials for buildings. Most of the carbon bound in the biomass, can be permanently fixed by a special heat treatment. It remains bound in the resulting biochar throughout the life of the building - and even far beyond. Once the buildings have been deconstructed,

this ‘biochar’ can be used in agriculture to increase soil fertility. Unlike other plant-based building materials, such as wood or cellulose insulation, which release the stored CO2 again when they rot or are utilized thermally.

However, according to Wernery, there is still a lot to do before the idea can be put into practice. For instance, it is important to ensure that all the ingredients of the novel insulation materials are suitable for later use as ‘fertilizer’. In addition, a marketable insulation material must also be able to compete with existing insulation products in terms of thermal insulation and must also be fire-resistant.

Still, Wernery is convinced that biochar-based insulation could significantly improve Switzerland's CO2 balance in the future. An initial analysis has shown

that a realistic partial replacement of conventional insulating materials such as EPS or mineral wool with biochar could save a good half a million tons of CO2 equivalents annually.

This, by avoiding emissions during the production of the conventional materials, but also by long-term storage of CO2 in the biochar; which corresponds to more than one percent of Switzerland's total greenhouse gas emissions. According to Empa, the building sector is one of the most important drivers of global climate change. It is responsible for around 40 percent of global energy consumption, for 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for 36 percent of the waste generated in the EU.

More at Empa>

Biochar is to be used in construction as insulation material and can remove CO2 from the atmosphere (Image: Empa)

Sweden discovers Europe’s largest deposit of rare earth metals

Swedish mining company LKAB has identified significant deposits of rare earth elements in the Kiruna area. Metals which are essential for, among other applications, the manufacture of electric vehicles and wind turbines. LKAB said to have discovered one million tons of rare earth oxides at the so called Per Geijer deposit North of KLAB’s Kiruna mine area.

At the moment, no rare earth metals are being mined in Europe, while demand is expected to increase dramatically as a result of further electrification. According to the European Commission’s estimate, the demand for rare earth metals for electric cars and wind turbines is expected to increase more than fivefold by 2030. Europe is also dependent on the import of these minerals, where China completely dominates the market. There are fears that shortages of such materi-

als will hamper the global fight against CO2 emissions and climate change. LKAB has now started preparing a kilometre-long shaft at a depth of about 700 meters in the existing Kiruna mine to further investigate the deposits.

The plan is to be able to submit an application for an operating concession in 2023.

More at LKAB>

'More circular use of aggregates pays off'

If the circular use of aggregates were to be increased from seven to twenty percent, this could yield annual savings of €6 billion in Europe alone and 546 million tonnes of annually produced aggregates such as sand, gravel, crushed stone and other similar minerals.

Each year, Europe produces 4.2 billion tonnes of aggregates, but only seven percent of them are currently circular. In the new Urban Insight report 'Circular materials in infrastructure - The road to

a decarbonised future', Sweco shows that twenty percent is achievable and delivers enormous benefits. The costs and climate impact are reduced, the landscape is less affected because fewer quarries are needed, fewer (scarce) natural resources need to be used, less transport is needed and there is less pollution and CO2 emissions.

The report can be downloaded HERE>

Swiss scientists solve mystery of Ireland’s crumbling houses

In County Donegal, Ireland, for years unstable concrete has caused massive damage to thousands of houses, leading to agitation, protests, demonstrations an even to disputes in Parliament. A government taskforce has been dealing with the issue since April 2016.

So far, researchers assumed the problems were caused by an excessively high mica content in the concrete, which is believed to exacerbate frost damage. However, experts of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) believe the cause must be sought elsewhere. Detailed examinations of concrete samples from four affected houses showed that a mineral called pyrrhotite, consisting of iron and sulfur, is present in the building material in large proportionsand apparently triggers a disastrous cascade.

On November 15 last year, Andreas Leemann, head of Empa's research group Concrete Technology, gave a presentation in Letterkenny, where he explained the results of research into the unstable concrete. The research was carried out in collaboration with Ulster University.

When pyrrhotite in the cement paste of concrete is oxidized by oxygen, this releases sulfur, which in turn leads to the formation of ettringite. This mineral is formed anyway when cement hardens - but the additional ettringite formation leads to expansion, which eventually causes cracks in the concrete. If more sulfur is released, the mineral thaumasite is formed. This process reduces the strength of the concrete by dissolving important constituents such as calcium silicate hydrates, and

On site in Ireland: Empa researcher Andreas Leemann talks to the media about Empa's research results

(Image: Paul Dunlop/Ulster University)

can ultimately result in disintegration of the building material. Extensive research finally showed that frost didn’t play any, or at best a secondary role in the concrete damage. But why had the new explanation due to the pyrrhotite content and its consequences been overlooked before? According to Andreas Leemann, this possibility is simply not taken into account in the relevant Irish building regulation IS 465. In contrast, the corresponding EU standard EN 12620 stipulates that any pyrrhotite content in the building materials must be taken into account in the sulfur content.

Analyses of the aggregate of the concrete in samples from four houses showed that the sulfur values exceeded the permissi-

ble EU limit by a factor of four to seven. The damage (including compensation) is now estimated at three billion euros.

It has currently been announced that the most affected homeowners will receive - in a first step - up to € 20,000, for instance to move and find temporary accommodation or to store their belongings.

Text based on an article at empa.ch>

Mold infestation in one of the affected houses as a result of concrete damage to the walls (Image Andreas Leemann/Empa)

Ready for demolition: Damage to an affected house shows the extent of the construction crisis and highlights the looming cost of repairing it (Image: Andreas Leemann/Empa)

Riddle solved: Why was Roman concrete so durable?

Scientists have been trying for decades to learn the secret of Roman concrete, particularly in structures that have endured particularly harsh conditions, such as docks, sewers and seawalls, or

structures built in seismically active sites. The material has been indestructible for two thousand years and the question is: ‘why is that?’

An international team of researchers

now discovered that the Romans used strategies to make their concrete that provide several important self-healing properties. The trick is in using quicklime during mixing. The researchers traced the Roman process through so-called clasts, a type of lime inclusions that previous research dismissed as the result of careless mixing.

Studying samples of this ancient concrete, he and his team determined that the white inclusions were, indeed, made out of various forms of calcium carbonate. And spectroscopic examination provided clues that these had been formed at extreme temperatures, as would be expected from the exothermic reaction produced by using quicklime instead of, or in addition to, the slaked lime in the mixture. Hot mixing, the team has now concluded, was actually the key to the super-durable nature of Roman concrete.

According to the researchers, ‘hot mixing’ has two important advantages. First, when the overall concrete is heated to high temperatures, it allows che-

A large-area elemental map (Calcium: red, Silicon: blue, Aluminum: green) of a 2 cm fragment of ancient Roman concrete (right) collected from the archaeological site of Privernum, Italy (left). A calcium-rich lime clast (in red), which is responsible for the unique self-healing properties in this ancient material, is clearly visible in the lower region of the image (Credits:Courtesy of the researchers)

mistries that are not possible if you only used slaked lime, producing high-temperature-associated compounds that would not otherwise form. Second, this increased temperature significantly reduces curing and setting times since all the reactions are accelerated, allowing for much faster construction.

During the hot mixing process, the lime clasts develop a characteristically brittle nanoparticulate architecture, creating an easily fractured and reactive calcium source, which, as the team proposed,

could provide a critical self-healing functionality. As soon as tiny cracks start to form within the concrete, they can preferentially travel through the high-surface-area lime clasts. This material can then react with water, creating a calcium-saturated solution, which can recrystallize as calcium carbonate and quickly fill the crack, or react with pozzolanic materials to further strengthen the composite material. These reactions take place spontaneously and therefore automatically heal the cracks before they

Electricity from wood

Scientists of KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm have succeeded in generating electricity from wood by using water movements in the porous vascular structure, a process called transpiration in biology. Transpiration is the release of water vapor by plants (vegetation) to the atmosphere in their environment. Plants absorb water in a liquid form through their roots and lose water in a gaseous state through the stomata on the leaves. A small part of the water (about 1 percent) that is absorbed by the roots of the plant remains in the plant. The rest of the water transpires from the leaves into the atmosphere. However, the process also produces small amounts of electricity. The amount of electricity is affected by several factors, such as surface area, porosity (density), surface charge, how easily water can pass through the material, and the water solution itself. The KTH researchers have now tried to increase the yield of bioelectricity by using nano-engineering to optimize the properties of the wood. By treating the porous cellulose network of wood with sodium hydroxide and introducing some chemical functionalities, the voltage was found to be ten times higher than in ordinary wood. Further optimization of the pH difference between wood and water showed a remarkable output

power of 1.35 µW cm−2 is achieved. According to the researchers, the power generation can be easily scaled up by using larger samples or connecting smaller ones in series. The result of this work paves the way for the development of sustainable energy systems by using biomaterials through a scalable and green nanoengineering technology.

spread. Previous support for this hypothesis was found through the examination of other Roman concrete samples that exhibited calcite-filled cracks. The researchers think their discovery can make building with concrete more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Credits: MIT News>

1 MIT en Harvard University in de VS, DMAT (Italy), Istituto Meccanica dei Materiali (Switzerland)

The article ‘Advancing Hydrovoltaic Energy Harvesting from Wood through Cell Wall Nanoengineering’ was published in Advanced Functional Materials, November 2022. It is online>

More at KTH>

Upper left natural wood. The three pieces of wood on the right have undergone different types of treatments that increase the surface area and reduce the pores that allow for rapid water transport through the material (Photo: Jonas Garemark/Advancing Hydrovoltaic Energy Harvesting from Wood through Cell Wall Nanoengineering)

Novel Gray wins Sustainability Isola Design Award

Novel Gray was awarded with the Sustainability Award during the Milanese Isola Design Awards ceremony on January 23. Out of twelve categories: Furniture, Seating, Lighting, Tableware, Textile, Product, Material, Mobility, Sustainability, Digital, Outdoor, Innovation, Novel Gray received the Award for Sustainability.

Novel Gray uses geopolymers for its products, inorganic polymers, which, when activated, change into a chain of molecules with cement-like properties. Geopolymers have comparable properties to ordinary concrete, but a much lower CO2 load than cement, the main component of ordinary concrete. One kilogram of CO2 is released during the production of one kilo of cement; while this is virtually zero for geopolymers.

Geopolymers are made from local raw materials such as clay, river sludge, but also residual products from the steel industry and even from biobased residual products.

By using geopolymers, Novel Gray claims to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete by 76 percent. The tiles are cast in all kinds of shapes and are cured at room temperature, which also saves on curing energy.

Novel Gray was founded by Beton-Lab in 2022 as a label for exclusive, handmade wall tiles made of sustainable concrete. According to the designers, the wall tiles are not only distinguished by the durable material, but also by the special design and tactility.

Novel Gray/Beton lab>

ERC Consolidator Grant for Kunal Masania’s living composites

Associate Professor of Aerospace Structures and Materials, Dr Kunal Masania envisions a world where rigid, lightweight composite structural materials literally come to life. In doing so, he not only takes inspiration from nature when designing the microstructures of materials, he actually integrates living organisms into the material. This link with biology allows lightweight composite materials, as used for example in aerospace, to adapt themselves to conditions such as load or damage. The European Research Council has awarded Masania an ERC Consolidator Grant of €2 million for his research proposal AM-IMATE. This research on living composites can lead to ground breaking technology for making aviation more sustainable.

Biological materials constantly adapt effortlessly to their environment, among other things, due to their remarkable mechanical properties. Some fungi, for example, form incredibly elaborate networks that can repair themselves in no time if a connection is broken. Current engineering structural materials, such as

ERC Consolidator Grant

The ERC Consolidator Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they may still be consolidating their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific proposal. The research programmes run for five years.

lightweight composite materials used in aerospace, have limited ability to adapt and reinforce under load or to heal and repair in response to damage. For safety reasons, structures with these materials must always be extra sturdy - and therefore heavier than necessary.

The ERC Consolidator Grant enables Kunal Masania to apply the responsive power of biological systems to stiff, lightweight composite materials. As one of the first researchers in the world, Masania aims to create living composites for use in aerospace. With innovative manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, these materials can actually be produced.

Using living composites can contribute to making aviation more sustainable in two ways. The new microstructures make it possible to use other, more sustainable natural materials, such as wood. But in

addition, the self-repairing and adaptive ability of the materials can make stringent - and heavy - safety measures unnecessary and make for lighter aircraft. The work opens exciting new pathways that will surely revolutionise structures for mobility, wind and space.

Text: TU Delft>

Associate Professor of Aerospace Structures and Materials, Dr Kunal Masania

Super reefs of concrete

In Denmark, scientists and artists are currently working on an artificial reef made of newly developed concrete. The 'Super Rev' (Super Reefs) project aims to restore 55 square kilometres of reefs off the Danish coast. The driving force behind the project is an international group of artists - Superflex - who, together with the Technical University of Denmark

(DTU), are investigating whether it is possible to turn newly developed concrete into a stone reef. This is necessary because 8.3 million cubic meters of rock have been removed in the past 100 years to expand Danish ports and to produce concrete. According to a study by DTU Aqua, this is equivalent to removing 55 square kilometres of habitat for animals

and plants. The advantage of using concrete is that it is easy to form and is not only responsible for CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process, but also absorbs CO2 during its lifetime. This creates a chalky surface layer, resemblaning to the surface of coral reefs and therefore forms a natural breeding ground for marine animals.

The researchers at DTU have now tested three different concrete variants. A pigment was added to one concrete that turns the artificial reef pink, which Superflex says is the favourite colour of several organisms. Another concrete consists of cement with added recycled raw materials from the brick industry, resulting in a brown material. In the third concrete, the researchers partially replaced cement with high-fired Danish clay, which in this case creates an orange colour. The project partners are also investigating whether concrete from other projects can be reused.

DTU is also involved in a similar project (Living Port) in Puerto de Vigo, Portugal, collaborating with ECOncrete, a construction company that develops new

The researchers are testing three different concrete variants

concrete and concrete elements. The pilot project was funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 and recently won the 'Infrastructures' category at the World Sustainability Awards. Another project is being carried out in Køge, where DTU is helping to create a rich fish life on the seabed of Køge Bay, also by applicating concrete reefs.

The intention is that the projects will not only benefit marine life and increase biodiversity, but also that the construction industry can use the experience for future coastal protection projects, bridges, tunnels and offshore wind farms.

More at DTU>

Smart solar facade wins the Watt d’Or Energy Award

Solar facade panels developed by the group working under ETH Professor Arno Schlüter follow the sun’s position in the sky and in this way harvest more energy. The technology has now been awarded the Watt D'Or Energy Award

The Watt d'Or is granted each year in early January by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. It is awarded to the best performing energy innovation.

Just like sunflowers, the lightweight panels of the adaptive solar facade follow

the sun’s path and, in this way, maximise the amount of energy harvested. In the same way as smart blinds, they can also regulate a building’s exposure to sunlight. Depending on the outside temperature and a room’s use, they provide shade or let the sun’s rays through, thus saving energy that would otherwise be needed for heating or cooling.

Prototypes of the facade have already been used in Empa’s NEST innovation

building in Dübendorf1. The Startup firm Zurich Soft Robotics, founded at the start of 2022, is now working on bringing the façade paneld to market under the name of Solskin.

1 More on Empa’s NEST innovation building can be found HERE>

ETH Zurich>

(Foto: ETH Zürich / Arno Schlüter)

Faster, cheaper, cleaner: Low-Pressure Casting of aluminium parts eliminates process stage

Aluminium plays a key role in reducing the weight of a car and thus also helps to reduce fuel consumption. A modern car contains large amounts of aluminium and use of the metal is on the increase. A new casting technology, Low-Pressure Casting (LPC), developed in Norway, makes it possible to cast aluminium bolts with high-quality properties. Casting makes the production of aluminium car parts cheaper and more environmentally friendly and efficient.

It also reduces the amount of production scrap generated. The casting technology has been developed by the aluminium producer Hydro and is carried out under vacuum conditions. To research and demonstrate the capabilities of the technology, Norwegian research organization SINTEF and aluminum automotive manufacturer Raufoss Technology were invited to participate in Hydro's HyForge project. So far, according to the parties involved, the results are promising.

Extrusion

Currently, a car component production line is made up of several production steps, including casting, heat treatment, extrusion and the subsequent forging/ shaping process that ensures that the final product is fashioned with its intended shape. The new process eliminates the extrusion stage.

Currently, it is common for the industry to use extruded bolts in the production of suspension components. This is a costly, time- and energy-consuming process that also generates large volumes of waste. Recent research now shows that the new casting technique actually produces a high-quality material, with fewer defects and fully suitable for eliminating the extrusion phase from the production process. According to the parties involved, this is a breakthrough in the manufacture of aluminium car parts, because the process without the extrusion phase is both faster and cheaper.

The team then investigated how the cast material behaves and what properties it acquires during forging. In addition to laboratory tests, physical experiments have also been carried out in collaboration with the industrial partner of the project, Raufoss Technology. This involves the construction of a demonstrator of a production line for aluminium suspension components using cast materials.

Much more at SciTech >

More:

www.sintef.no.

www.raufosstechnology.com

HyForge project>

Researchers have discovered that aluminium suspension components can be manufactured using forged instead of extruded bolts. This will save time, energy, money and large volumes of waste materials (Photo: Raufoss Technologie)

Leading Event on Carbon Capture & Utilisation

Learn about the entire CCU value chain:

• Carbon Capture Technologies and Direct Air Capture

• CO2 for Chemicals, Proteins and Gases

• Advanced CCU Technologies, Artificial Photosynthesis

• Fuels for Transport and Aviation

• Green Hydrogen Production

• Mineralisation

• Power-to-X

Beyond Wall System wins Bouwbeurs Circularity Award

During BouwBeurs 2023, the Beyond Wall System, a collaboration between StoneCycling and Fassat Facade Systems, was chosen as the winner in the Circularity category.

The Beyond Wall system consists of several components. The ceramic facade cladding has a preformed bottom and top groove. The brick slips can be mechanically screwed to the wooden substructure using a modified PVC profile. This mechanical assembly also makes the brick slips easy to disassemble and reuse.

This mounting and dismounting system is combined with the WasteBasedSlips

and the BioBasedTiles from StoneCycling. The WasteBasedSlips consist of at least 60 percent selected construction waste such as washbasins and toilet bowls.

The BioBasedTile is a brick slip and tile that is made using bacteria, a process that has been developed in recent years by the American company Biomason. StoneCycling is the exclusive distributor of the BioBasedTile.

More at Fassat Geveltechniek>

More at StoneCycling>

New corrosion protection that repairs itself

ETH Zurich (ETHZ) researchers have developed an extraordinary protection against corrosion after a chance discovery. It glows in places where it is not damaged, repairs itself - and can be reused multiple times.

Worldwide, all countries together spend about 3.5 percent of their gross domestic product annually on corrosion protection, which amounts to about $ 4,000 billion: a huge problem.

Researchers at ETH Zurich's Laboratory of Multifunctional Materials have now come up with a new solution. In recent years they have developed a plastic that can greatly improve and simplify corrosion protection. The trick: polyphenylene methylene, PPM.

When mixed as paint and heated, PPM can be sprayed onto a surface and becomes solid. The polymer indicates holes and cracks in the protective layer by failing to fluoresce. What’s more, it repairs any damage itself without further external intervention. And at the end of a product’s life, the polymer can be completely removed and recycled with only minimal material loss. The recycled polymer can then be applied to another surface with no loss in its special properties and functions.

The discovery was purely accidental. About ten years ago, researchers at ETHZ were working on the production of nanoparticles in a special organic

solvent. Under certain conditions, the solvent became solid: it surprisingly polymerised. They discovered that the polymer - known as PPM - had another interesting property in addition to its high thermal stability: it fluoresced even though conventional knowledge suggested it should not be fluorescent at all. They started to refine the material and improved the polymer’s synthesis. After that, doctoral student Marco D’Elia, was given the task of finding a useful application for PPM. And that’s what happened.

Laboratory tests revealed that a PPMbased coating protects metals, especially aluminium, well against corrosion The coating can be applied in layers that are up to ten times thinner than conventional protective equipment. Moreover, the polymer seals any damage to the coating by itself.

According to ETHZ, PPM is also more sustainable than previous corrosion protection materials because it can be completely removed and recycled at the end of the product’s life. While some polymer material is lost in the process, the recycling rate is very high at 95 percent. In their tests, the researchers were able to reuse the material five times.

Studies on the sustainability of PPMbased corrosion protection also show that the polymer performs better than epoxy-based corrosion protection materials when it comes to both environmental impact and human health.

The article ‘Smart Anticorrosion Coatings Based on Poly(phenylene methylene): An Assessment of the Intrinsic Self-Healing Behavior of the Copolymer’ was published las February in Polymers. It is online>

More at ETHZ>

Fluorescent corrosion protection on a metal plate. (Photograph: Marco D’Elia/ETH Zurich)

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MAKE IT MATTER

MAKE IT MATTER is compiled in collaboration with MaterialDistrict (MaterialDistrict.com). In this section new, and/or interesting developments and innovative materials are highlighted.

Duplicor biobased composite

Duplicor is a fully bio-based composite (building) material. Manufactured from from agro-waste an a 100% natural resin. It is virtually non-flammable, lightweight, CO2-saving and up to four times lighter than aluminium structures and even up to 15 times lighter than concrete. Duplicor is the first composite without a fire retardant in the highest Euro fire class B S1 D0. Foam cores made from recycled PET bottles, old plastic packaging, bio-based cork or recycled cardboard.

K-BRIQ

More at MaterialDistrict>

Kenoteq, a Scottish spin-out from Heriot-Watt University, developed a brick - the so-called K-BRIQ - made of recycled construction waste that has a carbon footprint of less than 5% of a traditional clay brick. Traditional bricks have a large carbon footprint because the clay has to be fired at high temperatures. The brick is not fired at high temperatures, and it does not require cement and large amounts of clay. K-BRIQ can be used for the same applications as traditional bricks, both interior and exterior.

More at MaterialDistrict>

TECU copper cladding

Durable TECU copper products from KME offer many unique possibilities. The striking natural surfaces in copper and copper alloys allow for singular design. Prefabricated system elements present a wide range of solutions, from free-form designs to the simple and economic cladding of larger areas. TECU products for the exterior cladding of buildings are made exclusively of copper and copper alloys. All TECU Classic, TECU Oxid and TECU Patina products are entirely made from 100% recycled material.

More at MaterialDistrict>

Sustaign’s unique panels

Sustaign is a design studio and a small production house that creates unique handmade, super-sized panels. The small-scale production and innovative techniques create a unique range of sustainable panels, made entirely of used plastic. Sustaign gives used plastics qualities that are comparable to highquality classic materials such as stone, marble and ceramics.

Molelk

More at MaterialDistrict>

Six to eight million metric tons of shell waste gets generated by the food industry every year. Most of this ends up in landfill. Molelk is a composite material that is made of seafood waste. This new material gives waste a new lease of life on land, not in landfill.

Wood stone

More at MaterialDistrict>

Originally developed for wood repairs, Woodstone can be shaped into a wide variety of useful products. Examples of applications include tiles, window-frames or even furniture. The crystalline structure of limestone acts as a filter where microscopic particles are trapped within the pores through adsorption. Combined with fine plant fibres for softness and flexibility, it is suitable for a broad range of applications.

Soily

More at MaterialDistrict>

Soily is an earth-like textured tile. The main components are old, unused terracotta tiles from the Soviet era in Lithuania and local soil applied to the latter in a specific way, creating a varying rough texture. Depending on the soil’s location, such qualities as shade and roughness of the tile surface differ bringing a unique character to the tile.

More at MaterialDistrict>

KVK Innovation top 100 2022

Each year, KVK presents the KVK Innovation Top 100, a showcase full of successful innovations from small and medium-sized businesses. According to KVK, the strength of the Innovation Top 100, is to show what Dutch SMEs are capable of. The Chamber of Commerce Innovation Top 100 is deliberately not associated with a (money) prize. Over the past fifteen years, this prize has grown into the largest and most important innovation prize for SMEs. The new ranking was announced at the end of 2022 and contained a large number of innovations in the field of materials and material applications.

Seenons: Together for a world without waste

Amsterdam based Seenons took second place KVK Innovation Top 100. Seenons helps companies to make their waste circular in five steps. Companies can register a waste stream in the Seenons app and choose a time to have it collected. Seenons finds the most suitable carrier and efficient route to collect the waste. The carrier takes this to a local waste processor, which uses it as raw material for new materials or products.

https://seenons.com/

GSF Glasgroep Circulair isolation glass

During renovations, a lot of old glass is often thrown away. A shame, says GSF Glasgroep BV. As the very first company in the world, they have developed a method to reuse old insulating glass that is still technically sound. The method consists of removing, disassembling and cleaning old glass and then insulating it again. For example, in this way insulating glass that no longer meets current insulation requirements can be reused. With their new technology, GSF ensures that approximately 70 percent of the glass they dismantle can be used in a fully circular manner. The reuse of existing glass ensures that no ex-

traction of new raw materials is necessary, prevents emissions from melting furnaces for glass production. Depending on the type of glass, this leads to a CO2 reduction of 42 - 95 percent, according to GSF.

The GSF Glasgroep method was rewarded with the fifth place.

https://iso-max.nl/

The Good Roll Sustainable bamboo toilet paper

Worldwide, 2.3 billion people do not have access to safe and clean toilets. In addition, 27,000 trees are cut down worldwide every day for the production of toilet paper. These two frustrating facts were the reason for The Good Roll: fully made bamboo, sourced from various small farms from different regions in Ghana. There, the bamboo is also processed into paper. The advantage of bamboo is that it absorbs on average five times more CO2 and produces 35 percent more oxygen comparing to the same amount of trees. The cultivation of bamboo for the production of toilet paper therefore also helps to reduce CO2 In addition, the bamboo toilet paper is 100 percent biodegradable in water and contains no chemicals.

With this initiative, The Good Roll company wants to be the first fair trade bamboo toilet paper factory in the world and strengthen the economy of Ghana. What’s more, half of the net profit that The Good Roll makes is used for clean toilets on the African continent.

The Good Roll came in sixth place in the Innovation top 100.

https://thegoodroll.com/nl/

CarbonX

No less than 80 percent of the CO2 emissions from car tires occur during use; not during production. Yet most sustainable initiatives mainly focused on that production phase. For that reason, CarbonX developed a new carbon material for car tires, which greatly reduces emissions while driving. According to the company, this can save 600 million tons of CO2 per year worldwide.

The CarbonX carbon material ensures lower rolling resistance, better wear resistance and more grip. This not only leads to less CO2 emissions while driving, but also to lower fuel costs. The tires made of this material also last longer, which ensures that fewer microplastic particles end up in the environment. CarbonX is composed of nano-sized carbon filaments which are chemically connected to form a three-dimensional mi-

GSF Glasgroep: Circulair isolatio glass

The Good Roll: Sustainable bamboo toilet paper CarbonX

Video

INNOVATIVE MATERIALS

cron-sized network. This extraordinary structure makes it possible to combine properties in new ways, the key to unlocking new design possibilities that can deliver both high performance and greater sustainability.

Moreover, CarbonX is a carbon negative material: the production of one ton of CarbonX can ultimately save up to 66 tons of CO2 emissions in use.

The CarbonX company was founded in 2014 by Rutger van Raalten and Daniela Sordi in collaboration with TU Delft. Within two years they managed to scale up their company to worldwide production.

CarbonX was sixteenth in the KVK Innovation top 100 https://carbonx.nl/meet-carbonx/

VanHier

Building materials from natural residual flows

In the Netherlands, every year around 700 million kilos of sheet material end as waste due to its low recyclability. At the same time, many tons of green waste are thrown away every year. That is why VanHier developed BioM: a sheet material made from natural residual trash.

BioM is a 100 percent natural, mouldable, recyclable and compostable sheet material. It can be used for finishing furniture and walls. BioM is made entirely from natural Dutch residual flows (agricultural, horticultural and natural waste) and fast-growing crops, such as elephant grass.

According to VanHier, using BioM as a building material can not only help with the transition to a circular economy, but also promote local employment. The residual flows are processed as close as possible to the source and the sheet material is also used locally. In addition, growing fast-growing crops in peat meadow areas (wet cultivation) raises the groundwater level to prevent soil subsidence.

Van Hier's initiative took the 24th place.

https://van-hier.com/

Xylotrade

Environmentally friendly wood coating

Xylotrade BV took 28th place in the KVK Innovation Top 100 2022 with an environmentally friendly wood coating developed by the company. Xylotrade focuses on the development and production of wood coatings, which consist entirely of natural and local raw materials. The company developed Fungi Force Biofinish, a fully circular wood coating based on natu-

CarbonX

VanHier: Building materials from natural residual flows

VanHier: Building materials from natural residual flows

Video Van Hier

rally occurring fungi. By growing these organisms on wood impregnated with linseed oil, a living biofilm is created, which makes the use of toxic substances superfluous and protects the wood for a long time. However, research has shown that certain fungi on wood do not affect the substrate, but protect it against environmental influences, such as UV radiation and moisture. The Biofinish also does not peel, retains its colour for a long time and has good fire-resistant properties. The biofilm formed by Fungi Force Biofinish not only protects the wood, but is also self-healing. When the effectiveness and colour of the biofilm decreases, it can easily be restored by applying a layer of linseed oil as a breeding ground.

https://www.xyhlo.com/

The Bamboovement Plastic-free disposable razors

Five billion disposable razor blades are used every year. Together they account for about 40 million kilos of plastic waste. For the past three years, Bamboovement has been working on the design of a sustainable variant. The result: the world's most natural, virtually plastic-free (99 percent) disposable razor.

In the search for plastic-free materials, they eventually ended up with residual products from the wood industry. This solves two problems in one fell swoop: unnecessary plastic use and the associated plastic waste, but also a new life for waste wood material.

It earned Bamboovement 36th place in the Innovation top 100 2022.

https://bamboovement.com/

Martens Keramiek Facades made of residual waste

Martens Keramiek BV developed Kerloc, a biobased ceramic, 100 percent circular facade cladding. The material is made of residual waste from agriculture, horticulture and forestry, which is petrified in a special way.

Kerloc is produced without an oven. As soon as water is added to the mixture of residual waste and minerals, an exothermic chemical reaction occurs, releasing heat which is sufficient for the petrification process an ensures the material has a favourable CO2 footprint compared to other facade cladding materials. As far as is known, Martens Keramiek BV is the only party worldwide that has developed this process and is already marketing the product.

Kerloc's facade cladding can be completely reused and the company offers a return guarantee so that the material can be returned to Martens after use, which will reuse it completely (and indefinitely) within its own production process. The jury honored Kerloc with 49th place.

https://martensgroep.eu/

Xylotrade: Environmentally friendly wood coating

The Bamboovement: Plastic-free disposable razors

Facades made of residual waste

Healix Circular solution for discarded ropes

The plastic soup is increasing at an ominous rate. The culprits are ropes, nets and twine used in the maritime and agricultural sectors. Healix recycles this plastic fibre waste into high-quality granulate (solid material in granular form) for the technical textile industry. Healix collects, sorts, shreds, washes and melts plastic fiber waste back into recycled granulate. This can then be used for (new) applications for the global production chain. As a result, Healix offers its customers/users the option of choosing recycled plastic as a raw material for new products instead of 'virgin' plastic that is made from oil, which releases a lot of CO2 emissions.

In the KVK top 100, Healix was awarded with the 50th place.

https://healix.eco/

Tilesystems

Water-permeable paving stones

Climate change causes heavy showers and dry periods to alternate more and more often. This causes flooding problems, because the large amounts of water can no longer be processed by traditional water drainage systems. In addition, less water ends up in the subsoil, which leads to drought. ZOAK (very open waste ceramic) paving from Tilesystems BV offers a solution for this.

ZOAK is a recyclable, climate-resistant, water-permeable paving, made from ceramic waste. Where other pavement stones are often water-passing, ZOAK absorbs the rainwater, ending up in the underlying buffer system, after which it is released to the subsoil. In this way, not in the sewer. Because these tiles and clinkers work like a sponge, which retain rainwater, ZOAK paving gets less hot. On a hot day, ZOAK can be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than similar types of pavement. Tilesystems came in 52nd place in the Innovation top 100 with ZOAK

(See also Innovative Materials number 2020, volume 1.)

https://tilesystemx.com

IMPACD Boats

3D printed sustainable sloop

IMPACD Boats earned 66th place in KVK Innovation Top 100 2022 with 3D printed sustainable sloops made from recycled material, such as PET bottles and household waste. A seven-meter sloop is printed with computer-controlled precision in 77 hours. The hull is then completed with a whisper-quiet electric motor, cabling, floor, console, sprayhood and flag. A life cycle assessment, carried out in collaboration with TU Delft, showed that the sloops are 74 percent more sustainable compared to the traditional industry standard.

The explanation for this is that the boats consist of recycled material and that they are also fully recyclable at the end of their technical life cycle. The sloops are equipped with a quiet, powerful and, above all, clean electric motor, making them in-

Healix: Circular solution for discarded ropes

Tilesystems: Water-permeable paving stones

IMPACD Boats: 3D printed sustainable sloop

dependent on fossil fuels and therefore do not pollute nature and the environment with liquids such as oil, petrol or diesel. (See also Innovative Materials 2021 volume 3.)

https://impacdboats.com/

Drystack

Dry stacking of bricks

Drystack is a new method of bricklaying: a construction method in which structures are built from bricks without mortar to attach them. According to the manufacturer, Drystack is a solution for circular construction with minimal CO2 emissions. Each Drystack brick has eight holes at the top and bottom. A plastic strip with studs is placed over these holes, which fit exactly into these gaps, making it easy to stack the bricks without using mortar.

This gave Drystack 68th place in the Innovation top 100 2022. (See also Innovative Materials 2020 volume 1.)

https://drystack.nl/

Cyclups Creation

The new non-plastic

Cyclups Creation developed a new non-plastic: Plantastiq (PLQ). It is made from residual waste from grain, is completely biodegradable and compostable.

The company uses used agricultural wheat straw waste, which would normally be incinerated, as the raw material for their products. PLQ is a granulate made from 50 percent wheat straw and 50 percent lignin (wood dust) and cellulose from trees and bamboo. Meanwhile, there are four different PLQ variants. PLQ 1 is suitable for packaging, films and other thin applications. PLQ 2 is for more flexible applications such as drinking straws. PLQ 3 is suitable for harder applications such as cutlery and rigid packaging. Finally, PLQ4, which is comparable to other hard forms of plastic and is therefore very widely applicable.

Cyclups Creation earned the 79th place in the Innovation top 100 with the new material.

https://cyclups.com/

CEYES BV

Circular roof panel

CEYES BV occupied 82nd place in the KVK Innovation Top 100 2022 with a circular roof panel, made from discarded car tire rubber used in artificial turf fields. The so-called CE Green City roof panel from CEYES is used for green roofs in the city, which help to lower the temperature and also absorb CO2 and particulate matter.

The production of CE Green City roof panel starts with discarded tires that are ground into granulate, which in turn is used for artificial turf fields. An artificial turf field has a lifespan of twelve years and contains approximately 120 tons of rubber granules. When the old artificial turf is recycled, the rubber

Drystack: Dry stacking of bricks

Cyclups Creation: The new non-plastic

CEYES BV: Circular roof panel

granule remains. This forms the basis for the circular roof panels from CEYES. With a lifespan of over hundred years, the roof panel is an environmentally friendly solution according to CEYES and the panel itself is also 100 percent recyclable. According to the manufacturer, the CE Green City panel also offers a solution against heat stress. After a rain shower, about 20 litres of water remain in the panel. Under dry conditions, the water evaporates and provides a cooling effect on a summer day. In addition, the material has insulating capacities and a high noise reduction. The CO2 footprint of the rubber panels is approximately four times lower than plastic panels.

https://ceyes.eu/

MMP-ECO

Ecological impregnating agent

Building facades are constantly exposed to the elements. In particular, the penetration of rainwater contributes to weathering and the action of salts, acids and micro-organisms. A good impregnating agent prevents the disturbance of the moisture balance. MMP-ECO developed an ecological, 100 percent natural, impregnating agent, without harmful additives, which has no health risks and does not cause environmental damage. Moreover, according to the manufacturer, it does not contribute to CO2 emissions and global warming. MMP-ECO was initially developed to preserve Flemish and Dutch cultural heritage. But in the meantime facade restoration companies use it for all other buildings that have to deal with weathering and moisture problems. The company thus achieved 98th place in the Innovation top 100 2022.

www.mmp-eco.nl/

The entitre KGK Innovation Top 100 can be found at: www.kvkinnovatietop100.nl/site/home

CEYES BV: Circular roof panel

MMP-ECO: Ecological impregnating agent

Artificial leaf produces hydrogen from air

EPFL scientists have developed a solar-powered artificial leaf capable of extracting water from the air and converting it into hydrogen. The system is based on newly developed electrodes that have two important key characteristics: they are porous, to maximize contact with water in the air; and transparent, to maximize sunlight exposure of the semiconductor coating. When the device is simply exposed to sunlight, it takes water from the air and produces hydrogen gas.

The EPFL engineers took inspiration from photosynthesis: the way plants manage to convert sunlight into chemical energy. The sunlight’s energy is stored in the form of chemical bonds inside of the sugars and starches. The EPFL researchers designed a similar process using specially developed transparent gas diffusion electrodes. When coated with a light harvesting semiconductor material, the system indeed acts like an artificial leaf, whit the difference that it’s harvesting water from the air and sunlight to produce hydrogen gas. The sunlight’s energy is stored in the form of hydrogen bonds. Previous research had shown that it is possible to achieve artificial photosyn-

thesis with so-called photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells that work with an aqueous solution. But for practical purposes, this process has drawbacks; for instance, it

is complicated to make large-area PEC systems. The researchers at EPFL wanted to show that the PEC technology could be adapted to extract water from the air instead, which led to the development of their new gas diffusion electrode. It had also been shown that electrochemical cells (fuel cells) work with gases instead of liquids, but the gas diffusion electrodes used previously are opaque and not compatible with PEC solar energy technology. Now, the researchers are focusing their efforts into optimizing the system.

Credits: epfl.ch>

The results are published on 4 January 2023 in Advanced Materials. The article ‘Transparent Porous Conductive Substrates for Gas-Phase Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production‘ is online>

Kevin Sivula of EPFL’s Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Optoelectronic Nanomaterials and principal investigator of the study

In order to make transparent gas diffusion electrodes, the researchers start with a type of glass wool, which is essentially quartz (also known as silicon oxide) fibers and process it into felt wafers by fusing the fibers together at high temperature (Photo: Alain Herzog, EPFL)

‘Roman’ sun roof tiles

At the end of December, the European POCITYF program paid attention to a special project in the Pompeii Archaeological Park. POCITYF is a European Union project to make historic cities greener, smarter and more liveable. The problem with historic sites is that it is difficult to make them more sustainable without coming into conflict with the aesthetic appearance of such a location. Solar panels on a roof of a Roman temple are of course not a sight. So why not 'invisible' roof tiles?

Pompeii of course is famous for the ruins created by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, which provide a powerful picture of an ancient Roman city. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. But an archaeological park also wants to participate in the current energy transition trend, and that is not easy. Installing solar panels for instance would simply ruin the antique look. In 2016, the Italian Ministry of Culture and the National Research Council Con-

siglio Nazionale delle Ricerche d'Italia signed an agreement to develop innovation programs, especially related to the cultural heritage and tourism sector. Like Pompeii. And so, within the framework of the agreements made, a special project was set up under the name Smart@ POMPEI. Initially, the initiative was intended to develop a smart security infrastructure; innovative but without compromising the artistic and historical elements. This led to a fiber optic net-

work and a range of sensors and cameras that had to guarantee the well-being of the monuments and visitors.

In a Smart@Pompei context, the project leaders also came into contact with Dyaqua, a small Italian family business from Camisano Vicentino, twenty kilometers northwest of Padua. The company had developed a special type of photovoltaic panel, in the form of an antique Roman roof tile and specially designed for historic buildings. The company calls it

(Photo: Dyaqua)

'Invisible Solar' and according to Dyaqua, each module is not just a photovoltaic module, but an active architectural element in all respects and with different functions.

Aesthetic appearance

According to the Dyaqua website, the operation of the Invisible Solar modules is based on the principle of low molecular density. Each module is formed with a non-toxic and recyclable polymeric compound, specially processed to boost the absorption of photons. Inside, normal monocrystalline silicon cells are built into the module. The surface is opaque to the eye and transparent to the sun's rays. It conducts light that is converted into electricity by the solar cells. In this case, the module is designed as an indistinguishable Roman roof tile, but

according to the manufacturer, Invisible Solar can take on the appearance of the main building materials: terracotta, stone, cement and wood. In this manner, the aesthetic appearance of the building or landscape is preserved, thanks to a system that is able to replace the usual roof, cladding and floor elements in terms of functionality as well.

POCITYF

Project POCITYF was set up by the European Union to make historic cities greener, smarter and more liveable. Together with Évora (Portugal), Alkmaar is a 'lighthouse city' or an example city. The two exemplary cities apply different sustainable solutions, which other historic cities in Europe can learn from. They then also apply those sustainable solutions. The other participating cities are Bari (Italy), Celje (Slovenia), Granada (Spain), Hvidovre (Denmark), Ioannina (Greece) and Ujpest (Hungary).

https://pocityf.eu/

Heritage

Dyaqua's customers are mainly municipalities, which own buildings and face artistic or architectural constraints, for the simple reason that they are dealing with a monument. 'Invisible Solar' PV tiles have now been approved by the Italian Ministry of Culture and have also been installed elsewhere. There are plans to

Instruction video Dyaqua,

(Illustration: Dyaqua)

use them in Maxxi, the national museum of contemporary art in Rome.

According to POCITYF, solutions such as the traditional PV tiles from Dyaqua are crucial to combine sustainability and preservation, protection and improvement of heritage.

‘One key aspect is to look at the cultural sites, ancient buildings, and historic cities not as obstacles, but as assets for reducing our carbon emissions,’ says architect and postdoc Francesca Giliberto on the POCITYF website. Giliberto is a researcher at the University of Leeds specializing in cultural heritage conservation and management, urban planning and sustainable development. The challenge, she says, is not to mutilate historic buildings for contemporary purposes, but to see them as an opportunity to

develop and apply innovative solutions, with respect for cultural heritage.

In an article on the POCITYF website, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, points out the importance of a Pompeii-like approach. The so-called House of Cerere now has a roof with Roman PV tiles and, according to Zuchtriegel, no one can tell the difference. They look just like the terracotta tiles used by the Romans, but produce the electricity the park needs to light the frescoes. According to the park director, the current project is only the beginning. From now on, the park wants to take this solution into account in all future renovation and restoration projects. PV tiles were also installed in the Thermopolium and recently in the Domus Vettiorum

(House of the Vettii). ‘We are an archaeological site,’ says Zuchtriegel to POCITYF, ‘but we also want to be a real-life lab for sustainability and valorization of intangible heritage.’

According to Zuchtriegel, the project is therefore not only symbolic, but also a sign that cultural heritage can be managed differently and more sustainably. Solutions such as the traditional PV tiles in Pompeii are also planned to be tested in POCITYF projects in Bari (Italy), Ioannina (Greece), Granada (Spain), Celje (Slovenia), Hvidovre (Denmark) and Újpest (Hungary).

More at pocityf.eu>

www.dyaqua.it/

Material District Utrecht 2023

With 150 exhibitors, an exhibition with 250 materials and a lecture programme with 50 speakers, MaterialDistrict Utrecht will once again be full of material inspiration from 8 to 10 March 2023, again in Werkspoorkathedraal Utrecht. The event is fully committed to the circular economy.

Dates & opening hours MaterialDistrict Utrecht 2023

Wednesday, 8 March, 2023: 10.00 – 18.00 h

Thursday, 9 March, 2023: 10.00 – 18.00 h

Friday, 10 March, 2023: 10.00 – 17.00 h

Destroying PFAS by grinding it up with a new additive

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are potentially harmful substances known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they are so difficult to destroy. One emerging technique to degrade sediment contaminated with PFAS involves forcefully grinding it with metal balls in a moving container, but this technique can require corrosive additives. Now, researchers of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, USA reported in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters a new type of additive for ‘ball milling’ that completely breaks down PFAS at ambient temperature and pressure. The conventional ball milling process mixes PFAS and additives with metal balls at high speeds. Collisions between the balls and additives create solid-state reactions that break the carbon-fluorine bonds on PFAS and convert them to less harmful products. A common additive for this process is potassium hydroxide (KOH), but it forms problematic clumps and is corrosive. To overcome these limitations, the scientists turned to boron nitride, a piezoelectric material that generates partial electrical charges and can accept electrons when deformed by mechanical forces. By optimizing the ratio of boron nitride to PFAS, the team almost completely removed the fluorine atoms from PFAS in four hours at ambient temperature and pressure, effectively destroying it. Boron nitride was found to break down PFAS even more efficiently than when KOH was used.

Further analyses suggest that boron nitride accepts electrons and fluorine atoms from PFAS, which then breaks into fluoroalkyl radical species that react with oxygen or other radicals to ultimately produce innocuous minerals. This new method could open the door for future mechanical-force-based PFAS remediation strategies, say the researchers.

More at ACS>

‘Solvent-Free Nonthermal Destruction of PFAS Chemicals and PFAS in Sediment by Piezoelectric Ball Milling’ was published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, January 2023>

Photos of 20 mmol of Boron nitride co-milled with 2 g of sediment (left) and 20 mmol of KOH co-milled with 2 g of sediment (right) after 6h of Ball Milling treatment

Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Programmable Materials CPM

Changing shapes at the push of a button

Programmable materials can change their characteristics in a controlled and reversible way with the push of a button, independently adapting to fit new conditions. They can be used, for example, to make comfy chairs or mattresses that prevent bedsores. This type of programmable material is being developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Programmable Materials CPM, who plan to bring it to the market with the help of industry partners. In the future, it should be possible to

avoid bedsores with the help of materials that can be programmed to entirely adapt their form and mechanical properties. For example, the body support of mattresses made from programmable materials can be adjusted in any given area at the push of a button. Furthermore, the support layer is formed in such a way that strong pressure on one point can be distributed across a wider area. Areas of the bed where pressure is placed are automatically made softer and more elastic. Caregivers can also

adjust the ergonomic lying position to best fit their patient.

Materials and microstructuring

Materials for applications requiring specific changes to stiffness or shape are being developed by researchers from Fraunhofer CPM, which is formed of six core institutes with the aim of designing and producing programmable materials. So, how can we program materials?

According to Dr. Heiko Andrä, there are two key areas where adjustments can be

Left: Unit cell made up of structural elements; Center: Material structure comprised of multiple cells; Right: 3D-printed demonstrator

made: the base material - thermoplastic polymers in the case of mattresses and metallic alloys for other applications, including shape memory alloys - and, more specifically, the microstructure. Dr. Heiko Andrä is spokesperson on the topic at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, one of the Fraunhofer CPM core institutes. The microstructure of these metamaterials is made up of unit cells that consist of structural elements such as small beams and thin shells. While the size of each unit cell and its structural elements in conventional cellular materials, like foams, vary randomly, the cells in the programmable materials are also variable - but can be precisely defined, i.e., programmed. This programming can be made, for example, in such a way that pressure on a particular position will result in specific changes at other regions of the mattress, i.e., increase the size of the contact surface and provide optimal support to certain areas of the body.

Materials can also react to temperature or humidity

The change in shape that the material should exhibit and the stimuli to which it reacts - mechanical stress, heat, moisture or even an electric or magnetic field - can be determined by the choice of material and its microstructure. ‘The programmable materials allow to adapt products to the specific application or person so that they are more multifunctional than before,’ says Franziska Wenz, of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, another core institute of Fraunhofer CPM. ‘As such, they do not need to be swapped out as often. It is particularly interesting in the context of material saving and sustainability,’

Application

The goal of Fraunhofer CPM is to reduce the complexity of systems by integrating their functionalities into the material and reducing material diversity. A single

piece of material can take the place of entire systems of sensors, regulators and actuators.

The initial pilot projects with industry partners are also already underway. The research team expects that initially, programmable materials will act as replacements for components in existing systems or be used in special applications such as medical mattresses, comfortable chairs, variable damping shoe soles and protective clothing.

Fraunhofer expects such materials to be applicable everywhere from medicine and sporting goods to soft robotics and even space research.

Text Fraunhofer>

Left: Unit cell made up of structural elements; Center: Material structure comprised of multiple cells; Right: 3D-printed demonstrator

From industrial waste to reusable materials

To make visible where industrial waste ends up. That was the challenge for PhD student Rusnė Šilerytė (TU Delft). This waste can often be reused, but that happens far too little. ‘Data are available; however, these should be looked at from a different perspective’, says recent PhD graduate Rusnė Šilerytė.

Until recently, governments and companies in many Western countries were not really interested in turning industrial waste disposal into reuse materials if this disposal had no environmental consequences. ‘However, scarcity of basic materials, partly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, now brings the urgency of reuse to the fore’, Šilerytė says, now a specialist about industry waste flows. According to her, we should focus on materials we need instead of simply extending the lifetime of any waste.

Taking a different look at waste

To prevent waste from being produced in the first place, governments find themselves in need of circular economy monitors. A lot of waste transport and disposal data are being collected in detail, if this waste doesn’t cross the border. Waste is thus a well-regulated topic, at least in EU countries. ‘But this is explicitly undertaken to register the harm this waste causes and to prevent environmental pollution. Now that we

are making the transition to a circular economy, we also need to look at waste that is not labelled as harmful as it has the potential to re-integrate into our economy. You can make this transition

using the present data collection process including new information.’

As about half of all industrial waste is construction waste, this sector is a potentially large contributor to a circular

Šilerytė developed a web application to find out what waste is being produced, where it goes and what the options of this waste are

economy. ‘Take concrete waste, which is mostly being used as road foundations. While this solves the problem of its disposal, it is not a circular solution as the road will also eventually become waste and then you cannot make anything better out of it. Data collection should therefore also include the quality of concrete. It should be clear whether it is fit for reusing it for its primary function. It’s just a matter of including reuse options in the mandatory waste administration forms that are already in use. I am convinced that a lot of concrete and other construction materials can be prevented from being downgraded to rubble.’

Interactive waste transport flow maps

The result of Šilerytė’s research is the ability of waste mapping. Using all the registrations at her disposal, she managed to produce national waste transport flows on interactive maps. ‘Many flows that you and I are not aware of sudden-

ly became visible. Waste turns out to be transported intensively around the country from one waste contractor to another. This is how the market works and there is no directing mechanism to prevent it. It also became clear that major construction works like the latest metro line in Amsterdam have a ripple effect on waste production as they trigger new activities nearby that also produce more waste.’

Web application

Šilerytė put her developed mapping techniques into practice. During her PhD studies, she founded a company with a fellow PhD student and developed a web application to find out what waste is being produced, where it goes and what the options of this waste are. Now she supports governments and companies in reusing their waste in a more sustainable way. ‘Some companies were looking for better alternatives than incineration for

their high-quality wood waste. Based on our waste maps, we have found a window frame producer in the area who could use that wood for its production. This proves that algorithms based on waste data can help determine the best possible destination.’

More information

Rusnė Šilerytė obtained her doctorate for her research ‘Geographies of Waste: Significance, Semantics & Statistics in pursuit of a Circular Economy’ on 19 January 2023. This research was part of the EU H2020 project ‘Resource Management in Peri-urban Areas: Going Beyond Urban Metabolism’. The article can be downloaded HERE>

The artikel can be downloaded here>

Text TU Delft>

Ammonium-ion electrolytes could help to replace lithium-ion batteries

Metal-ion batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, are the go-to energy storage solution. They dominate the market for portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles because of their high energy density and versatility. However, metal ions used in the electrolytes come from limited and declining resources, which threatens long-term availability. Their toxicity and flammability can be unsafe and harmful to the environment. In addition, they are often toxic and flammable and harmful to the environment.

Over time, several attempts have been made to develop batteries based on ammonium ions because those cations are easy to synthesize and recycle. However, ammonium cations are prone to reduction into hydrogen and ammonia at low operation potential, preventing the batteries from achieving their full potential.

They also dissolve readily in electrolytes, making them difficult to incorporate into electrode materials.

Researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST, Saudi Arabia) show Husam Alshareef, postdoc Zhiming Zhao and coworkers developed a high-efficiency metal-free battery by combining an ammonium-cation-containing electrolyte with carbon-based electrodes. According to the scientists, the graphite cathode and the organic semiconductor anode are cheap, environmentally friendly and renewable. With the ammonium cations, the researchers chose hexafluorophosphate ions as negative charge carriers and exploited the ability of graphite to reversibly accommodate these anions within its layers to create a ‘dual ion’ battery. In the battery, cations and anions simulta-

neously insert into their corresponding electrode during charge cycles and are released into the electrolyte during discharge cycles.

The battery outperformed existing ammonium-ion-based analogues with a record operation voltage of 2.75 volts. According to the researchers, this means that it is now possible to develop highenergy non-metal ion batteries that can compete with metal ion batteries.

This work was published late last year in in the German scientific journal Angewandte Chemie titled 'A 2.75 V ammonium-based dual-ion battery'.

https://doi.org/10.1002/ anie.202212941

More at KAUST>

Illustration of the high-efficiency metal-free battery developed by KAUST researchers. Unlike conventional batteries, this battery combines an ammonium-cation-containing electrolyte with carbon-based electrodes (Illustration: KAUST; Heno Hwang)

The Unique Conference Focused on Cellulose Fibres in Textiles, Hygiene and Packaging

Cellulose fibres are bio-based and biodegradable, even in marine habitats, where their degrading does not cause any microplastic.

250 participants and 30 exhibitors are expected in Cologne to discuss the following topics:

• Strategies, Policy Framework of Textiles and Market Trends

• New Opportunities for Cellulose Fibres in Replacing Plastics

• Sustainability and Environmental Impacts

• Circular Economy and Recyclability of Fibres

• Alternative Feedstocks and Supply Chains

• Ionic Liquids and New Technologies for Pulps, Fibres and Yarns

Sponsors

• New Technologies and Applications beyond Textiles

• Cellulose Fibre Based Packaging

• Cellulose Fibre Based Hygiene Products

Award Sponsor Organiser

Life cycle assessment of material footprint in recycling: A case of concrete recycling

Waste management, January 2023

Meeting the current demand for concrete requires not only mining tons of gravel and sand, but also burning large amounts of fossil fuel resources in cement kilning. Consequently, concrete recycling is crucial to achieving a material-efficient society, especially with the application of various categories of concrete and the goal of phasing out fossil fuels. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) is used to assess the engineering material footprint (EMF) and the fossil fuel material footprint (FMF) in closed-loop recycling of three types of concrete: siliceous concrete, limestone concrete, and lightweight aggregate concrete. This study aims to investigate the impact of (i) concrete categories, (ii) methods to model recycling, and (iii) using renewable energy sources on the material footprint in concrete recycling. The results highlight that the concrete recycling system can reduce 99% of the EMF and 66–93% of the FMF compared with the baseline system, in which concrete waste is landfilled. All three recycling modeling approaches indicate that concrete recycling can considerably reduce EMF and FMF compared with the baseline system, primarily resulting from the displacement of virgin raw materials. Using alternative diesels is more sensitive than adopting renewable electricity in reduction of the FMF in concrete recycling. Replacing diesel with electrolysis- and coal-based synthetic diesel for concrete recycling could even increase the FMF, while using biodiesel made from rapeseed and wood-based synthetic diesel can reduce 47-51% and 84-89% of the FMF, respectively, compared to the virgin diesel-based recycling system. Finally, we discussed the multifunctionality and rebound effects of recycling, and double-counting risk in material and energy accounting.

Fig. 1. (a) Overview of the WAAM block with the target geometry and the employed deposition strategy. In color, the processing-based coordinate system is presented, where the transverse direction (TD) indicates the stacking direction of parallel weld beads, the building direction (BD) reveals the stacking direction of the layers, and the deposition direction (DD) corresponds to the length direction of the weld beads. The scanning direction, marked with a black arrow, is parallel to the DD and describes the trajectory of the welding torch during the printing process, alternating between the positive and negative DD for subsequent layers. (b) Manufactured 316LSi block with the corresponding processing-based coordinate system.

ponse of WAAM parts is necessary. To this end, this paper investigates the structure-property relationship for thick-walled austenitic stainless steel WAAM parts experimentally and numerically using a mean-field crystal plasticity model. The major microstructural features are studied using optical microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction. A representative microstructure volume element is obtained with averaged features to study spatial variations in the microstructure across the WAAM part. Uniaxial tensile tests assisted with Digital Image Correlation along the transverse direction, diagonal (45o from the transverse direction), and building direction within the transverse direction-building direction plane are used to study the mechanical properties and associated deformation fields. The resulting heterogeneous microstructure with periodically alternating microstructural features reveals a clear anisotropic material behavior. Furthermore, distinct plastic deformation patterns for different loading directions arise from the spatially varying microstructure. The proposed crystal plasticity model adequately describes the crystallographic texture-induced orientation-dependent yield strength.

The article is online>

On the anisotropy of thick-walled wire arc additively manufactured stainless steel parts

Materials Science and Engineering: A, January 2023

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is an emerging group of methods for producing large parts with complex geometries and varying wall thicknesses. These parts usually exhibit anisotropic material behavior due to their intrinsic heterogeneous microstructure. To fully exploit the versatility of WAAM, a rigorous understanding of the relationship between processing conditions, microstructure, and mechanical res-

Toward a low-carbon and circular building sector: Building strategies and urbanization pathways for the Netherlands

Journal of Industrial Ecology, January 2023

Buildings are an important part of society's environmental impacts, both in the construction and in the use phase. As the energy performance of buildings improve, construction materials become more important as a cause of environmental impact. Less attention has been given to those materials. We explore, as an alternative for conventional buildings, the use of biobased materials and circular building practices. In

The article is online>

addition to building design, we analyze the effect of urbanization. We assess the potential to close material cycles together with the material related impact, between 2018 and 2050 in the Netherlands. Our results show a limited potential to close material cycles until 2050, as a result of slow stock turnover and growth of the building stock. At present, end-of-life recycling rates are low, further limiting circularity. Primary material demand can be lowered when shifting toward biobased or circular construction. This shift also reduces material related carbon emissions. Large-scale implementation of biobased construction, however, drastically increases land area required for wood production. Material demand differs strongly spatially and depends on the degree of urbanization. Urbanization results in higher building replacement rates, but constructed dwellings are generally small compared to scenarios with more rural developments. The approach presented in this work can be used to analyze strategies aimed at closing material cycles in the building sector and lowering buildings' embodied environmental impact, at different spatial scales.

The article is online>

Building construction locations in the municipality of Amsterdam for pathway Urban (pink) and Rural (blue). When scenarios spatially overlap, locations are marked as purple. The black line marks the municipal border

fossil fuels contribute heavily to an unsustainable ecological footprint. As a result of the growing environmental awareness and the desire for a green future, sustainable production of acrylates and the development of acrylate alternatives derived from biorenewable resources have gained increased attention over the last decades. Although great progress has been made, the commercialization of a competing sustainable process has not yet been achieved due techno-economic challenges arising from the underdeveloped larger scale syntheses and expensive starting materials and reagents. In this thesis we implemented both strategies and present several new developments towards sustainable acrylate alternatives (alkoxybutenolides) and biobased acrylic acid, all starting from furfural and using oxygen and visible light for sustainable chemical transformations. In order to account for a larger scale synthesis, a photochemical reactor was developed for the continuous production of our sustainable building blocks. The resulting biobased coatings obtained from these alkoxybutenolides are hard, transparent and resistant to solvent and water, similar to commercial coatings. Above all, the coatings are functional and have tunable properties, based on the different building blocks we developed.

The thesis can be found here>

Development of biobased building blocks, polymers and coatings

Thesis University of Groningen, January 2023

Coatings are omnipresent in daily life, indispensable in construction and applied everywhere around us to enhance the durability and aesthetics of numerous products ranging from cars to wood to electronics. One of the most conventional sets of building blocks used to build these polymer chains, justified by their high reactivity and broad versatility, are the petrochemical feedstock derived acrylates. Despite their promise, the high demand and the resulting large-scale production from

Functional wood for carbon dioxide capture Cell Reports Physical Science, February 2023

With increasing global climate change, integrated concepts to innovate sustainable structures that can multiaxially address CO2 mitigation are crucial. Here, we fabricate a functional wood structure with enhanced mechanical performance via a top-down approach incorporating a high-performance metal-organic framework (MOF), Calgary framework 20 (CALF-20). The functional wood with 10% (w/w) CALF-20 can capture CO2 with an overall gravimetric capacity of 0.45 mmol/g at 1 bar and 303 K that scales linearly with the MOF loading. Interestingly, the functional wood surpasses the calculated normalized adsorption capacity of CALF-20 stemming from the mesoporous wood framework, pore geometry modulation in CALF-20, and favorable CO2 uptake interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate strong interactions between CALF-20 and the cellulose backbone and an understanding of how such interactions can favorably modulate the pore geometry and CO2 physisorption energies. Thus, our work opens an avenue for developing sustainable composites that can be utilized in CO2 capture and structural applications.

The article is online>

Mind the Pulp: Environmental and economic assessment of a sugar beet pulp biorefinery for biobased chemical production

Waste Management January 2021

Sugar beet pulp, a byproduct from sugar beet refining, is used by farmers as fertilizer or sold as animal feed. Both options underestimate the potential of sugar beet pulp as a platform to produce specialty and bulky chemicals as a promising pathway for sustainable biochemicals – mind the pulp. This study proposes a biorefinery concept to produce food additives (pectin-derived oligosaccharides) and bulky chemicals (terephthalic acid). Since the biorefinery has a low technology readiness level (TRL = 1), it is relevant to evaluate the feasibility of this biorefinery concept to provide guidance (at an early stage) on the environmental and economic advantages and limitations. For this purpose, the life cycle assessment and techno-economic assessment frameworks are used to assess the environmental impact and economic performance of the biobased terephthalic acid, respectively. Moreover, environmental impacts are accounted for in economic terms using different monetary valuation methods (environmental prices, Ecovalue12, and Ecotax). The environmental impact of biobased terephthalic acid was higher in most impact categories than the fossil counterpart, depending on the selected allocation approach (mass vs economic). The economic feasibility of the proposed biorefinery is highly dependent on the pectin-derived oligosaccharides market price and the valorization of byproducts (humins and levulinic acid). The selection of the monetary valuation method is critical for monetizing environmental impacts when comparing biobased against fossil-based alternatives.

The article is online>

Safety of recycled plastics and textiles: Review on the detection, identification and safety assessment of contaminants

Chemosphere, January 2023

In 2019, 368 mln tonnes of plastics were produced worldwide. Likewise, the textiles and apparel industry, with an annual revenue of 1.3 trillion USD in 2016, is one of the largest fast-growing industries. Sustainable use of resources forces the development of new plastic and textile recycling methods and implementation of the circular economy (reduce, reuse and recycle) concept. However, circular use of plastics and textiles could lead to the accumulation of a variety of contaminants in the recycled product. This paper first reviewed the origin and nature of potential hazards that arise from recycling processes of plastics and textiles. Next, we reviewed current analytical methods and safety assessment frameworks that could be adapted to detect and identify these contaminants. Various contaminants can end up in recycled plastic. Phthalates are formed during waste collection while flame retardants and heavy metals are introduced during the recycling

process. Contaminants linked to textile recycling include; detergents, resistant coatings, flame retardants, plastics coatings, antibacterial and anti-mould agents, pesticides, dyes, volatile organic compounds and nanomaterials. However, information is limited and further research is required. Various techniques are available that have detected various compounds, However, standards have to be developed in order to identify these compounds. Furthermore, the techniques mentioned in this review cover a wide range of organic chemicals, but studies covering potential inorganic contamination in recycled materials are still missing. Finally, approaches like TTC and CoMSAS for risk assessment should be used for recycled plastic and textile materials.

The article is online>

Organo-functionalized inorganic nanofiltration membranes through engineering at the molecular level

Thesis Univeristy of Twente, MESA+ Institute, October 2022

A membrane is generally a selective barrier through which one or more components of a mixture can be selectively removed. Compared to their polymeric counterparts, inorganic membranes can be used under harsh conditions, such as high temperatures or pressures. However, their potential has not yet been fully explored. The Ph.D. thesis 'Organo-functionalized inorganic nanofiltration membranes through engineering at the molecular level' expands on the prospects of polymer-functionalized inorganic, i.e., hybrid, membranes. By combining polymeric and inorganic materials in a single hybrid membrane, we can use both materials' advantages. In this thesis, the different hybrid membranes developed were tested in water, solvents, and their mixtures to understand these membranes' capabilities under 'real' industrial conditions. Different approaches were used to develop these hybrid membranes, including surface-initiated (grafting-from) in-situ polymerizations or simple methods to covalently link commercial polymers on the inorganic substrates (grafting-to).

Additionally, novel methodologies, such as the thio-bromo "click" reaction, were used to control the polymer growth and reduce the environmental footprint of membrane fabrication methods. This work opens new avenues for research and industrial interest in hybrid inorganic membranes.

The thesis kan be downloaded here>

Glassman Europe

15 - 16 March 2023, Istanbul

Fastener Fair Stuttgart

21 - 23 March 2023, Stuttgart

International Conference on Masonry Construction and Masonry Materials

27 - 28 March 2023, Paris

3D Delta Week

27 - 31 March 2023, Benelux

European Coatings Show 2022

28 - 30 March 2023, Nurnberg

Hannover Messe

17 - 21 April 2023 Hannover

BAU München

17 - 22 April 2023, Munich

Conference on CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals 2023

19 - 20 April 2023, Cologne

De Nederlandse Metaaldagen

2023

19 - 21 April 2023 Den Bosch

JEC World International Composites Event

25 - 27 April 2023, Paris

BioMAT 2023

3 - 4 May 2023, Weimar

PCIM Europe

9 - 11 May 2023, Nurnberg

KUTENO Kunststofftechnik Nord

9 - 11 May 2023, Rheda-Wiedenbrück

Ceramics and Composite Materials

10 - 11 May 2023, Zürich

MIX Noordoost

10 - 11 May 2023, Hardenberg

Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2023

10 - 11 May 2023, Amsterdam

Łódź Design Festival

12 - 22 May 2023, Łódź

Houtbouwbeurs

23 - 25 May 2023, Den Bosch

Renovatiebeurs

23 - 25 May 2023, Den Bosch

Renewable Materials Conference 2023

23 - 25 May 2023, Siegburg/ Keulen

FIT show 2023

23 - 25 May 2023, Birmingham

Maintenance Dortmund

24 - 25 May 2023, Dortmund

Munich creative business week 2023

6 - 14 May 2023, Munich

SurfaceTechnology GERMANY

4 - 6 June 2024, Stuttgart

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) supports companies with international ambitions

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is an initiative of the European Commission that supports entrepreneurs in seeking partners to innovate and do business abroad. The Network is active in more than 60 countries worldwide. It brings together 3,000 experts from more than 600 member organisations – all renowned for their excellence in business support.

Database

Every company can participate by adjusting its profile to the database. This company will be brought to the attention in the country in which it wants to become active. At the same time it is possible to search for partners.

EEN advisers actively assist in compiling the profile, which is drawn up in a certain format. The EEN websites also contain foreign companies that are looking for Dutch companies and organizations for commercial or technological cooperation. The EEN advisers support the search for a cooperation partner by actively deploying contacts within the network. In addition, Company Missions

and Match Making Events are regularly organized. All these services are free of charge.

There are five types of profiles:

• Business Offer: the company offers a product

• Business Request: the company is looking for a product

• Technology Offer: the company offers a technology

• Technology Request: the company is looking for a technology

• Research & Development Request: the organization seeks cooperation for research

When a company has both a Business Offer and a Business Request (or another combination), two (or even more if applicable) profiles are created. The profile includes the most essential

Video: How Enterprise Europe Network works

information about the nature of the supply or demand, the ‘type of partner’ that is intended and the expected cooperation structure.

Get in touch with your local network contact point by selecting the country and city closest to where your business is based. They can help you with advice, support and opportunities for international partnerships.

For Materials contact Nils Haarmans: T: +31 (0) 88 062 5843 M: 06 21 83 94 57 nils.haarman@rvo.nl

More information websites can be found at the Europe Network websites: www.enterpriseeuropenetwork.nl

http://een.ec.europa.eu

The Enterprise Europe Network Materials Database:

Request for partnership: March 2023.

Interested? contact nils.haarman@rvo.nl

Italian company producing custom raw wood furniture seeks partners abroad for commercial agreements

This Italian company produces classic, luxury and modern raw wood furniture on customer demand. It can also characterize its products with inlays and brass carvings. It is trying to expand its production abroad seeking partners for commercial agreements.

Spanish SME is looking for reusing apple processing waste

A Spanish SME is looking for reusing apple waste to boost its recovery and revalorization, thus fostering the circular economy in the region. They are looking for partners who can revalue this type of waste.

Spanish company specialized in precision machining of exotic materials is looking for supplier agreements

The Spanish company specializes in design, machining and maintenance of components, specially those that are to be manufactured with exotic materials (titanium, stavax, ultem, hardox, stavax,…). The company is looking for supplier agreements.

Spanish company specialized in precision machining of exotic materials is looking for supplier agreements

A Spanish consortium wants submit a project in the framework of the Eurostars programme. The idea of the project is to develop sustainable footwear soles. The consortium is already formed by Spanish compounder and a Spanish shoe company (project leader) and two research centers. The consortium is looking for a new partner (SME) with capacity to develop a sustainable bactericide masterbatch to give an add value to the final product. The new partner would provide the masterbatch to the compounder

Innovative Materials, the international version of the Dutch magazine Innovatieve Materialen, is now available in English. Innovative Materials is an interactive, digital magazine about new and/or innovatively applied materials. Innovative Materials provides information on material innovations, or innovative use of materials. The idea is that the ever increasing demands lead to a constant search for better and safer products as well as material and energy savings. Enabling these innovations is crucial, not only to be competitive but also to meet the challenges of enhancing and protecting the environment, like durability, C2C and carbon footprint. By opting for smart, sustainable and innovative materials constructors, engineers and designers obtain more opportunities to distinguish themselves. As a platform Innovative Materials wants to help to achieve this by connecting supply and demand.

Innovative Materials is distributed among its own subscribers/network, but also through the networks of the partners. In 2021 this includes organisations like M2i, MaterialDesign, 4TU (a cooperation between the four Technical Universities in the Netherlands), the Bond voor Materialenkennis (material sciences), SIM Flanders, FLAM3D, RVO and Material District.