About MNEXT and the Research Collaboration
MNEXT conducts practice-oriented research in close collaboration with students, lecturers, researchers, and external partners — always with the ambition to create impact within the materials and energy transition.
For this internship, MNEXT collaborates with VITO, an independent Flemish research and technology organization active in cleantech and sustainable development. Within VITO’s research line Sustainable Chemistry, a major focus is the efficient conversion of lignin into bio-additives and biopolymers. More information: https://spot.vito.be/en.
Assignment description
Functional additives — such as flame retardants, UV stabilizers, antioxidants and plasticizers — are essential components in thermoplastics and thermosets, improving processability, durability and end-use performance. Lignin, the second most abundant natural polymer on Earth and the only large-scale natural source of aromatics, offers promising intrinsic properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, flame-retardant, and UV-blocking effects. Despite its potential, lignin is still undervalued today and mainly used as a low-cost fuel.
The goal of this internship is to explore and develop new lignin-based additives with enhanced performance.
Your tasks will include:
- Evaluating different types of lignin (technical and depolymerized lignins from various sources and extraction processes)
- Performing chemical modifications on lignin
- Incorporating the developed lignin bio-additives into (bio)polymers using thermal extrusion and evaluating different formulations
- Characterizing materials using thermal and mechanical techniques such as DSC, TGA, DMA, or tensile testing
Desirable Skills
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated student with:
- A background in chemistry, polymer science, materials science, biobased technology or a related field
- Interest in biobased materials and polymer processing
- Laboratory experience; familiarity with characterization techniques is an advantage
- A proactive mindset and willingness to collaborate within a multidisciplinary research environment
Practical Details
Location
MNEXT labs, Breda (The Netherlands)
Working Language
Dutch and English
Compensation
Standard student internship compensation of €350.