The use of the bioaromatics as a bio-based building block in polymers is currently attracting tremendous interest from both academia and industry. Functional additives, such as flame retardants, UV stabilizers, antioxidants and plasticizers, are ubiquitous in thermoplastics and thermosets, and are essential for improving processability, durability and end-use properties. Lignin is the second most abundant natural polymer on earth (after cellulose), and represents the only large scale source of aromatics in nature. The properties of lignin include antioxidant, antibacterial, flame retardant or UV-bloker. Unfortunately, lignin is still poorly valorized today, and is mainly used as a low cost fuel. At the Sustainable Polymer Technologies (SPOT) team at VITO, we have set ourselves the goal to change this situation: we aim to (partially) replace petroleum-based additives by using lignin derived chemicals. The goal of this project is to develop different lignin-polymer materials with enhanced properties.
Project Activities
- Evaluation different types of lignin (technical and depolymerized lignins from different sources and extraction proceses).
- Chemical modifications of lignin
- Incorporation of the developed lignin bio-additives in (bio)-polymers by thermal extrusion. Evaluation of different formulations.
- Characterization: Thermal and mechanical properties (DSC, TGA, DMA or tensile testing)
Where will you be working?
In this internship you will be working with both MNEXT and VITO. VITO is an independent Flemish research and technology organization in the area of cleantech and sustainable development, aiming to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. The business unit Materials and Chemistry has organized its strategic research program around the theme ‘Sustainable Chemistry’. Within this overall scope, a major research line focuses on the efficient conversion of lignin into bio-aromatics, and polymer development based on these biobased derived building blocks.
MNEXT, together with SMEs, serves as the bridge between innovation and society. By conducting practice -oriented research with students, teachers, researchers, and stakeholders. By working together on educational innovation. This is how we make our movement in the materials and energy transition. For a sustainable future. The research group carries out research on building blocks made from biobased polymers (biobased plastics). By collecting knowledge about, for example, the insulating properties, modification and source of building blocks, we can develop materials with specific chemical and physical properties, such as easy degradability and recyclability. This is useful in closing plastic material cycles and making them circular.
Practical information
Location: Bergen op Zoom (Green Chemistry Campus) and/or Breda (MNEXT)
Starting date: 1 February 2025
Compensation: €350 per month
Working language: English