Today, the vast majority of plastic materials are produced by the petroleum industry. In a context of ecological transition and reduction of oil dependency, the search for new biosourced materials from vegetable origin is growing exponentially.
The first bio based materials such as PLA offer promising alternatives to conventional plastics, but their mechanical properties and durability are proving insufficient for more technical applications. Another plant based biopolymer could provide these properties: Lignin.
Currently extracted as waste by the paper and biorefinery industries to the extent of 70 million tonnes, lignin offers new opportunities for more environmentally friendly plastics.
The objective of this research project is to develop lignin as a substitute for current petro sourced materials.
In cooperation with the University of Lille in charge of lignin processing, you will have to shape biopolymer mixtures using a heating press. The par ameters of the press as well as the proportions of raw materials will have to be optimised in order to obtain the best performance for materials comparable to the current market.
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Compétences requises :
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Good knowledge of materials engineering is required.
A sense of organisation and management of scientific data is necessary.
Basic knowledge of polymer chemistry would be a must. But above all, it is ESSENTIAL to be super fun.
