Sustainable Composite Solutions

🔬 Our latest research (Q1, IF = 12.4) explores ultra-strong biodegradable films produced from marine-sourced materials — sodium alginate (SA) dendritic colloids and chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) — forming a “cement–mortar” framework that surpasses petrochemical plastics in strength and degradability. This work makes a major step toward sustainable, high-performance packaging materials. Zhang, X; Pu, H; Sun, Da-Wen* (2026). Ultra-strong green plastics from marine-sourced alginate dendritic colloids and chitin nanocrystals with a “cement–mortar” structure, Food Hydrocolloids, 173 (April 2026) 112142. DOI: https://lnkd.in/e7gay7fN Key highlights: • Green Fe³⁺-microwave hydrolysis produced ChNCs with tunable charge density for optimised SA–ChNC interactions. • Ultra-high-shear processing generated alginate dendritic colloids acting as flexible “mortar” nodes. • The optimal film (~36 % deacetylated ChNCs) achieved a 196% increase in tensile strength, 151% increase in elongation, and 44% increase in modulus versus neat SA films. • Films stayed transparent and biodegradable while improving thermal stability, water resistance, and barrier properties. This scalable design provides a marine-based biopolymer solution to the long-standing strength–ductility conflict in polysaccharide materials, opening a strong pathway to next-generation eco-plastics. #Biopolymers #SustainablePackaging #Alginate #ChitinNanocrystals #FoodHydrocolloids #GreenMaterials #DaWenSun

Not all high-performance materials need to come from petroleum or complex processing. In our latest work, we have developed #bio-based #PA11 reinforced with #yucca fibres, designed for #injectionmoulding and scalable #massproduction, not just lab-scale #3Dprinting. Key outcomes: • Up to +55% increase in heat deflection temperature • >98% property retention after harsh #hygrothermal #ageing • Improved #impact resistance and #thermalstability • Comparable strength (~35 MPa tensile) with enhanced #durability • ~70-85% lower CO₂ footprint vs conventional polyamides (PA6/PA12) • #LCA shows further CO₂ reduction with #biocomposites We also showed how fibre extraction routes directly control performance, linking processing to property relationships. It's just a step towards #sustainable, #lightweight #automotive materials compatible with existing manufacturing. I hope you enjoy reading the paper <https://lnkd.in/emAtwMmz>, and look forward to your thoughts and how this could translate into real-world applications. Research team: Med Amine Kacem, Laura Aliotta, Vito Gigante, Pr Sabba Nassila, Sylvie MASSE, Mahdi Bodaghi.

𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗦: 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗘-𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗗 𝗝𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗕𝗜𝗢-𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗫𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗡 𝗝𝘂𝘁𝗲—𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 that 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗴𝗲𝗻 during cultivation—can be recycled and biodegraded, making it an attractive option for environmentally friendly composites compared to synthetic fiber reinforced polymer (SFRP) composites. However, jute fibers often suffer from poor mechanical properties due to the presence of 20 wt.%–50 wt.% of noncellulosic materials. To address this, Prof. Nazmul Karim, Mohammad Hamidul Islam, and researchers from The University of the West of England have developed 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗼-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘅𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗻. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: ➡ The team used Tossa white jute fiber from Bangladesh. The fibers were cut, dried, treated with hot water and a 0.5% NaOH solution, and rinsed to improve fiber-matrix bonding. ➡ Treated jute fibers were assembled into unidirectional structures, known as "preforms". ➡ Preforms were coated with graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) using a dip coating method. ➡ Bio-epoxy (BE) laminating resin was infused into the preforms and cured at room temperature for 48 hours. 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 The incorporation of GO and GNP significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the composites. 1️⃣ Tensile Strength: 248 ± 15.1 MPa (vs. 165 ± 7.4 MPa for untreated jute fiber) 2️⃣ Flexural Strength: 223 ± 8.4 MPa (vs. 145 ± 8.2 MPa for untreated jute fiber) Compared to untreated J/BE composites, GNP treated J/BE composites exhibited increases in tensile and flexural strength by approximately 50%. ✅ 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁: The production of 1 tonne of glass fibres shows a carbon footprint of about 1.7–2.5 tonnes CO2-eq per tonne of fibre, whereas 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗷𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟬.𝟯𝟱–𝟬.𝟱𝟱 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗢𝟮-𝗲𝗾 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗲. This is an 𝟴𝟬% 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿carbon footprint than that of glass fibres. Because of the enhanced mechanical properties these graphene-based jute composites can potentially 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆. #graphene #sustainability Complete paper [Link in the comment section]

Happy to share our latest publication on advancing carbon-neutral construction materials using biochar! Our study explores the integration of biochar into alkali-activated slag (AAS) systems, combined with accelerated carbonation curing, to develop carbon neutral cementitious composites. Key findings include: ✅ Up to 53% increase in compressive strength with biochar incorporation ✅ Significant carbon sequestration, achieving carbon neutrality ✅ Enhanced microstructure and durability under both accelerated and atmospheric curing conditions Co- Authors: Nithya Nair and Adhora Tahsin, PhD, EIT Supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant No. 2028462 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gqp8GtTP #SustainableConstructionMaterials #CarbonNeutrality #Biochar 

Thrilled to share our latest research published in Cleaner Engineering and Technology! 🚀 Our new paper, "Enhancing carbon fiber composites with fish scale biochar for superior strength and environmental sustainability," delves into an innovative approach to boost the performance of carbon fiber composites while championing sustainability. Thanks to the coauthors: Sundarakannan Rajendran, Geetha Palani,   Arumugaprabu V, Vigneshwaran Shanmugam, Uthayakumar Marimuthu, Kinga Korniejenko, Herri Trilaksana, Arnas Majumder, we addressed the critical need for eco-friendly fillers that not only enhance strength but also align with global sustainability goals. Our study explored the fascinating potential of biochar derived from fish scales as a sustainable filler in carbon fiber epoxy composites. The results are compelling! We found that incorporating fish scale biochar significantly improved the mechanical properties, with optimal performance at a 9% biochar content. This led to remarkable enhancements: Tensile Strength: Increased by 60.02% reaching an impressive 674.21 MPa! 💪 Tensile Modulus: Soared by 74.96% to 46.05 GPa! 📈 Flexural Modulus: Achieved a significant 58.32 GPa! ⚙️ Impact Strength: Reached an impressive 102.32 kJ/m²! 💥 This research highlights the exciting potential of transforming waste (fish scales!) into a valuable resource for high-performance materials. It underscores how we can achieve superior strength in composites while embracing environmental responsibility. Curious to learn more about how fish scale biochar can revolutionize carbon fiber composites? You can access the full paper here, it is free: https://lnkd.in/dy2e6jm3 We're eager to hear your thoughts and engage in discussions about the future of sustainable composite materials! #carbonfiber #composites #sustainability #biochar #materialsscience #engineering #innovation #research #circulareconomy #wastetovalue

Hemp has the potential to revolutionize engineering by providing sustainable, carbon-negative alternatives for construction, insulation, and composite materials. This could lead to a significant reduction in the use of traditional, resource-intensive materials, paving the way for a greener future. In the field of Construction Engineering, hemp offers innovative solutions such as Hempcrete, a building material made from hemp hurd and lime. Hempcrete is known for its lightweight, strength, durability, and excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties, making it a sustainable alternative to concrete. Additionally, Hemp Wood, a bio-based composite material, shows promise in replacing traditional timber with its strength, durability, and sustainability, suitable for framing and decking. Hemp Insulation, made from hemp fibers, provides efficient insulation for walls, roofs, and floors, offering benefits like thermal performance and fire resistance. In Civil Engineering, hemp fibers can reinforce asphalt and other road materials, enhancing durability and lifespan. Moreover, hemp cultivation can aid in soil remediation by absorbing pollutants, showcasing phytoremediation capabilities and promoting soil health. Mechanical Engineering can benefit from hemp composites, where hemp fibers serve as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites, providing a sustainable alternative to glass and carbon fibers. These composites are lightweight, strong, and cost-effective, finding applications in aerospace, automotive, and other industries. Environmental Engineering stands to gain from hemp's carbon sequestration abilities, as hemp plants absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide during growth, aiding in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. Additionally, hemp-based biofuels offer a renewable energy source for transportation, heating, and electricity generation, contributing to a cleaner environment. The versatility and sustainability of hemp make it a promising candidate for transforming various engineering fields towards a more eco-friendly and innovative future. Hemp YES 🌎💚🌏

🌍🔬 Exploring the Sleeping Giant: Geopolymer Concrete I’ve been carrying out in-depth research on geopolymer concrete — a sustainable alternative to OPC-based systems. With a new ambient temperature curing approach, using a single alkali solution and amorphous silica from SCMs, we’ve achieved: ✅ 45 MPa compressive strength in 28 days ✅ 0% OPC cement usage ✅ 80% reduction in CO₂ emissions per m³ compared to conventional concrete ✅ No high-temperature curing required This innovation unlocks huge potential for low-carbon construction and resilient infrastructure in the civil engineering sector. I’m actively Looking to collaborate with civil engineers, contractors, and researchers to scale this sustainable solution. Let’s build the future of concrete together. #CivilEngineering #GeopolymerConcrete #SustainableConstruction #LowCarbonConcrete #MaterialsEngineering #InnovationInConstruction

🏗️ Growing the Future: 3D-Printed Mycelium Imagine buildings that grow, self-repair, and decompose naturally when no longer needed. Researchers have developed a 3D-printing method for mycelium biocomposites, eliminating the need for molds and unlocking new possibilities for sustainable, biodegradable materials. Using spent coffee grounds as a substrate, this innovation turns waste into strong, compostable structures—a game-changer for packaging, architecture, and beyond. 🤓 Geek Mode Traditional mycelium-based materials require molds, which limit design flexibility. This study introduces: Mycofluid: A 3D-printable mycelium paste made from 73% spent coffee grounds. Fungibot: A custom extruder that prints living biomaterial. Mycostructure: A process where printed parts grow together, fusing into seamless, self-supporting structures. By fine-tuning viscosity, growth conditions, and extrusion techniques, the team produced mechanically robust biocomposites. The printed objects self-colonize with fungi, creating hydrophobic surfaces that resist water while retaining biodegradability. 💼 Opportunity for VCs This technology offers a paradigm shift in materials science. It opens doors for: - Sustainable packaging that replaces polystyrene. - Biodegradable furniture and structures that grow and adapt. - Self-healing biomaterials for modular, repairable buildings. - Carbon-negative manufacturing with hyper-local supply chains. VCs investing in biofabrication, circular economy, and sustainable construction should take note—this is the frontier of regenerative materials. 🌍 Humanity-Level Impact Instead of mining, melting, or molding, we can grow what we need: 1️⃣Carbon-neutral cities, where buildings decompose instead of turning into waste. 2️⃣Mars-ready habitats, using fungi to construct and self-repair in extreme environments. 3️⃣A circular bioeconomy, where waste (like coffee grounds) fuels innovation. This isn’t just eco-friendly tech—it’s nature’s blueprint, optimized for modern fabrication. 📄 Link to original study: https://lnkd.in/gQNsTVEP #DeepTech #VentureCapital #Biomaterials #3DPrinting #CircularEconomy

Airbus just proved that aerospace composites can be recycled and flown again. This year’s JEC Circularity Award went to a consortium led by Airbus, together with Toray Advanced Composites, DAHER, and TARMAC AEROSAVE. An end-of-life thermoplastic composite part from an A380 was repurposed into a certified structural component for an A320neo. Not a lab demonstrator. Not a cosmetic panel. A flying part. Key facts: – 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹: Toray Cetex thermoplastic composite (carbon fiber / PPS) – 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲: decommissioned A380 parts, ~20 years in service – 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: re-forming via stamp forming – 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁: A320neo pylon cowls, flight-certified – 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: mechanically indistinguishable from brand-new One detail matters more than most people realize. The original A380 panel was larger and differently shaped. During re-processing, it was not shredded. Fiber continuity, orientation, and layup were largely preserved. The result is a smaller panel of the same type, made from the same material system. This is not how metals are reused. Metals age through corrosion, fatigue, plastic deformation, and microstructural changes. In aerospace, they are recycled by melting and re-alloying, not by trimming and reshaping flying parts. Composites age differently. They don’t corrode, and their chemistry is relatively stable. They can develop internal defects, but these can be inspected, characterized, and managed. What this project shows is not that defects disappear, but that a thermoplastic composite structure can be trimmed, re-formed, inspected, and re-qualified, while preserving structural requirements. That point matters more than all the sustainability language combined. Thermoset composites usually fail here because they cannot be recycled into new structural parts without adding virgin material. Typical routes remove the matrix (e.g. pyrolysis), recovering only fibers, often at lower grade. Here, the part is not decomposed. No virgin material is added. The recycled component remains within the same structural requirements. Thermoplastics enable this because they can be reheated and reshaped while retaining the entire original material system, not just acceptable performance values. What makes this credible is the system, not just the material. Tarmac Aerosave handled end-of-life recovery. Toray supported material characterization and re-forming. Daher industrialized manufacturing. Airbus validated and flew the result. Circularity only works when the full chain is involved. The A380 alone contains over 10,000 flying thermoplastic composite parts. If even a fraction re-enter production, this changes lifecycle cost, sourcing strategies, and future design logic. This isn’t a sustainability promise. It’s old parts, real aircraft, and certified structures flying again. If you work on composite lifecycle or certification: where do you see thermoplastic reuse fitting into future programs?

#Damping technologies are designed to manage loads and deformations caused by ambient or forced vibrations in structures and machinery. While most traditional damping #materials are typically #fossil, #viscoelastic #biobased materials offer a sustainable alternative. In this study, we developed an alginate-based hydrogel system with various porosity structures by incorporating different concentrations of poloxamer 407 as a sacrificial porogen. Vibration transmissibility tests and dynamic mechanical analysis show that these gels achieve loss factors ranging from 16% to 28% within the 100–300 Hz frequency range. Additionally and remarkably, the dynamic modulus of these gels increases over *tenfold* compared to the static modulus, reaching approximately 3 MPa. The significant damping effect is attributed to the viscoelastic, poroelastic, and pneumatic-like effects of the tunable porous structures. Moreover, these hydrogels are #biosourced and #biodegradable, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fossil-based damping materials. #Openaccess paper here: https://lnkd.in/dZsEAzwD. This work at the interface between #synthetic #biology, #sustainable #composites and #structural #dynamics has been led by Graham J. Day (University of Glasgow and University of Bristol), with Qicheng Zhang, chrystel remillat, Gianni Comandini and me from the Dynamics Research Group of the School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering (CADE) - University of Bristol and the Bristol Composites Institute,and Adam Perriman (University of Bristol and The Australian National University). We gratefully acknowledge the support from Dstl, Office of Naval Research Global (ONR GLOBAL) and the European Research Council (ERC), and we thank Matthew D Eagling and Dr Scott Walper for the encouragement and endorsement of these activities. I want to extend special thanks to two individuals: Patrick P. Rose and Petra Oyston, OBE. True visionaries, Patrick and Petra have been instrumental in advancing the field of synthetic biology towards the development and production of biobased and multifunctional materials. Without their support and encouragement over the past few years, we wouldn't have achieved this breakthrough in biobased materials for damping and energy absorption. Bristol BioDesign Institute 🧪 🍀 📳