The 11th International Conference on Biocomposites in Toronto, Canada, featured emerging green material technologies. Conference Co-Chairman Dr. Mohini Sain of the world renowned University of Toronto, Faculty of Forestry took time out to thank Dr. Gero Nordmann of BASF, one of the event's key sponsors, for introducing the chemical company's innovative Acrodur® resin binder technology to the Canadian market.
Acrodur is BASF's brand for ecologically friendly 'green' acrylic composite technology. It is a new class of resin that has been used to form a highly loaded, natural-fiber prepreg material. The resin matrix is a unique acrylic polymer that is initally thermoplastic, allowing for production of prepreg/semi-finished rollstock or blanks. It then cross-links at temperatures above 120°C to produce a very durable thermoset. The resin's high wetout of natural fibers and ability to form chemical as well as mechanical bonds to the reinforcement allows for production of composites with very high fiber loadings - 70 percent in this application - yielding lightweight parts that contribute to higher gas mileage and reduced fuel consumption with high stiffness in thin walls.