Composites UK will be hosting this event taking place at Warwick on 17th November 2021.

A net-zero future for the composites industry will require the development of new materials which reduce the embodied carbon in composite products and enable much greater circularity in the composites value chain than is the case today. One group of materials with a major role to play in this challenge are bio-materials – resins and fibres which are bio-sourced, creating the possibility of a much more circular value chain, especially if they can also be rapidly biodegraded at end of life.

Composites UK sees bio-materials playing a major future role as composites value chains pivot towards net-zero in line with our national and global ambitions for achieving net-zero. This event will enable all players involved in the development and commercialisation of bio-materials, to come together to review the latest academic and industrial break-throughs and discuss the future direction and opportunities for bio-materials with both experts and interested newcomers in this field.

The SeaBioComp project; of which MSE is a partner will be presented at this event by project partners the University of Plymouth and University of Portsmouth.

The programme for the event is as follows:

09:00    Registration
10:00    Welcome and introduction; Malcolm Forsyth, Composites UK

Session 1 – New Options for Biomaterials

10:10    Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Microcrystalline Cellulose Reinforced Mycelium; Mohamed Gabr, University of Swansea
10:30    Polyfurfuryl Alcohol Resin composites: Synthesis, Properties, Manufacturing and Challenges; Daniel Odiyi, University of Derby
10:50    Development of Bio-degradable PFA Resin for Composite Application with Enhanced Properties; Chakradhar Rao, University of Derby

11:10    BREAK

Session 2 - New industrial opportunities for BioMaterials

11:35    Bio-materials with Improved Performance; Barrie Colvin, Advanced Thermosets
11:55    Accelerating the Path for Sustainability One Step at a Time; Ben Andrews, SHD Composites

12:15    Morning session wrap-up/Q&A

12:30    LUNCH

13:20    Delegate discussion groups – “What are the top 3-5 challenges to be overcome to increase the adoption of bio-materials in the UK Composites value chain ?”

Session 3 - Bio-based Thermoplastic Composites Application Projects

13:50    Natural Fibre-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite Manufacture by Monomer Infusion; John Summerscales, University of Plymouth
14:10    Long Term Durability and Ageing Behaviour of Biocomposites for Marine Applications; Hom Dhakal, University of Portsmouth

14:30    BREAK

Session 4 - Translating BioMaterial Research to Industrial Success

14:50    Challenging perceptions: Current State and Future Development of Bio-Based Resins; Annabel Fitzgerald, National Composites Centre
15:10    Bio Based Natural Fibre Composites; Samantha Bunyan, Cecence
15:30    Making the Sustainable Business Case for Biocomposites; Steven Brown, Scott Bader

15:50    Afternoon session wrap-up – feedback on discussion group outcomes, final Q&A and audience discussion opportunity & closing comments
16:00    CLOSE

Registration

This event is open to members and non-members.

Composites UK members: £140 VAT
NCC Members: £210 VAT
Non-members: £280 VAT
Students: £75 VAT (contact us from your university email address for the discount code)

PLEASE NOTE:

• Composites UK members must login to the website first before the discounted rate will appear. Contact us if you don't have a login.
• Currently, you can only book one place at a time on our system. Please repeat the process to register multiple people.
• You will not receive joining information straight after booking as this is sent out manually by us.