Sustainability is an increasingly important competitive factor and companies are experiencing strong customer demands for a transition to sustainable materials. In many products, different types of adhesives are used. Stricter legal requirements for using harmful fossil-based adhesives is driving the innovation development towards bio-based adhesives.
Adhesives with graphene have the potential to improve productivity and properties, which allows them to replace fossil-based adhesives. The aim is to use graphene to develop renewable adhesives for packaging, straws and wood panels for furniture that is verified in an operational environment. The aim is to harness the potential to use graphene in adhesives for sustainable materials. In the project, starch and cellulose-based adhesives will used to develop the demonstrators.
Results from mixing 2D fabs graphene with starch-based adhesives have shown very good improved mechanical properties and enabled the production of corrugated board to run 30% faster and with lower pressure and lower temperature, which reduced energy consumption. The positive results include:
These results have been verified in operational production in factories that manufacture corrugated board made from recycled paper.
The project includes the entire value chain from raw material to final product to ensure knowledge exchange and good conditions for the development of the demonstrators. Sustainable gluing of cellulose-based materials is of great relevance to Swedish industry as companies demand improved material properties, increased productivity, and increased durability.
Project timetable: 2022-04-01 - 2024-09-30
Funders:: Vinnova
Project participants SBT: Stergios Adamopoulos,
Project partners: 2D fab AB (coordinator), Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, IKEA of Sweden AB, DS Smith Packaging Sweden AB, Bim Kemi AB, AB Tetra Pak
Total project tbudget: 8 649 002 SEK