Demands to reduce CO2 emissions and environmental impacts of products have dramatically increased in recent years.
Engineers of all industries are seeking answers in new technical solutions and materials. The right answer is using composites whose biggest benefits are making structures lighter and extending their service life. Let us go even further - organic fibres are getting closer to the properties of mineral reinforcement. But is this enough? It is time to focus also on the matrix.
Spolchemie offers EnviPOXY, a drop-in bioplastic material, epoxy resin whose input is waste glycerine from biodiesel production, containing 28% of biocarbon (ASTM D6866). Technological solutions for the production developed in Spolchemie can completely replace propylene with the bio-based glycerine.
This chemical reaction has been known for years but there has been no technology that could bring the process into industrial manufacturing. In 2007, a device was put in operation in Spolchemie that has been developed and tested by the company’s own human and operational resources. Since then, it has proven its worth in practice and within the integrated production it provides epichlorohydrin for two production units of low molecular weight epoxies which are among the most modern in Europe (2004 and 2007).
The product is advanced epoxy resin with an extremely low chlorine content, with high purity and excellent characteristics of conventional resins. EnviPOXY was, as the first epoxy resin assessed in the “cradle to gate” LCA system and achieved the world's EPD certificate in 2011, issued by Environdec.
The thermosetting composites business today has a great solution for typical industries where epoxies are necessary for their high chemical, temperature and weather resistance, extreme durability and other qualities: general construction, transportation, wind energy, or electricity. All of these industries with a high consumption of material are in the viewfinder of European legislation and by using EnviPOXY, whether with conventional or bio-based reinforcement fibres, you can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of your products.
EnviPOXY is also interesting for the segment of final consumers who are sensitive to their own carbon footprint and a healthy lifestyle is their life program. Due to extremely low water absorption of epoxies, EnviPOXY is an ideal material for water, winter and outdoor sports: boats, kayaks, boards, skis, snowboards, bikes, golf clubs, hockey sticks, and other sporting goods. Exclusive functional characteristics in combination with wood and other natural fibres, along with the long service life and aesthetic appearance, predestine EnviPOXY to become a fashion icon of a healthy lifestyle.
EnviPOXY line (previously named CHS-EPOXY G) now includes three types of epoxies suitable not only for composite systems but for all solutions in the industry and general construction where reducing the carbon footprint is discussed, such as vehicle coatings, surface treatment of bridges and constructions, flooring, etc. The strong and experienced research team of the company’s own R&D institute and technical service offers system development in cooperation with customers, tailored to their needs. The option of environmentally friendly hardeners and reactive solvents in systems for composites is available by ordering apart from EnviPOXY.
Thanks to the integrated production in the centre of Europe in the Czech Republic, any further increase in the carbon footprint is minimised because of the long transport routes of individual production inputs.
