Sustainable raw materials for coatings
Working along the entire value chain, we aim to replace fossil-based materials with sustainable raw materials to minimize the CO2 footprint and improve the sustainability profile throughout the coating lifetime.
Coatings for a better future
We are driven by a desire to develop coatings for a better future. We strive to protect our environment by developing new less polluting and more sustainable coating solutions to the benefit of the society.
Improved sustainability profiles by utilizing industrial leftovers
Our purpose is not only to reduce the use of fossil fuels by using bio-based raw materials in the coatings. We also aim to eliminate the use of hazardous materials, introduce bio- renewables, incorporate recycled materials and lower VOC emissions.
Not least, we have an overall focus on developing bio-based coatings which performances are superior to those of traditional coatings throughout their entire lifetime.
Disciplines
Chemical reaction engineering, polymer chemistry, enzymes, coating formulation, degradation of biomass.
Projects
Why: We need an "easy to use" tool to tell how sustainable a coating/coating system is.
What: The project is to get a quantitative understanding of how to assess sustainability in coatings and create an "easy to use" operational model - A sustainability index.
How: In order to be able to develop the assessment method for the coating system it will be necessary to analyse the coating life cycle in detail. This includes several steps which needs to be evaluated individually:
- Identify hotspots in the coating life cycle.
- Develop assessment methods for the central parts
- Identify circularity potentials
- Lifetime, functionality/efficiency and “End of life” of the coating system.
- Effect on the environment.
What does it mean for society: It can be used to rank coating systems on a sustainability scale - and by then help guiding the whole coating industry to develop a more sustainable future.
Project period
The Hempel Foundation and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
The project runs from 15 October 2021 - 14 October 2024.
Supervisors
- Kim Dam-Johansen
- Michael Hauschild
Contact
Mads Juhl Postdoc Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering madju@kt.dtu.dk
Contact
Kim Dam-Johansen Professor Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering KDJ@kt.dtu.dk
Contact
Michael Zwicky Hauschild Professor Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering Phone: +45 45254664 mzha@dtu.dk
The research project
Corrosion is a major challenge in industries relying on metal structures, such as oil and gas, marine, and energy. Traditional coatings use fossil-based materials and heavy metals, which raise environmental concerns. A shift to bio-based alternatives is needed to reduce reliance on non-renewable resources. This project investigates the fundamental properties of lignin-based anti-corrosive coatings. It explores how lignin, a renewable polymer, interacts with epoxy resins to replace conventional pigments and fillers in coatings.
• The study examines more fundamental aspects related to interactions, the lignin’s particle size, and its impact on coating structure.
• By analyzing barrier mechanisms and corrosion resistance, the project aims to understand how lignin influences coating performance at a fundamental level.
• Developing bio-based coating can reduce the environmental impact of the coatings industry.
• This research supports sustainable material innovation, promoting eco-friendly alternatives that reduce dependence on fossil-based materials while maintaining effective corrosion protection
Funding
The Hempel Foundation. The project runs from 15 September 2024 to 14 September 2027.
Supervisors
- Kim Dam-Johansen
- Narayanan Rajagopalan
Contact
Azade Kafashan PhD Student Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering azkaf@kt.dtu.dk
Contact
Kim Dam-Johansen Professor Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering KDJ@kt.dtu.dk
Rising environmental and health concerns surrounding bisphenol A (BPA) in epoxy resin formulations necessitate the development of sustainable, non-toxic alternatives. This project focuses on the extraction and valorization of lignin, an abundant biopolymer derived from black liquor, to replace BPA. Understanding the efficient recovery and comprehensive characterization of lignin from this industrial byproduct is crucial to guarantee its suitability for chemical modification and subsequent integration into novel, sustainable epoxy resin matrices.
The project aims to:
* Investigate and optimize various methods for the efficient extraction of high-purity lignin from black liquor.
* Conduct comprehensive physicochemical and structural characterization of the extracted lignin to understand its molecular weight, functional groups, and thermal properties relevant for material applications.
* Chemically modify the extracted lignin to synthesize lignin-based epoxy precursors, and subsequently formulate and evaluate their performance as sustainable alternatives to BPA in epoxy resins.
* Conduct preliminary toxicity assessments of the developed lignin-based materials to confirm reduced environmental and health impacts.
This research aims to provide safer consumer products and industrial materials, promote sustainability by transforming industrial waste into valuable resources, and foster innovation in bio-based materials.
Funding
The Hempel Foundation. The project runs from 1 September 2023 - 31 August 2026.
Supervisors
- Martin Høj
- Kim Dam-Johansen
- Hau Wu
- Narayanan Rajagopalan
Contact
Alberto Goicoechea Torres PhD Student Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering algoto@kt.dtu.dk
Contact
Kim Dam-Johansen Professor Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering KDJ@kt.dtu.dk