Removing barriers for bio-based composite production with novel water-insensitive cure systems

The use of bio-fibers in unsaturated polyester resins has to date been limited since the fibers need to be dried and processed immediately after to obtain a high quality composite. Curing systems that remove this costly and time-consuming barrier have now been developed. Roel Zuijderduin, Technical Development Manager, AkzoNobel Polymer Chemistry, and Ron Verleg, R&D Program manager, DSM Composite Resins, explain how manufacturers can replace their glass reinforcement with the right bio-fibers and produce light-weight composites with a much lower carbon footprint.