Waste to Worth: Innovating rubber compounds for injection moulding from forestry residues – step 1

Category: Hypothesis testing projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a sustainable and high-performance bio-based rubber compound for injection moulding by utilizing waste birch bark extraction, via polymerization and precise development of a rubber recipe. This dual approach ensures that the material not only harnesses the natural benefits of suberin but is also optimized for specific demands of injection moulding.

The project will be divided into two work packages:

1. Identification of influencing Factors: investigate the factors within rubber compounds that affect rheology, thus the injection molding ability and understand the underlying mechanisms.
2. Recipe Optimization and prototyping: Refine the formulation and proceed with prototyping.

Participants

Reselo AB and KTH (Royal Institute of Technology).

Budget & time plan

The project’s total budget is 869 500 SEK and the project runs for six months – between October 2024 and April 2025.