Fraunhofer Institute for 
In the BeBIO2 project, Fraunhofer IAP is working with partners from industry and research to investigate the use of bioplastics and biocomposites in durable products. The aim is to accelerate the implementation of a sustainable plastics economy.
Renewable resources such as lignin, cellulose and starch are increasingly important in developing new bio-based plastics. But to replace conventional products, they must show similar performance for use in office equipment, children's toys, housings for power tools, the construction industry or similar areas.
Investigation and enhancement of the durability of bioplastics and biocomposites
How bioplastics and biocomposites can be optimized and which factors influence long-term durability is being investigated by Fraunhofer IAP in twelve subprojects within the BeBIO2 research network with the University of Kassel (Institute of Materials Engineering, Department of Plastics Technology), the University of Stuttgart (Institute of Plastics Engineering) and Altair Engineering GmbH. In addition, more than 50 industrial partners are contributing their expertise.
The project covers all aspects – from material selection, processing and changes in structural properties to testing mechanical material properties and long-term stability. The investigations aim to resist numerous factors, such as temperature, humidity, UV radiation, and chemical resistance. Various industry-specific influencing factors and aging scenarios are used to develop resistant plastics for the respective application using the information obtained. The research results are incorporated into a freely accessible database to make them readily available to companies.
The BeBIO2 project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture via the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (Agency for Renewable Resources).
