human cities : éco-composites, j. levêque

Potential of eco-Potential of eco-compositescomposites

in the elaboration and in the elaboration and designdesign

of urban furnitureof urban furnitureJoël LEVEQUEJoël LEVEQUE

AtoutVeilleAtoutVeille

« Human Cities - Sustainable Environmental Design » colloquiumBruxelles / Flagey - 21 may 2007

AtoutVeille "Human Cities" colloquium - Bruxelles - 21 may 2007 2

Preamble

About AtoutVeilleAbout AtoutVeille

French private company which provides technology-watch services in the field of platics and composites (materials, processes, equipments, …)

Main services : Technology surveys, Sourcing of suppliers, subcontractors or

partners, Technology analysis, Training in the field of information research and

analysis.


1. Introduction

2.From materials … to eco-materials

3.Eco-composites

4.Applications in the field of urban furniture

5.Future outlooks


1 – Introduction

ContextContext

Need to reduce CO2 emissions for reducing the greenhouse effect Agenda 21 Lisbon Strategy Kyoto protocol

New regulations on waste treatment Prohibition against landfill Taxes on waste incineration (for example in Sweden) Directives on waste treatment (WEEE or ELV directive for

example)

Need to promoting eco-design and use of sustainable materials like eco-composites


1 – Introduction

ObjectivesObjectives

To present the potential of eco-composites

To inform about the main characteristics of these materials

To present some applications of urban furniture available on the market


1. Introduction


3.Eco-composites


5.Future outlooks


2 – From materials … to eco-materials

From materials …From materials … (cf. A. Fuad-Luke)

Biosphere materials : derived from the living components of the planet Originate from plants, animals and micro-organisms. Renewable and readily returned to the cycles of nature.

Lithosphere materials : derived from the geological strata of the earth’s crust Abundant materials (like sand, gravel, stone and clay). But also materials whose distribution is limited (like fossil fuels,

metal ores and precious metals/stones).

Technosphere materials : generally non-renewable and not readily returned to the cycles of nature Embodied energy values tend to be much higher than in

biosphere materials. Biosphere and lithosphere materials are often processed to

create technosphere materials.


2 – From materials … to eco-materials

… … to eco-materials to eco-materials (cf. A. Fuad-Luke)

Eco-materials : have a minimal impact on the environment but offers maximum performance for the required design task They can be easily reintroduced into cycles.

Eco-materials from biosphere or bio-based materials : Materials derived from renewable resources, They are recycled by nature. NB : sometimes referred as biomaterials but this word has also

another meaning (surgery materials which are compatible with living tissues)

Eco-materials from technosphere : Materials which are closed-loop recycled. They are recycled by man-made processes.


1. Introduction

2. From materials … to eco-materials

3. Eco-composites

4. Applications in the field of urban furniture

5. Future outlooks


3 – Eco-composites

Eco-compositesEco-composites

Recycled plastics Produced from municipal solid wastes or industrial wastes

which are shredded, cleaned and pelletized.

Wood-polymer composites Thermoplastic matrix or recycled thermoplastic matrix Wood fibres or wood flour

Natural fibre composites Thermoplastic matrix or bio-based matrix Crop fibres (flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, sisal, coconut,

bamboo, …)



Advantages Recyclable Rot-proof Can be coloured UV resistant Moisture resistant Rust resistant Chipping resistant

Drawbacks Recycling cost Fluctuating prices of raw

materials Raw material quality Sourcing issues

Recycled plasticsRecycled plastics



Wood-polymer compositesWood-polymer composites

Advantages Replacement for tropical wood through domestic low value

wood (while maintaining wood-like appearance) Lower resin content than pure plastics, so lower fossil CO2

impact Little waste from processing Can be sawn, cut and screwed like wood material Better stiffness than plastics Better weather resistance and dimensional stability than

solid wood Lifetime longer than solid wood Recycling possible within the process Reduced maintenance



Drawbacks Not as « natural » than wood

(environmentalist suspicion of composites)

Lower flexural strength and modulus than solid wood

Risks of moisture absorption … and swelling (depend of composition and manufacturing conditions)

Risks of fungal colonization (depend of composition and manufacturing conditions)

Wood-polymer compositesWood-polymer composites

Wood fibres (© Beologic)

Compounds filled with wood fibres (© Beologic)



Advantages Excellent specific modulus Biodegradable Renewable Good thermal and acoustic

insulation Reduced tool wear No CO2 emissions

Low energy requirements for production

No waste after incineration

Drawbacks Low dimensional stability Biodegradable Water absorption Low thermal resistance Varying quality Bonding to plastics is weak Unsatisfactionary level of

understanding Broad range of prices

Main of advantages & drawbacks of crop Main of advantages & drawbacks of crop fibresfibres



Environmental advantages & drawbacks of Environmental advantages & drawbacks of natural fibre compositesnatural fibre composites

Advantages Saving for fossil resources Lower environmental impacts for natural fibre production Higher fibre content or lower weight of parts due to lower

density of natural fibres End-of-life incineration of natural fibres results in energy

and carbon credits

Drawbacks Fertilizer use in natural fibre cultivation Natural fibre composites could have significantly lower

operating life compared to conventional composites Water consumption for plant cultivation ?


1. Introduction


3.Eco-composites


5.Future outlooks


4 – Applications in the field of urban furniture

Products made with recycled plasticProducts made with recycled plastic

Walk ways (© JFC Plastics)

Bench (© Baccarne Design)

Barrier (© Plas Eco)



Products made with wood-polymer Products made with wood-polymer compositescomposites

Decking (© Vannplastic)

Barrier (© KindaGroup)



Products made with wood-polymer Products made with wood-polymer compositescomposites

Guide board (© WPC Corporation) Pergola (© WPC Corporation)



Products made with natural fibre compositesProducts made with natural fibre composites

Bio-based fibres (© Stemergy)

Hemp plant (© LCDA)

Building panels (© Stemergy)


1. Introduction


3.Eco-composites


5.Future outlooks


5 – Future outlooks

Main challenges in the futureMain challenges in the future

Disseminate knowledge on these materials to designers

Disseminate knowledge on urban furniture made with these materials to urbanists and architects

Need to promote european standardization (cf. CEN/TS 15534 WPC for example)

Validate selection of these materials with LCA studies (from raw material production to waste management).


Some bibliographic referencesSome bibliographic references- The Eco-Design HandbookAlastair Fuad-Luke - Thames & Hudson, 2004

- Recyclage des thermoplastiquesJean-Jacques Robin – Techniques de l’Ingénieur, 2003

- Proceedings of 3rd Wood fibre Polymer Composites International Symposium« Innovative Sustainable Materials applied to building and furniture »March 26-27, 2007 – Bordeaux (France)

- Perspectives on the performance of natural plant fibresP. O. Olesen & D. V. Plackett – Natural fibres performance forum, 1999

- Natural fiber reinforcement materialsScott W. Beckwitt – Composites Fabrication, november/december 2003

- Are natural fiber composites environmentally superior to glass reinforced compositesS. V. Joshi, L. T. Drzal, A. K. Mohanty & S. Arora - Composites : Part A, 2004

- Fibres naturelles de renfort pour matériaux compositesChristophe Baley – Techniques de l’Ingénieur, 2005


Thank you for your attention

Contact :

Joël LévêqueJoël Lévêque

Tel. : +33 (0)5 56 0 21 93Tel. : +33 (0)5 56 0 21 93

E-mail : [email protected] E-mail : [email protected]

human cities : éco-composites, j. levêque

Business

composites materials

technosphere materials

sustainable materials

lithosphere materials

abundant materials

living tissues ecomaterials

composites drawbacks

biobased materials