One of the biggest challenges in our society is the transition from fossil-based materials to bio-based materials. One example where Chalmers and KTH works jointly is to find solutions to how the society can transform from fossil-based to bio-based thermoplastic polymers. One of the major problems is production when bio-based materials are used for developing new products. More specific, the process temperature needs to be high, and this causes degradation of the materials.
This course aims to teach melt processing production methods, how biobased materials can be enabled to melt processing and the challenges related to these production methods. One part of the project will be to contact companies and students to identify challenges with production of biobased-materials and based on this come up with hypotheses and solutions on how to solve these problems.
General information
The course is a project course with selected introducing seminars and supervision via weekly tutorials by the supervisors. The focus will be on melt processing techniques (extrusion, film blowing, injection molding, compression molding), because of their industrial relevance. In this context, how materials and techniques can be adapted to use more than 75% (w/w) bio-based materials, will be addressed. Another area in the course will be to understand under which criteria new materials and process conditions are sustainable.
The course will be connected to FibRe, a Vinnova competence center with 22 partners (incl Chalmers, KTH and Swedish companies etc). The course will be aligned to fit the structure in FibRe (https://www.chalmers.se/en/centres/FibRe/Pages/default.aspx) with three different research areas. Modification of bio-based materials, Advanced Characterization and Predictive processing. Performing research in these reach areas is our contributions to how to overcome the hurdles related to the transformation to fossil-free society. This course will be closely connected and interacting with academic PIs in FibRe, but also to the FibRe industrial partners; a network which can be used as a valuable source for information and inspiration for the students attending this course.
Prerequisites
This course welcomes students from many different master’s programmes including Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Mathematics and Computational Science, Entrepreneurship and Business Design, Industrial Ecology, Innovative and Sustainable Chemical Engineering, Lärande och ledarskap, Management and Economics of Innovation, Materials Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Product Development, Production Engineering, Physics, Quality and Operations Management, Supply Chain Management
How to apply
Contact Anette Larsson at anette.larsson@chalmers.se at Applied Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, phone: +46 31 772 27 63
Contact Giada Lo Re giadal@chalmers.se at Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Division of Engineering Materials, phone: +46- (0)31 7726480
Details
Teacher (s): Anette Larsson, Giada Lo Re
Course dates: Study period 3-4, 2024
Credits: 7.5
Level: Advanced
Course code: TRA255
Application deadline: Closed for applications.