PLLA/Flax Mat/Balsa Bio-Sandwich--Environmental Impact and Simplified Life Cycle Analysis

Antoine Le Duigou (1) , Jean-Marc Deux (1) , P. Davies (1) , Christophe Baley (1)

1 LIMATB - Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Matériaux de Bretagne

In the present paper the environmental impact of biocomposites and bio-sandwich materials production are evaluated, using simplified Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) following the procedure recommended in the ISO 14044 standard. The materials are dimensioned and evaluated by comparing with reference materials, glass mat reinforced unsatured polyester and glass mat/unsatured polyester/balsa sandwich. The results indicate that bio-sandwich materials are very attractive in terms environmental impact. However further improvements in biocomposite and bio-sandwich mechanical strength are necessary if they are to be used in transport application compared to glass/polyester and glass/polyester/balsa sandwich.

Antoine Le Duigou, Jean-Marc Deux, P. Davies, Christophe Baley. PLLA/Flax Mat/Balsa Bio-Sandwich--Environmental Impact and Simplified Life Cycle Analysis. Applied Composite Materials, 2012, Volume 19 (Numbers 3-4), pp.363-378. ⟨10.1007/s10443-011-9201-3⟩. ⟨hal-00718775⟩