Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBPTall oil is obtained from wood during pulp manufacture. Tall oil is a raw material for the production of a wide range of materials. Tall oil consists up to 50 percent of fatty acids, from which a reactive resin system is formed after separation by distillation and subsequent epoxidation. In combination with a hardener component, permanently usable plastics are formed, which are further processed to a compact molding material or to foams. This aim will be achieved by the stepwise substitution of an epoxidized linseed oil by epoxidized tall oil.
The development of foamed biopolymers and a corresponding processing technology is a major result of this project. The novel property profile of the materials produced from almost 100 percent regenerative sources is conveyed beyond the simple material substitution by an appealing material‑based design.
