ESPERANTO
ESPERANTO tackles the technical and environmental issues of photopolymerization, by developing greener and safer materials for established industrial processes and by focusing on innovative photopolymerization strategies for an efficient curing of coatings, composites and 3D printing applications. By pairing new bio-derived materials with sustainable light-based technologies, ESPERANTO aims at the training of researchers with sound technical skills and strong environmental consciousness.
Project Partners
- Polymer Competence Center Leoben
- Politecnico di Torino - Coordinator
- Universite de Montpellier
- Université de Haute Alsace
- Montanuniversität Leoben
- Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine
- Yildiz Technical University
- Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
- Logitech (Europe) Sa
- Helios Tovarna Barv, Lakov In Umetnih Smol Količevo doo
- Kayalar Kimya San Tic ve A.S.
- Adler-Werk Lackfabrik Johann Berghofer Gmbh und Co KG
- Centre Technique De L’industrie Des Papiers Cartons Et Celluloses
- Sicpa Sa
- Microla Optoelectronics s.r.l.
- Ecopack s.p.a.
Motivation and Goals
Photopolymers are a promising class of materials for sustainable processes as they are cured at room temperature (lower energy consumption than thermal curing processes), do not need any solvents and are faster and more efficiently produced. Thus, photoinduced polymerization is a key enabling technology (KET) for coatings, printing inks, packaging, wood finishing, and (micro)electronics. New sectors can leverage photopolymerization, e.g. growing industries such as 3D printing and other end-user industries such as in the medical sector. Also small enterprises, which are the largest job creators and the most critical for the early stages of industrialization, can easily and advantageously uptake this technology, as the intrinsic features of photoinduced reactions and the simple setup of the plants help reducing waste, raising energy efficiency and improving production processes.
Although the photoinduced polymerization technology is greener than most chemical processes, it still presents sustainability issues, and low industrial uptake in advanced materials applications. ESPERANTO aims at improving the sustainability of photoinduced polymerization and boosting the use of this technology in the industrial sector, to replace less sustainable processes.
It embraces the EU strategy supporting more sustainable and safer consumption and productions, transforming the way polymeric products are designed, produced, used and recycled. ESPERANTO converts chemical knowledge and ideas into prototypes demonstrating the readiness of the photopolymerization technology for new applications to promote the industrial uptake. ESPERANTO addresses sustainability not only by technological innovation, but also by training of a new generation of researchers. Commitment to sustainability is still a very niche priority, ranking high only in Government and Healthcare and rather low across all the other sectors. ESPERANTO is a training programme focused on sustainability to form creative, entrepreneurial, innovative researchers, having environmental responsibility. The researchers gain transferable competences to lead and manage the innovation in the field of photopolymerization with a systematic approach to sustainability.
Main Goals
ESPERANTO has three main goals
- Development and application of greener and safer chemicals for photopolymerization and innovative sustainable photopolymerization processes
- Synthesis and development of new sustainable materials and prototypes based on photo processes and their modelling
- training of researchers with sound technical skills and strong environmental consciousness
Objectives and Approach
In ESPERANTO, new chemicals for sustainable photo processes are developed which particularly include safer photoinitiators and biobased oligomers for photoinitiator-free reactions. Moreover, photoinduced processes are pursued which are capable of providing recyclable materials and endow photopolymer with photo-switchable properties (e.g., a light-induced change in wettability and adhesion). Materials and prototypes (e.g., bioinspired surfaces, light-responsive foams and bio-based coatings) are prepared via sustainable photo processes and upscaled (together with partners from industry).
The research in ESPERANTO covers the entire route from preparing sustainable raw materials to offering green solutions for new manufacturing processes and products. The results concerning the development of greener materials and processes, demonstrating the potential of the technique in innovative fields are made available to stakeholders according to the communication and dissemination strategies set. Thus, ESPERANTO is a real driver of sustainable innovation and make a long-term impact on EU industry and society.
„ESPERANTO fosters technological innovations for sustainability through a new generation of researchers.“
Downloads & Links
Fördergeber
This project has received funding from the EU’s Horizon 2021 programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) grant agreement No 101073432.
