Issue 02/2019

Building & Construction
Biocomposite made from
sunflowers
With the scientific expertise of the ENSIACET laboratory
(Toulouse, France), Studio Thomas Vailly (Eindhoven,
The Netherlands) investigated for Atelier Luma (Arles,
France), the potential of sunflower leftovers to create novel
applications. Focusing on the transformation of biobased matter,
this project explores the potential of sunflower residues to create
new applications and prototypes embedded in sustainable,
innovative production systems. Such potential applications include
for instance, panels for architectural designs (Fig. 1)
Sunflowers are commonly farmed to produce oil, seeds or biofuel.
After pressing the oil out, a part can be used as animal feed
– the presscake - but most of the crop remains unused. The stalk’s
foamy structure, the strong fibre of the bark or the flower’s dark
brown proteins are left behind. These agro-wastes can be valuable
resources to produce novel biomaterials.
Based on scientific papers [1, 2, 3] a system of bio-materials
using exclusively sunflower by-products has been investigated
and designed. No petroleum based binder, no toxic varnish, all the
necessary ingredients are extracted from the sunflower crop. The
presscake – the remain of sunflower seed after the oil has been
extracted - is turned into a waterbased glue and heat pressed into
a thin and flexible film resembling leather (Fig. 2).
Traditionnaly, only the flower head is harvested in late summer.
However, the stalk of the plant can also be used. Harvested a
month after the flower head, the bark–fibers can be separeted
from the structural foamy marrow. The bark’s fibers are heat
pressed into hardboard while the marrow is shaped into an
aggregate, a natural alternative to polystyrene.
These different bio-materials can be coated with a Sunflower
varnish to enhance their resistance to water. The glue extracted
from the seeds is the perfect adhesive to assemble these different
materials. The Sunflower crop offers a unique range of bio-based
and bio-degradable material. Entering the realm of bioplastics,
a vast number of applications of what was previously considered
waste becomes possible: from a tiny bolt to a large insulation
panel, from a bio-board to a smartphone case. MT
[1] Marechal, V. ; Rigal, L., 1999. Characterization of by-products of sunflower
culture - commercial applications for stalks and heads. Industrial Crops and
Products, 10 (3): 185-200
[2] Evon, Philippe & Vandenbossche, Virginie & Pontalier, Pierre-Yves & Rigal,
Luc. (2014). New thermal insulation fiberboards from cake generated during
biorefinery of sunflower whole plant in a twin-screw extruder. Industrial Crops
and Products. 52. 354-362. 10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.10.049.
[3] Rouilly, Antoine & Mériaux, Alexandra & Geneau-Sbartaï, Céline & Silvestre,
Françoise & Rigal, Luc. (2006). Film extrusion of sunflower protein isolate.
Polymer Engineering and Science. 46. 10.1002/pen.20634.
http://www.vailly.com/projects/sunflower-entreprise-/
Fig 1 : Architectural design possibilities
(Photo : Studio Thomas Vailly, Atelier Luma)
Fig 2. : Sunflower protein leather
(Photo: atelierLUMA-Victor Picon)
Info:
Concept & design by studio Thomas Vailly
Project management by Atelier Luma
In collaboration with the INRA/INP-ENSIACET laboratory.
Made possible with the generous funding from the Luma
Foundation and Stimuleringsfonds creative industrie
22 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/19] Vol. 14