The aim of this project was the replacement of traditional mineral oil based plastics with innovative bio-based resin systems for aeronautical applications. Due to the high quality requirements of this field this challenge was much larger than in other industrial segments, therefore the use of functionalised plant oils alone as bio-components of matrices in aeronautical composites is not enough. According to our concept, flame retarded special hybrid thermosetting polymer system had to be prepared using bio-based components. Innovative combination of new ideas of resin synthesis including click chemistry and sol gel reactions (providing flexibility of organic component balanced with hardness and thermal stability of the inorganic component), patented environmentally friendly reactive flame retardant components and modification of natural fibre by (patented) organic chemical and/or enzymatic method resulted in bio-based epoxy composites of highly enhanced performance.

The knowledge of a recently patented idea was adapted to improve the recyclability of thermosetting bio-composites. The robustness of the technology was ensured by process controlled reactors equipped with unique spectrometric feedback. The team of proposers included various research groups of Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), whose activities (preparative green chemistry, enzymatic reactions, reactive fire retardancy, hybrid bio-composites, and innovative structural and mechanical evaluation) complete each other. The experiences of the proposers acquired in realisation of another current CleanSky project represented a good starting point for achieving the required scientific and technical quality.