Alès, October 16^th – 17^th, 2018

Chairmen: Pr. L. Ferry and Dr. R. Sonnier 

C2MA (Centre des Matériaux des Mines d’Alès) part of IMT (Institut Mines-Télécom), Alès and EPNOE (European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence) are organizing a workshop entitled “Towards flame retardant biopolymers and biocomposites: current research strategies, scientific barriers and perspective applications”.
This workshop is a unique opportunity to gather experts in flame retardant technology and specialists in polymers and composites based on bioresources. These two communities will be brought together to enable them to work more closely. The replacement of oil-based materials by bio-based ones is one of the main trends driving the development of innovative functional materials. This leads to new challenges which need to be overcome: Which bioresources and building blocks are available to develop flame retardants from bio-based materials? Which synthesis and functionalization strategies are required? How to improve the flame retardancy of biobased materials such as, for example, natural fibres which are already used as reinforcements in composite materials?
This meeting aims to review the existing knowledge, share ideas and envisage new strategies enabling the improvement of the thermal and fire retardant behavior of biobased materials and/or to develop biobased flame retardant additives through biomimetic approaches. It is expected that the workshop will foster collaborative projects between academics and industry.