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VAPERAIL – Bio-based materials for the manufacture of railway bearings

This collaborative research project conducted at Icam-Lille, tackles the challenge of valorizing lignin, an extremely abundant aromatic biopolymer derived from the paper industry, of which 98% is currently incinerated. To overcome its complex structure and natural incompatibility with traditional plastics, this project proposes a breakthrough solution: catalytically modifying industrial lignin using vegetable oils. The core objective is to develop new bio-sourced polyamide blends (particularly PA 11) with a high lignin content, specifically designed for the manufacture of high-performance and eco-friendly railway components.

  • 2023 to 2026
  • Lille
VAPERAIL – Bio-based materials for the manufacture of railway bearings

To drive this innovation from the laboratory scale to an industrial proof of concept, the project employs a comprehensive approach covering the entire value chain. Following a phase of chemical functionalization and scale-up of the raw material, the new materials undergo an extrusion process (compounding) and a rigorous characterization of their mechanical and thermal properties, as well as their environmental durability. Finally, the manufacturing of actual buffer prototypes is systematically paired with a complete Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), ensuring that these bio-sourced alternatives offer a genuine reduction in ecological impact compared to the petro-sourced materials they aim to replace.

Researchers and their associate labs

Accéder à la fiche de Clément DUMONT
Lille

Clément DUMONT

Researcher lecturer
Accéder à la fiche de Tiphaine RICHARD
Lille

Tiphaine RICHARD

Researcher lecturer

Platform associated at Icam

Accreditations and labels

Networks

  • CIRSES