Ecoproducts are a new class of products that, taking into account the geographic and economic context of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, are mainly worked on small scale productions and niche markets, thus seeking to reduce the dependence on imports from foreign markets and, consequently, the associated transport costs. This typology of products / materials has aroused growing interest in the construction sector also as a way of responding to the demanding rules imposed by the current context of the different markets.
Goals
The project's main objective is the development of EcoComposites reinforced with fibrous materials of natural origin, with thermal intelligence properties, for masonry structures and application in the tourism sector. It is intended to contribute efficiently to the search for opportunities to explore regional resources and the development of innovative and more sustainable products, based on fibrous materials and phase changes.
Innovation
Presentation of a solution that responds to a clearly identified need in the regional market, in this case to increase the resistance of masonry structures to cracking characteristic of the Azores region, in the tourism sector, from endogenous own resources, namely fibrous materials , often resulting from agricultural waste.
In a vision also dominated by sustainability, this project also intends to conceive a solution that follows this trend, especially with regard to energy consumption, thus triggering a more efficient management of fossil resources that originate energy. This strategic pillar will be achieved by incorporating phase change materials, which aim to provide the developed product with greater energy retention and accumulation capacities, in the form of heat, contributing positively to the fulfillment of some of the goals of the Kyoto Protocol .
For its development, strategic surveillance activities (technological and market) are planned for the endogenous resources of the Azores, namely the exploration of the extraction of fibrous materials from residues from agricultural production, giving rise to new EcoComposites.
Datasheet
The Eco Composites Intelligent project (ACORES-01-0247-FEDER-000015) is promoted by the consortium between the entities LREC (Regional Laboratory for Civil Engineering) and CIMPA (Center for Innovation in Advanced Materials and Products, Lda.).
