Integrated manufacturing of REciclable multi-material COmposites for the TRANSport sector
Design and Development of Sustainable Polyurethane Foam: a Proof?of?Concept as Customizable Packaging for Cultural Heritage Applications
World cultural heritage is an invaluable resource and must be preserved. Conventional packaging materials, such as polystyrene?PS, polyurethane (PU) foams, paper?like tissue, and nylon fabric, are petrol?based. According to Agenda 2030, and Green Deal directives, the development of alternative bio?based materials has gained significant scientific and technological relevance. In this scenario, a new sustainable packaging material for safe storage and transporting of the artifacts, based on a sustainable PU foam filled with 6 wt.% of Zeolite 4A, is herein proposed. Zeolite 4A dispersion into PU matrix imparts higher compression strength and energy absorption capability with respect to unloaded materials (7?fold increase), owing to its remarkable cell nucleating effect. The proposed foam can adsorb water vapor, up to 29 wt.%, thus contributing to regulating the humidity around the artifact. A remarkable advantage of the developed foam is the possibility to use it as plaster for precisely casting the article to protect, resulting in strongly improved handling, protection, and transportation safety with respect to conventional packaging solutions. A proof?of?concept workflow is proposed, consisting of: i) 3D scanning of the original artifact, ii) its replication through 3D printing, iii) the use of such replica to prepare a tailored cast of the artifact shape.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
» Author: Annachiara Pascarella, Federica Recupido, Giuseppe Cesare Lama, Luigi Sorrentino, Assunta Campanile, Barbara Liguori, Mathéo Berthet, Gennaro Rollo, Marino Lavorgna, Letizia Verdolotti
» Publication Date: 15/02/2024
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 768737
