Beyond industry partners, BIO-UPTAKE also brings together leading universities whose research is shaping the future of bio-based materials. Today, we’re spotlighting the University of Limerick, whose scientific expertise plays a key role in advancing sustainable composite technologies.
Their team, including Jean Rougé and Anne Beaucamp Mc Loughlin, led by Maurice N Collins recently published an exciting study titled:
“𝑾𝒆𝒕-𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒏/𝒃𝒊𝒐-𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒚𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒔.”
The research explores a major challenge in the development of bio-based carbon fibres: replacing petroleum-derived precursors with renewable alternatives without compromising performance or scalability.

🔬 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁?
It introduces a cost-effective and scalable wet-spinning technique, aligning with the method used for 95% of commercial carbon fibres.
The researchers develop fibres using Kraft lignin and bio-based TPU, optimising their interaction for maximum carbon yield.
Their optimised 60:40 KL–TPU composition achieves impressive results, including:
Tensile strength: 618.2 ± 64.71 MPa
Tensile modulus: 34.77 ± 5.10 GPa
Fibre diameter: 23.8 µm
These fibres represent a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for non-structural applications and an important step toward greener composite solutions. 🌱📚
If you want to know more, you can find the article here: Wet-spinning and carbonisation of water coagulated lignin/bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane precursor fibres - ScienceDirect