Forest for Sport (ForeSport)

Purpose and goal:

The primary goal of this cross-industry project is to investigate and confirm the feasibility to replace fossil-based materials, EPS (expanded polystyrene) and PU (polyurethane), that are used in the sport industry. The target is to produce a biofoam with forest-based materials and to incorporate it in a sport composite demonstrator. Facts and data about the new biofoam solutions will be generated, e.g., material compositions / performance, production techniques etc.

Expected results and effects:

The hypothesis of using forest-based material as an additive to make a bio-foam material has been investigated and confirmed. Laboratory trials with different material blends of polymer, forest-based materials, and foaming agents were made and the results indicated that it is indeed possible to create foam structures. Test pieces (dog bones) that contain forest-based materials between 14 and 56 wt% have been produced and analyzed.

The knowledge and experiences accumulated through this project will pave the road for future development of the concept. Approach and implementation:

The project started with selection of materials to produce a bio-foam, e.g. polymer, forest-based materials, and foaming agents. Even long-term targets (beyond the feasibility project) for possible sport applications of the bio-foam were considered in the beginning, e.g. mass density and hydrophobicity of the bio-foam when used in surfboard. The laboratory trials were conducted and analyzed at RISE using materials provided by Holmen.

There have been tight communications / discussion on the testing results and upcoming activities via TEAMS among all of the project partners.