LOC Composites
Replacement of petroleum-based polymers
QSEIF Funding: $200,000
Project Dates: 2006
Project details
LOC Composites developed composite panels for residential and industrial construction which replaces most petroleum-based chemicals with natural compounds.
About the technology
LOC’s commercial production floor panel contains about 70% natural compounds derived from vegetable oils and fats, or extracted from bark, nut shells and waste streams from paper manufacture. These natural compounds are not simply “fillers”, but are chemically bonded within the polymer resin.
This product uses less energy and water to manufacture than other building materials, such as particle board, aluminium or fibro. It also provides excellent potential for recycling at the end of its life—the panel can be ground and mixed with fresh resin to form new products.
Project status
LOC are in the early stages of commercialisation for their composite panels, which they now market as CarbonLoc™. This product is gaining a significant amount of interest from industry, particularly in the area of civil engineering where the product is being trialed as beams for bridges.
Please consult the Fact Sheet (PDF, 152K)* for information regarding this project
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Last reviewed 27 March 2012
Last updated 5 April 2011