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Checkerspot And Cambium Partner To Create Bio-Based Material For Defence Applications
Targeting The Gap For Eco-Friendly PFAS-Free Materials For Extreme Conditions, Checkerspot And Cambium Partner To Develop A Fire And High-Temperature Resistant Pfas-Free Foam
Issue #021
The Need For Industrial High-Performance Materials
Aerospace, automotive, shipping, and construction, are critical industries that all use high-performance materials with safety properties such as fire and impact resistance. Have you ever wondered how materials get these properties? Traditionally we have relied on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
However, the health and environmental risks associated with PFAS have propelled innovators to search for alternatives. Among these innovators are biotechnology company, Checkerspot and material company, Cambium, who have joined forces to develop a new foam that is PFAS-free, high-temperature, and fire-resistant.
The Impact of PFAS
PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals widely used in applications from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. Their resistance to water, oil and heat is what makes them so widely used, but they are also linked to a range of health issues and are known to accumulate in the body and environment. That’s why they’re often called “forever chemicals”.
Cambium and Checkerspot Partner For A Sustainable, PFAS-Free Future
The advanced materials company, Cambium specialises in producing materials for defence and other high-performance applications. Their expertise in bioengineering and chemistry has enabled them to create composites that are resistant to high and extreme temperatures.
Checkerspot uses microalgae to produce oil as an alternative to petrochemical oils. Harnessing biotechnology, the biotechnology company can adapt their microalgal oil to rapidly prototype and achieve tailored performance properties. Using this approach, Checkerspot has already used its proprietary microalgae to make a bio-based alternative to conventional fossil-fuel-reliant polyurethane.
Upon announcement of the partnership Scott Franklin (CSO and Co-founder, Checkerspot) stated,
“We see advanced biomaterials offering a new palette of PFAS-free material solutions that deliver high performance and are excited to be expanding our materials development and commercialisation partnership with Cambium. Biotechnology is unlocking performance capabilities for materials at an increasing rate. As new biomolecules and materials are discovered, we believe that the combination of technologies and approaches will accelerate the creation and adoption of the solutions we will need as a planet.”
Together, these two companies will leverage their expertise to produce a PFAS-free high-temperature and fire-resistant foam that can be used in both commercial and defence applications.
High-performance materials without compromise
With stricter regulations and growing public concern about harmful chemicals, like forever chemicals, the demand for safer alternatives is higher than ever. This partnership is a great example of how innovation and collaboration can lead to high-performance materials that don’t compromise our health or the environment.
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