New NRC Initiative on Bioproducts for Construction

Researchers at the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa have started a new R&D initiative on bioproducts for application in construction. Bioproducts are obtained from the use of biomass, that, renewable, biological-based, raw materials. The building blocks of biomass include vegetable oils, proteins, lignin, and complex sugars like cellulose and starch. Interesting sources of these building blocks are industrial by-products including, for instance, agricultural fibres.

Bioproducts are an alternative to petroleum-derived products. The motivation for their use is increased sustainability and environmental protection, as biomass feed stock is biodegradable and renewable. Biomaterials are an element in the movement towards “greener” construction.

Researchers are interested in the development of new biomaterials, and the investigation of their performance and long-term durability including, for instnce, applications in water protection, biofibre-reinforced materials, insulation and thermal storage. In this respect, industrial partners are sought for the development and investigation of bio-materials, including (but not limited to) bio-adhesives for roofing, bio-asphalt, lignin-based composites, bio-polyurethanes for coatings and insulation, and the use of bio-fibres in cementitious materials and concrete.

For more information, contact Dr. J.F. Mason at (613) 993-2144, Fax: (613) 954-5984 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .