Obituary: renewably-sourced thermosets pioneer Uwe Schönfeld

Uwe Schönfeld, a well-respected researcher of thermosetting resins based on renewable materials has died following a long illness at the age of 63.

Schönfeld graduated from Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences in Germany with a degree in chemical engineering. Prior to his involvement in bio-based resin systems, he worked for a number of years at Fraunhofer Institute LBF in Stuttgart. It was while working as a laboratory and project manager at Preform GmbH, that he first became interested in the use of natural materials, and he turned his attention to the development of composites based on natural raw materials.

As R&D manager at Preform Bio-Composites GmbH & Co KG and Bio-Composites And More GmbH, his focus shifted to the development of biobased materials derived from plant oils.

Uwe Schönfeld was closely involved in the search for a natural fibre-reinforced SMC system for a bus body component, which culminated in the development of a product made from hemp fibre and PTP resin. The innovative new composite, supported by the DBU (German Federal Environmental Foundation), was awarded an innovation prize in the environmental category by AVK-TV in Baden-Baden in 2005.

Uwe Schönfeld will be remembered for his visionary ideas, his critical spirit and his warm personality.