Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf (DITF) and FILK Freiberg Institute gGmbH were delighted to receive the main prize of €2,000 for the biopolyester synthetic leather developed as part of a research project. This could be used in car interiors, but also for furniture, fashion, or leisure activities.
Many conventional synthetic leathers are flexible composite materials that no longer meet today's sustainability criteria. Recycling synthetic leather constructed in this way is very costly or even impossible.
In an AIF (Allianz für Industrie und Forschung) project DITF and FILK developed a synthetic leather in which both the fiber material and the coating polymer are identical. The varietal purity is a prerequisite for an industrial recycling concept.
The aliphatic polyester polybutylene succinate (PBS) was recommended as the base material because of its properties. PBS can be produced from biogenic sources and is now available on the market in several grades and in large quantities. Its biodegradability has been demonstrated in tests.
