Competence Center Textile Chemistry, Environment, Energy

The Competence Center Textile Chemistry, Environment, Energy combines expertise in the fields of chemistry and process engineering for textile finishing of yarns and textile surfaces. In addition to the development of coated textiles, central topics include textiles as carriers for microorganisms, textiles for energy generation and for filter applications. The competence center is a partner for the industry for research and development and for the production of pilot series.

In basic research, the scientists work together with a worldwide network in bionics.

In all textile-chemical relevant topics, the economical use of resources and the avoidance of harmful chemicals in production are at the forefront. The aim is to eliminate health hazards at the workplace, reduce emissions and produce textiles free of harmful substances.

In the field of environment and energy, the focus is on the development of functional textiles, biotechnology and filtration as well as textile materials for renewable energies, energy storage and transformation of energy flows.

An important future topic is ink -jet printing, which is used to equip textiles with previously unique functions.

Range of services:

  • Production of coated, biodegradable fiber materials
  • Production of textile carrier materials for microorganisms
  • Recycling of fibers
  • New textile finishing processes to reduce water, energy and chemicals
  • Functional textiles for biotechnology, filtration and other barrier functions of fiber-based materials
  • Development of textile materials for energy generation (solar technology) and energy storage (fuel cells)
  • Ink-jet printing on textiles: fabric preparation, colour printing and functions such as electrical conductors, electroluminescence, fluorescence, etc.

 

Technologies:

Small systems up to pilot production:

  • Dyeing
  • Coating of yarns and surfaces (water-based, thermoplastic, with ionic liquids, foamed) with plasma pretreatment
  • Lamination
  • Screen and inkjet printing
  • UV curing
  • Digital process technologies for surface functionalization and build-up of (fiber-reinforced) polymer layers on textiles
  • Analytics (including measurement technology for cleanroom textiles, biodegradation)