BIOTEXT - Properties and possibilities of biopolymers in spinning for textile application

Abstract

In the age of increasing concern for the environment, reduction of oil reserves, increase in the price of oil and growing problems of waste disposal, biopolymers are an alternative to replace polymers obtained from polymers from petroleum raw materials. Biopolymers are an interesting group of polymers that can be used for a wide range of applications. Biocompatibility and tunable degradation properties are properties of most biopolymers for use in new areas of application in textiles, eg artificial heart valves, in wound healing and care. One of the research focuses at the Institute for Textile Technology R WTH Aachen University (ITA) is the development of non-woven products for hygiene and medical applications based on new biopolymers. On the other hand, the properties of degradation, low temperature resistance and weak strength make most biopolymers unsuitable for, for example, applications for technical textiles, for high performance garments and other textile products. Some measures have been taken to improve the properties of biopolymers by making mixtures, composites and copolymerization. Another interesting path is in the engineering of new polymers from monomeric building blocks that can be obtained from renewable sources or biomass.