German researchers develop more sustainable composites from flax and chitosan

In Germany, composite materials provide stability in aircraft parts, sports equipment, and everyday household items. However, most of these materials have a poor carbon footprint and are not naturally degradable. A more sustainable alternative has been developed by a team from the University of Stuttgart from the Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology (IGVP). This completely bio-based composite material is made of flax fibers and the biopolymer chitosan.

In order to be able to offer more environmentally friendly products, the composites industry needs alternatives to fossil materials. The challenge is to find the right balance between economical production, excellent material properties, and sustainability. Biocomposites made from natural components that are biodegradable, non-toxic, and renewable – and thus have a low carbon footprint – offer one possible solution. Such a material has now been developed by researchers from the Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology (IGVP), the Institute of Aircraft Engineering (IFB), and the Institute of Computer Architecture and Computer Engineering (ITI). The team has successfully produced chitosan–flax biocomposites. These materials consist of flax fibers, which act as a reinforcing element, and the biopolymer chitosan, which is derived from chitin and holds the flax fibers together.