BoostLab5-4: BioFlaT - Biohybrid flame retardant finish for textiles
Project duration
October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023
Project partners
RWTH Aachen, ITA (Institute of Textile Technolgy), ABBt (Chair of Biotechnology)
Project description
The aim of the BioFlaT project is to develop an innovative, biohybrid flame retardant finish based on adhesion-promoting peptides, that is anchor peptides. A key challenge in the fire protection of textiles is that many of the flame retardant additives used are harmful to the environment or health and will be eliminated in the short as well as in the long term due to tightening legal regulations, for example REACH regulation. To counteract this development, innovative and sustainable solutions must be developed to reduce the amount of flame retardant additives that are harmful to the environment and health.
In the BioFlaT project, the finishing of textiles with flame-retardant additives using anchor peptides will be performed in order to reduce the amount of required flame retardant additives and to make the flame retardant finish more durable against external influences such as washing processes, UV light, weathering, abrasion, and temperature. Anchor peptides are small amphipathic peptides up to 100 amino acids that bind as adhesion promoters with high selectivity, binding strength and coating density to a broad portfolio of materials, such as synthetic polymers, metals, ceramics, and natural materials. Anchor peptides thus enable the functionalization and finishing of textiles based on glass, aramid and natural fibers, for example linen, with functional units such as flame-retardant additives. Material functionalization by anchor peptides is carried out in an energy- and resource efficient manner at room temperature in aqueous solution.
The aim of the BioFlaT project is, through the development of a biohybrid flame retardant finish, to make the flame retardant finish of textiles more sustainable, energy efficient and durable and thus to address the tightening legal regulation of flame retardant additives and finally to make the textile industry in the Rheinisches Revier more competitive and sustainable.
Open positions
currently none