ChitinFluid

CHITIN AS A RESOURCE FOR MULTIFUNCTIONAL MATERIALS VIA WATER-BASED COMPLEX FLUIDS 

The multidisciplinary project has a central objective to open up new ways for the technological processing of the biopolymer chitin through targeted modification into new innovative materials, that could be applied in the building industry (Link to the project: https://www.project.uni-stuttgart.de/chitinfluid/project/) . The key step is the conversion of solid chitin into complex fluids that are easier to process through additive manufacturing technologies. The focus is on factors and boundary conditions that control or influence the mesoscale self-organization of chitin similar to living or chitin-modifying enzymatic systems.

The multidisciplinary project has four main independent scientific goals, that are differentiated as follows:

1. Modified chitin raw materials
2. Chitin-based complex fluids
3. Production of chitin-based materials
4. Forming and application of chitin-based materials

It is planned to investigate on the third and fourth scientific discipline for developing building components based on innovative chitin-based biocomposite building materials. In this case, the entire value chain - from raw material to usable building component - will be investigated and presented. Additive manufacturing technologies are hereby planned, including a holistic life cycle meeting the ecological and economic requirements for building products.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Arch. Hanaa Dahy
Bio-based Materials and Materials Cycles in Architecture (BioMat), University of Stuttgart

RESEARCHER

Dr. Jan Petrs
Paulina Grabowska (BioMat)

PARTNERS

Project Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Sabine Laschat, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC)
Prof. Harald Garrecht, Institute for Materials in Construction & Materials Testing (IWB)
Prof. Frank Giesselmann, Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC)
Apl. Prof. Dr. Thomas Sottmann, Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC)
Dr. Linus Stegbauer, Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology (IGVP)
Prof. Ingrid Weiss, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems (IBBS)

FUNDING

Carl Zeiss Foundation