LeichtPRO

LEICHTPRO: PULTRUDED LOAD-BEARING LIGHTWEIGHT PROFILES OF NATURAL FIBRE BIOCOMPOSITES

The overall objective of the research project is the development of lightweight profiles and components from renewable raw materials such as hemp and straw in combination with a resin from epoxidized vegetable oil. The physical and mechanical properties of the newly developed materials should approximate the requirements of lightweight profiles and components made of glass-fibre reinforced polymer composites (GFRP). Two types of profiles are to be developed in the project: new biocomposite pultruded profiles for load-bearing functions and and connecting nodes to be applied in lightweight sustainable circular constructions.

The ultimate goal is to apply bio-based lightweight constructions to address sustainability in architecture while saving raw materials, costs and energy in production and to maximize the use of renewable bio-resources, especially the ones that are annually renewable.

The supporting profiles are fabricated through pultrusion processes, the connecting nodes are cured by hot pressing of compounds consisting of short natural fibres and bio-resins.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Arch. Hanaa Dahy
Director of Bio-based Materials and Materials Cycles in Architecture (BioMat) Research Group atvInstitute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), University of Stuttgart

RESEARCHERS

Piotr Baszynski (BioMat at ITKE)
Evgenia Spyridonos (BioMat at ITKE)

PARTNERS

University of Stuttgart, BioMat/ITKE
Deutsche Institute für Textil und Faserforschung (DITF)
CG TEC GmbH Carbon- und Glasfasertechnik
ZENVISION GmbH

FUNDING

The FNR - Fachagentur für Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V./ BMEL Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft. FKZ: 22027018