Credits: ETS Extrusionstechnik Stange I ITKE – Universität Stuttgart

Manufacturer
ETS Extrusionstechnik Stange
D-06249 Mücheln

Design
ITKE – Universität Stuttgart
D-70174 Stuttgart
www.itke.uni-stuttgart.de 

As part of a research project, the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart developed profiles made of bio-based materials for use in facades and windows. The profiles are produced by means of extrusion and co-extrusion processes and contain a high percentage of straw fibres obtained from agricultural waste. As a replacement for profiles made of petroleum-based plastics, they could therefore result in more sustainable construction. Besides having equally good mechanical properties as compared to their conventional counterparts, the processing conditions for the biocomposites are also comparable. What’s more, they can be extruded with the kind of complex cross-sections necessary for window profiles.

Jury
Materials have a key role to play if construction is to become more sustainable. Bio-based plastics made from renewable raw materials are extremely interesting in this context, partly also because they can be processed using conventional methods.