The construction sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption worldwide. Currently, around 37% of global CO₂ emissions are attributed to the construction and building sector. In addition, this sector was responsible for approximately 55% (around 229 million tonnes) of Germany’s total waste generation in 2020.
One way to mitigate these issues is to increase the use of sustainable, biogenic building materials such as wood- and paper-based products. However, building products made from these materials must be equipped with suitable additives to ensure flame retardancy. Alongside currently available commercial products, which generally cannot be considered sustainable, biobased alternatives are increasingly being researched. Biogenic residual materials such as lignin or low-grade starch fractions are suitable raw materials, for example, for modifications with phosphorus- and nitrogen-containing groups to produce biogenic flame retardants.
The aim of a joint project launched by the Institute of Wood Technology Dresden gGmbH (IHD) and the Pulp and Paper Technology Institute gGmbH (PTS) is to develop lightweight, sustainable building elements made from panel-shaped wood-based materials and a paper core, with a particular focus on the incorporation of biogenic flame retardants. To this end, novel flame retardants for use in papers, wood-based materials and in coating formulations, lacquer systems and impregnations are being developed collaboratively. Subsequently, the application possibilities and effectiveness of the flame retardants in the paper and wood-based materials used will be tested.
The individual components for the core and face layers will be joined and progressively further developed into the finished, flame-retardant lightweight element. At IHD, extensive fire tests will also be carried out on the individual components and the finished elements. The result will be a building component that exhibits all the necessary application-relevant properties, including mechanical strength, flame retardancy and long-term durability.
The project is being carried out in two subprojects at IHD, under funding code 49MF250001, and at PTS, under funding code 49MF250006, and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy within the framework of the INNO-KOM guideline, module “Market-Oriented Research and Development”.
Contact: IHD: Daniel Hafner, daniel.hafner@ihd-dresden.de
PTS: Cornell Wüstner, cornell.wuestner@ptspaper.de