Innovative fiber technology can revolutionize the building structure, using carbon fiber + polyurethane materials

Through the Texoversum building, the University of Reutlingen has established a training and innovation centre for the textile industry that is unique in Europe. The nearly 2,000-square-metre textile facade of this new building is also an architectural sensation: it neatly combines the innovative capabilities of the textile industry with the 160-year tradition of the textile industry in Reutlingen. The highlight is that the parts are made of fibers wound together and held in place with a special plastic resin.

 

 

The Texoversum building's facade is just one demonstration of an entirely new technology that will revolutionize the construction industry. This complex structure is designed on a computer and is based on robot-wound carbon fiber. This fibrous structure is similar to networks found in nature, such as those found in spider webs, beetle wings or palm leaves, and is very lightweight, but at the same time highly elastic and requires very little material. This not only saves resources, but also facilitates the transportation and assembly of components.

 

The co-inventor of this innovative technology is architect Professor Moritz Dorstelmann, whose company FibR was also involved in achieving the appearance of the Texoversum building: "Compared to traditional steel and concrete structures, we were able to use a minimum of materials because the robots only processed the fibers required for the corresponding structural strength. As a result, we also reduce a lot of CO2 emissions." Professor Moritz Dorstelmann also believes that the technology has advantages in terms of roof structure, support and interior decoration.

The strength and durability required for this composite is provided by Covestro's aliphatic polyurethane resin system, Desmocomp®, where the fibers act as if they are embedded in the substrate. Pejman Norastehfar, an architect and specialist in architectural applications in Covestro's Coatings and adhesives division, explains: "This resin has strong weather resistance and resistance to the sun's high-energy ultraviolet radiation, making it ideal for outdoor applications. Other advantages for the building include excellent chemical resistance and flame retardancy.

In the Texoversum building, the facade of the textile structure serves several important functions at the same time: it gives the building a unique appearance and stabilizes the surrounding balconies. It also acts as a railing and provides the necessary shade for the glass front at the back.

The building has an interior area of approximately 3,000 square meters and is used as a workshop, laboratory, textile collection room, think tank space and classroom. The construction of the Texoversum building, which cost 18.5 million euros, was financed by the Sudwesttextil Employers' Association, whose members include FibR, based in Kernen, east of Stuttgart.