Werner Hufenbach from the Technical University Dresden made contributions from materials research and plastics technology for new textile light-weight structures. As one example for the functionalization of surfaces according to nature's principles, Karin Jacobs from the University Saarbrücken explained the gecko effect. Thomas Scheibel who just changed from Munich to the University of Bayreuth talked about the bio-inspired production and the processing of spider-silk.
The lectures of the technical sessions concentrated on the design of surfaces and interfaces as well as on the physical basics to create new material properties. Many new textile products are based on the combination of different materials and the technology to join these components.
Many examples were presented, from new bicomponent fibres to ceramic and nanoparticulate coatings, insulation gloves, layered systems in footwear, hygiene, and textile architecture. A considerable focus was laid on textile machinery. New products, technologies and machinery concepts, e.g., for drive technology and energy saving were presented.
Many lectures were dedicated to new composite materials. Concrete is classically such a material. Nowadays, there are the first objects and buildings made out of textile re-inforced concrete. Engineering composite materials is playing a key role not only in building industry, but also in production.
Fibre reinforced plastics provide extensive opportunities to develop lightweight products with high specific strength and rigidity for the cost effective production of components in the automobile and machinery industry.
The first Aachen-Dresden International Textile Conference was rounded off by an extensive poster exhibition. About 80 poster contributions from students and co-workers of the organizing institutes as well as many foreign research institutes presented latest research results.
The second Aachen-Dresden International Textile Conference will take place in Dresden on December 4-5, 2008.
Deutsches Wollforschungsinstitut an der RWTH Aachen e.V.
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