The conference, which will be held as a hybrid event in Cologne (Germany) from 2 to 3 February 2022, sees itself as an international forum for the development of new cellulose fibres and materials as well as their manufacturing processes. Exhibitors include leading fibre manufacturers; participants come from thirteen countries. The conference advisory board has nominated six products from among numerous submissions that are convincing due to their sustainable production processes and special application possibilities.

The Competence Centre Biopolymer Materials at DITF Denkendorf took part in the competition with the presentation of carbon fibres, which are obtained from the raw material wood in a novel and sustainable process. The HighPerCellCarbon® technology describes a patented process that has been further developed under the leadership of Dr. Frank Hermanutz: As a result, carbon fibres based on biopolymers can be produced in a sustainable and particularly environmentally friendly process.

The HighPerCellCarbon® process involves the wet spinning of cellulose fibres using ionic liquids (IL) as direct solvents. The filament spinning process is the central technical part. It takes place in an environmentally friendly and closed system. The solvent (IL) is completely recycled. The cellulose fibres produced in this way are converted directly into carbon fibres in a further development step by a low-pressure stabilisation process, followed by a suitable carbonisation process. No waste gases or toxic by-products are produced during the entire process sequence.