The aim of the project is to develop so-called Connecting Textiles. These are to form a safe, robust and electromagnetically environmentally friendly textile-based IoT infrastructure for smart wallpapers and textile surfaces in general. IoT devices such as temperature sensors can be supplied with cable-based power via these surfaces in the living area. The devices can also communicate via this and, thanks to their flexible design, enable intuitive and individual configuration of Smart Homes. The contacting of IoT devices via the surfaces is simple and intuitive. The textiles in turn enable connection to standard Smart Home protocols. Various haptic interaction patterns such as touching, stroking or stretching can be used to configure interactions and thus form the basis for intelligent interactive assistance.

The transmission of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the hydrological cycle is one of the most critical issues for the global water security. Among others, ineffective wastewater treatment processes in sewage plants are responsible for contamination of water. To overcome these challenges, “HyprSTEP” project focuses on the development of a novel hybrid process based on a treatment of wastewater utilizing smart textile filters combined with membrane bioreactor (MBR). Important innovation steps are adsorptive and biocidal graphene-based coatings, which are applied on tailor-made textile filters and polymer membrane surfaces. The application of graphene will lead to the development of smart textile filter with self-cleaning properties. The optimization of polymer membranes and the tailor-made engineering of the MBR plant are also necessary. The project strives to demonstrate a strong increase in efficacy as well as profitability of the novel wastewater treatment processes.

During a fire, many toxic gases develop, to which firefighters are exposed. These include so-called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These carcinogenic substances adhere to soot particles, which can penetrate protective clothing and skin, thus entering the bloodstream and accumulating in body fat. Studies have shown an increase in cancer incidence in this occupational group.

The aim of the 3D-PAKtex project is to improve the personal protection of the emergency services from soot-borne PAH. The core element is innovative nonwovens coated with adsorbing materials for these hazardous substances and which, by being functionalized, enable permanent protection. These textiles are intended to supplement existing protective clothing by providing quickly and easily replaceable inner layers. In order to monitor the protective effect, specific sensor systems are implemented and integrated into the functional nonwoven fabric. Via a communication interface, the task force can also check the remaining capacity to bind the pollutants during fire fighting.

Wearing face masks is one of the most important measures in the current fight against the worldwide SARS Covid-19 pandemic. In various areas of our daily life as well as in medical facilities, people are obliged to wear certified, medical protective masks, mainly FFP2 and FFP3 masks. In most cases, these are for single use and cause huge quantities of textile waste.

The aim of this project is to develop face masks with antibacterial functional structures based on the new „Solvent-Detergent-Mechanism “, and with a new breathing outlet. These masks shall be easily sanitized, or respectively sterilized, by using superheated steam (120-140°C), while maintaining the filtration effect to the greatest possible extent.

Besides the reconditioning of these masks, the following aspects are crucial:

• enhancing the filtration effectivity for liquid aerosol components and finest particles
• high air permeability (low respiratory resistance during inhalation: ∆p< 1,5 mbar, with Q= 95 L/min and during exhalation ∆p < 1,5 mbar, with Q= 160 L/min)
• internal mask desinfection of liquid droplets and particles fixed on the nonwoven material
• environmentally friendly waste disposal through composting
• printable protective masks

In cooperation with Frauenhofer (IZM) in Berlin and ESYS GmbH, Norafin develops a flexible printed circuit board based on silver nonwoven. The printed circuit board is thin, light and flexible, it can be fire retardant, waterproof or breathable.
This has a decisive advantage over thin polymer films, which currently dominate the market. Conductive paths of the flexible printed circuit boards of silver nonwoven do not break.
The sustainability aspect also comes into play with this project. The electrical connections are made environmentally friendly by ultrasonic welding, the silver can be recovered.
Flexible printed circuit boards are particularly useful in the field of "smart clothing", in which rigid circuit boards can often have a disturbing effect.
Within the framework of the research project further product development results. These include a flexible measuring device for inaccessible fluid levels, a "smart mattress" with which, for example, movements and positions of patients on a screen can be made visible as well as the development of flexible nonwoven heating systems.

Partnering with the University of Freiberg and the Helmholtz Institute for Resource Technology (HZDR) Dresden-Rossendorf has allowed development of a nonwoven fabric containing silicon crystals instead of carbon particles. They serve as an anode for the absorption of Li-ions and at the same time ensure the electrical conductivity of the nonwoven. The silicon crystals are to make Li-ion batteries with much higher storage capacity (e.g. in the field of motor vehicles) possible.

Our tasks in the "SiNergy" project are:

• To find suitable fibers which, when processed into a nonwoven fabric, provide a sufficiently large surface for attaching the silicon crystals.
• Fibers must be long-term resistant to common electrolytes and must not be destroyed by the constant charging and discharging currents.
• Silicon particles must be firmly anchored to the fibers so that they remain firm despite permanent expansion and shrinkage.
• Fibers must be electrically conductive so that the electrons can be moved with sufficient speed.

Together with the partners DWI, Votech, Hanse Fine Chemicals and the University of Bayreuth, we work on new filter media, which are supposed to make the filtration of nanoparticles from gases and liquids more effective and cost-efficient than is currently possible with conventional filter media.

Our task in this project is to retrofit an existing filter nonwoven with the finest fibers by automatically growing it afterwards between the already existing fibers of the nonwoven and thereby making the filter nonwoven correspondingly more efficient. This fiber growth greatly reduces the pore system of the base fabric and significantly improves its filter properties.

This project contains the development of a nonwoven, loaded with different adsorbents to remove/capture critical pollutants and particles in process air. Packed in a multilayer filter cartridge this loaded nonwoven can remove a variety of pollutants and particles.

The following key aspects of this development are relevant to us:

• three-dimensional, sustainable loading of basis nonwovens
• selection of the deployed adsorbents/adsorbent combinations and catalytic acting nonwovens
• development of a manufacturing process for adsorption acting and catalytic active nonwovens
• manufacturing of demonstrator structures
• development of new recipes for basis nonwovens

Especially in the fields of electromobility and the automotive industry, the demands for lightweight and sustainable structures are growing. The novel composite structures shall be produced through injection die molding, winding, pressing, laminating, and pultrusion by adjacent pressing operation.

In the scope of this project, composite-based nonwovens shall be characterized and compared to solutions currently available on the market. Therefore, highly efficient methods of production should be used, and new future-oriented short scale basis technologies developed and tested. The objective is to determine in which technologies it is worth investing in, to cope with custom and environmental requirements.

Since May 26, 2004, rainwater drained from streets in Germany must no longer be routed through the sewage treatment plant. Problems in the separation of rainwater arise, for example, by vehicles whose pollutants are released and flushed from the street into the gully. Thaw salts in winter also pose a challenge for scientists.

The Norafin Gully system is based on adsorption and complex binding of pollutants. The organic pollutants are adsorptive bound in activated carbon, the metallic dissolves pollutants with the help of heavy metal binding fibers. Light metals, such as sodium are thereby little or not tied, which guarantees the functionality of the system even in winter months.

The gully cleaning unit consists of individual segments, which are filled with sorbents (e.g. activated carbon). The boundaries of the segments form nonwovens made of heavy metal binding fibers. Particles as well as dissolved pollutants are thus successfully removed from the rainwater.

Our cleaning system meets the specifications of the German Institute for Construction Technology and can be used in every season – in any weather conditions.