Since March 9, we are pleased to welcome Daniela Joel to the the Polymeric Materials department. She joins our team as a laboratory technician. We wish her every success in her work and warmly welcome her to the group.
New Publication: Bio-based Chitin-Lecithin Additive System for PLA
August 6th, 2026 | by Paul Marten
Polylactide (PLA), also known as polylactic acid, is a bio-based plastic that can be produced from renewable raw materials. However, its potential applications are limited by its comparatively high brittleness. Plasticisers can increase polymer-chain mobility, but they often substantially reduce the glass transition temperature or may migrate from the material during processing and use. Moreover, many conventional plasticisers are based on petrochemical raw materials.
In our recent study, we therefore investigated a fully bio-based additive system consisting of soy lecithin and chitin. Soy lecithin is a phospholipid-rich natural substance with emulsifying properties. Chitin is a natural polysaccharide that can be obtained from biogenic side streams such as crustacean shells. Lecithin alone could not be incorporated stably into PLA: during melt processing, it separated from the polymer matrix and accumulated at the surface. By combining it with chitin, however, macroscopically homogeneous PLA blends with a total additive content of up to 24 wt.% could be produced by injection moulding.
Rheological measurements showed a markedly reduced melt viscosity, while extraction tests indicated improved retention of lecithin in the presence of chitin. FTIR and SEM/EDX analyses further suggested weak physical interactions and a spatial association between lecithin and chitin. By contrast, the glass transition temperature of PLA changed only slightly.
The chitin-lecithin system therefore provides a basis for melt-processable PLA formulations containing bio-based additives. Mechanical properties, ageing behaviour, and potential applications will be investigated in future studies.
P. Marten, O. Weichold
Rheological, thermal and morphological characterisation of a melt-processable bio-based chitin-lecithin plasticiser system for PLA
Materials Today Communications, 2026, 54, 115772 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2026.115772
Shaped to Perform – Small Pellets, Big Questions
August 6th, 2026 | by Münstermann, Nils
Our new GMK-150 pellet press from TechnoMaszBud has arrived. Equipped with interchangeable dies ranging from 3 to 8 mm and a flexibly adjustable pellet length, it opens up a wide range of possibilities for sample preparation and material processing.
We’re not revealing exactly what it’s for just yet. But here’s a hint: These small pellets will play a much bigger role in the future than their size might suggest. Different geometries, precisely defined dimensions, and reproducible properties are all key to what lies ahead.
For now, you’ll have to stay tuned until we’re ready to reveal the first results. The first pellets have already been successfully produced.
Reducing Size – Increasing Possibilities
August 1st, 2026 | by Münstermann, Nils
To efficiently process a wide variety of materials, we have expanded our equipment with a Retsch SM 300 cutting mill. Equipped with the full range of available rotors and a comprehensive selection of sieves, it enables the fast and reproducible size reduction of a broad spectrum of sample materials.
A key advantage of the SM 300 is its high sample throughput. Thanks to its powerful drive and optimized cutting geometry, even larger quantities of material can be processed in a short time. This significantly reduces sample preparation time and allows for the efficient handling of more extensive experimental series.
The mill can be precisely adapted to the specific properties of each material and the desired final particle size. The result is reproducible milled material that provides a reliable basis for analyses, material development, and subsequent processing steps.
Exploring the Latest Developments at the Textile Recycling Expo in Brussels
June 26th, 2026 | by Münstermann, Nils
At the Textile Recycling Expo in Brussels on 25 June 2026, our researcher Lena Schmitz explored the latest developments in textile recycling and the circular economy. The event focused on innovative recycling processes, sustainable materials, and emerging technologies for textile processing and recycling.
Discussions with industry partners, research institutions, and other stakeholders provided valuable insights for our current and future research and development activities. The knowledge gained will help us identify new opportunities to unlock the potential of underutilized textile value streams and support the development of more sustainable circular solutions.
Dr. Nils Münstermann Receives Third Poster Award at the 15th EUCHIS International Conference
June 8th, 2026 | by Paul Marten
Dr. Nils Münstermann received the Third Poster Award at the 15ᵗʰ EUCHIS International Conference of the European Chitin Society. The international conference brings together researchers in the field of chitin and chitosan research and provides a platform for scientific exchange as well as the presentation of current research findings.
The award recognizes the quality and relevance of the presented results on the interactions between chitosan itaconate and lignocellulosic materials. It also highlights the international visibility of Dr. Münstermann’s research and the significance of the topic within the scientific community.
We warmly congratulate Dr. Nils Münstermann on this recognition and are pleased about his successful contribution to the conference.
Photo: Katja Richter
New Publication: Particleboards from biogenic Residues: Turning Waste into High-Performance Materials
May 11th, 2026 | by Münstermann, Nils
Particleboards are almost indispensable in furniture manufacturing and interior construction. However, many conventional wood-based materials are produced using petrochemical binders, which are neither fully bio-based nor easily biodegradable.
We show that there is a more sustainable way: stable wood fibreboards can be produced from fast-growing plant residues such as miscanthus, hemp shives and Japanese knotweed. Chitosan itaconate serves as the binder, obtained from food-industry residues and itaconic acid.
During hot pressing, the binder polymerizes into a water-insoluble interpolyelectrolyte complex. This results in fibreboards with remarkable properties: their flexural strength reaches up to 76.5 N/mm², clearly exceeding typical MDF values and approaching that of solid spruce wood. At the same time, the fibreboards remain dimensionally stable upon contact with water, are compostable and showed self-extinguishing behaviour in fire tests.
What makes this approach particularly exciting is its versatility. The binder works with a wide range of cellulose- and lignin-containing plant materials. This could allow regional residues to be processed locally into high-quality building and furniture materials in the future. We are convinced that this represents a promising step towards wood-based materials that are strong, safe and circular. Our aim is to transform waste materials into true high-performance materials.
N. Münstermann, O. Weichold
High-strength particleboards from fast-growing plant residues and food-industry by-products using chitosan-itaconate as orthogonal binder platform
Industrial Crops and Products, 2026, 245, 123251 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.123251
New scientific employee
May 2nd, 2026 | by Münstermann, Nils
Jovana Obradovic has joined our working group since May 1. We’re glad to have her as part of the team and wish her all the best and much success in her upcoming work!
New scientific employee
April 1st, 2026 | by Münstermann, Nils
Malgorzata Augspurger has joined our working group since April 1. We’re glad to have her as part of the team and wish her all the best and much success in her upcoming work!
New Publication: From Shell Waste to Strong Wood Glue: The Future of Bio-Based Adhesives
March 15th, 2026 | by Münstermann, Nils
Sustainable adhesives are becoming increasingly important, especially in applications where petrochemical resins containing problematic substances such as formaldehyde still dominate. Our latest study now shows that chitosan-based wood adhesives are a promising bio-based alternative. Chitosan is derived from chitin, a natural polymer found, among other sources, in the shells of crustaceans and generated in large quantities as a by-product of the food industry.
Two fully bio-based adhesive systems were investigated: chitosan itaconate and chitosan maleate. Both are based on renewable raw materials and were specifically developed for wood bonding. What is particularly interesting is that the acids used not only solubilize the chitosan, but also enable curing into a stable network. Both acids can be obtained via biofermentation, making the adhesive system entirely bio-based.
The results are remarkable: in the dry state, both adhesives met the requirements of DIN EN 12765 class C1 and exhibited so-called cohesive wood failure. This means that under mechanical stress, it was not the adhesive bond that failed, but the wood itself. Chitosan itaconate, in particular, also performed well under wet conditions: after treatment in boiling water, its bond strength remained at 2.7 N/mm², close to the demanding C4 class.
Chitosan itaconate is therefore a promising candidate for wood bonding applications requiring moderate moisture resistance, such as interior construction or semi-exposed uses. Chitosan maleate also showed good dry adhesion, but lost significant stability upon contact with water.
In conclusion, bio-based wood adhesives made from chitosan are far more than a niche concept. Chitosan itaconate in particular combines renewable raw materials with convincing adhesive performance and could represent an important step toward more environmentally friendly materials in the wood industry.
N. Münstermann, O. Weichold
Chitosan-itaconate and chitosan-maleate as fully bio-based sustainable wood adhesives
International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 2026, 149, 104327 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2026.104327
