Kategorie: ‘Wood’
New Publication: Particleboards from biogenic Residues: Turning Waste into High-Performance Materials
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
PhD Completed with Distinction: Dr. Nils Münstermann
We congratulate Dr. Nils Münstermann on the successful completion of his PhD, which he passed with distinction (summa cum laude).
In his dissertation entitled “Bio-Based Chitosan Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes for the Coating and Bonding of Wood-Based Materials”, he investigated chitosan itaconate as a fully bio-based and multifunctional material system. The developed coating and adhesive systems open up new possibilities for improving the water resistance, UV protection and fire performance of wood-based materials and combine the use of renewable raw materials with application-oriented solutions for the construction and wood industries.
We are delighted that Dr. Nils Münstermann will remain at the institute as a research group leader and wish him every success in his future scientific work.
Nils Münstermann earns an award
Nils Münstermann receives an award for his presentation at the 27th International Scientific Conference on Civil Engineering – Juniorstav, which took place on May 15, 2025 in Brno, Czech Republic. At the conference, he received the Award for an Outstanding Presentation for his presentation on “A Fire-Retardant Coating for Wood Made from Food-Industry Waste”.
The award recognises not only the scientific quality of the publication presented, but also the convincing way in which it was presented to an international audience of experts. We are delighted to receive such recognition and would like to congratulate Nils Münstermann on this success.
N. Münstermann, O. Weichold
A fire-retardant coating for wood made from chitosan itaconate
Progress in Organic Coatings 2024, 197, 108793 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.108793
RWTH article on our publication: “Spectacular alternative to classic wood stain”
We are delighted that our innovative wood stain has now also been recognized by the press office of RWTH Aachen University. In a recent article, the RWTH highlights the discovery process and the special properties of our chitosan glaze. It also discusses our sustainable approach to environmentally friendly alternatives in the construction industry.
Our coating is based on chitosan, a natural substance that can be obtained from crab shells, insect shells and fungi. It is not only water and stain resistant, but also UV resistant, flame retardant and fully compostable. While wood has to be disposed of separately after treatment with conventional wood preservatives, our biodegradable coating fits perfectly into the circular economy of sustainable building materials.
The full article from the RWTH press office can be found here.
Spruce wood in a fire test: the effect of chitosan itaconate as a coating
In our publication “A fire-retardant coating for wood made from chitosan itaconate”, Nils Münstermann and Oliver Weichold test the fire behaviour of untreated spruce wood and spruce wood coated with chitosan itaconate. While the untreated spruce wood burns down completely, the flame in the coated wood goes out by itself without the test specimen burning completely.
Spruce uncoated
Spruce coated
N. Münstermann, O. Weichold
A fire-retardant coating for wood made from chitosan itaconate
Progress in Organic Coatings 2024, 197, 108793 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.108793
Contributions to our publication: Fire-retardant wood coating
The publication “Fire-retardant Coating For Wood Made From Chitosan Itaconate” is internationally recognised by an article in the Italian trade journal Pitture e Vernici – European Coatings (Issue 1/2025, page 36) and by a web post by European Coatings entitled “A fire-retardant coating for wood made from chitosan itaconate” – News and insights for the European coatings industry. The chitosan itaconate glaze is transparent, emphasises the natural wood grain and renders the surface water-repellent. It reliably protects the wood from moisture, prevents UV-induced greying and efficiently reduces the burning rate. With just two applications on spruce and three on beech wood, the glaze is self-extinguishing. Find out more.
This bio-based approach combines resource conservation with effectiveness and demonstrates how environmental preservation and safety requirements can be successfully combined. It fills us with joy and appreciation to see that our work is attracting greater attention.
Pitture E Vernici: Fire-retardant Coating For Wood Made From Chitosan Itaconate, Fascicolo 1/Gennaio – Febbraio 2025 – Pitture e Vernici, https://www.pittureevernici.it/archivio/archivio-2025/fascicolo-1-gennaio-febbraio2025/.
European Coatings: A fire-retardant coating for wood made from chitosan itaconate – News and insights for the European coatings industry, https://www.european-coatings.com/news/application-areas/a-fire-retardant-coating-for-wood-made-from-chitosan-itaconate/.
New publication: Fire-retardant wood coating
Wood is currently experiencing a renaissance in the construction and furniture industry. With its natural charm, versatility and environmental friendliness, wood is a popular building material. However, this natural material is susceptible to external influences such as moisture, UV radiation, stains and, above all, fire. Fire in particular poses a major risk in the construction industry due to the easy flammability of wood. Once ignited, untreated wood often burns down completely without any external heat supply. N. Münstermann and O. Weichold have now developed an innovative, sustainable wood coating based on polymerized chitosanitaconate. The basis of the coating, chitosan, is a residual product from the food industry and itaconic acid can be obtained biotechnologically. The coating is therefore made entirely from bio-based materials and not only offers protection against moisture, UV radiation and stains, but is also non-flammable. When applied to wood, it delays ignition and significantly inhibits the spread of flames. Just one coat reduces the burning rate by a third. Two coats on spruce wood are enough to make the material self-extinguishing. Three layers are required for hardwoods such as beech. This bio-based approach combines resource conservation with high effectiveness and shows that environmental protection and safety requirements can go hand in hand.
N. Münstermann, O. Weichold
A fire-retardant coating for wood made from chitosan itaconate
Progress in Organic Coatings 2024, 197, 108793 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.108793
6th Junior EPNOE
At the 6th European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) Junior Scientist Meeting 2024, September 4-6, 2024 in Vienna, Austria, we were represented with two contributions:
Nils Münstermann
High-Strength Chitosan-bonded Fibreboards in Sustainable Construction (presentation)
Paul Marten
Development of a Chitosan-Based Adhesive for Wood-Acrylic Glass Laminates (short presentation and poster)
New publication: Wood coating made from biogenic residues
Wood has been a central building material for mankind for thousands of years and is characterised by its bioavailability, sustainability and versatility. Nevertheless, the chemical structure of wood poses a number of challenges. It is susceptible to biological degradation processes, for example by fungi, bacteria or insects, and shows signs of graying due to lignin degradation when exposed to UV radiation. To prevent this, N. Münstermann and O. Weichold have developed an environmentally friendly coating based on chitosan, a biopolymer obtained from food waste.
The newly developed chitosanitaconate coating is transparent, emphasizes the wood grain and gives the wood hydrophobic properties with contact angles of over 90°. It effectively protects the wood from moisture, prevents graying caused by UV radiation and reduces staining caused by coffee or red wine, for example. Thanks to its strong adhesion and adaptability, the coating is highly versatile. By adding pigments, the coating can be adapted to the aesthetic requirements of modern interior design. Chitosanitaconate combines wood protection, modern aesthetics and sustainability – a versatile solution for environmentally friendly construction.
N. Münstermann, O. Weichold
Chitosan itaconate based water- and stain-repellent coatings for wood
Progress in Organic Coatings 2024, 194, 108630 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.108630
Presentation
Nils Münstermann gave a presentation entitled ‘Chitosan as an environmentally friendly binder for high-strength fibreboards’ at the 2024 doctoral seminar of the GDCh Construction Chemistry Division in Aachen, Germany.
