Definition
Biomaterials are materials derived from renewable, biological sources such as plant-based fibers, proteins, or biopolymers, and may be fully or partially biodegradable. They include both natural raw materials (e.g., cellulose, starch, proteins) and biotechnologically produced substances such as polylactic acid (PLA) or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Classification as a biomaterial refers primarily to the biological origin of the source material, not necessarily to its end-of-life biodegradability.
Use in the textile industry
In the textile industry, biomaterials are used to substitute synthetic, petroleum-based fibers and auxiliaries — for example, through bio-based polyester fibers made from PLA or plant-derived elastanes. Typical application areas include technical textiles, nonwovens for medical or agricultural purposes, and apparel textiles with a reduced carbon footprint. Relevant properties include biocompatibility, degradability under defined conditions, and altered mechanical and thermal characteristics compared to conventional man-made fibers.
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The free learning platform teaches textile fundamentals step by step in interactive online courses. Each online course includes its own glossary with the most important terms of the respective topic. Across all courses, more than 600 textile terms with narrated explanations are available.
textil trainer is developed together with the Chair of Textile Technologies at Chemnitz University of Technology, chemmedia AG, and companies and educational institutions from the textile sector.