SUBBIMATT: Sustainable, Biobased and Bio-Inspired Materials for Smart Technical Textiles

In SUBBIMATT we will develop a novel generation of bio based and bioinspired sustainable smart technical textile materials to address current and future energy needs. We start from developing debondable adhesives, bio-polyurethane and negative thermoresponsive materials. Complementing these with existing (but tuned) biobased materials will enable circular textile intermediate products: high end coated fabrics, nanomembranes and shape memory filaments. Subsequently, these textile intermediates will be the stepping stone for making bioinspired Smart Textile Materials (STM) featuring mechanical actuation, energy harvesting and tuneable fabric openness. Lastly, the novel bio-STMs will be implemented in three demonstrators with integrated energy harvesting: shape morphing building envelopes, automotive interior textiles and advanced garments with adaptable breathability. The Safe and Sustainable by design (SSbD) framework will be applied, developing a protocol for technical textiles development. Combining modelling and experimental characterisation will allow to optimise the development of the STMs and demonstrators, predicting their safety, functionality and energy harvesting capabilities. For the demonstrators we plan to integrate complimentary elements (e.g. sensors, batteries or supercapacitors) resulting from other projects (via liaison). SUBBIMATT results will help to find more sustainable ways for covering the most important consumer living standard needs: energy, sustainability and comfort. The demonstrators will be products that citizens use on a daily basis, thus helping to increase visibility and impact. That way, we aim to create a positive momentum for the novel generation of
smart biomaterials and for their application in bioinspired technical end-uses, thus helping the EU (technical textile) industry to remain competitive and become more resilient while transiting to a climate-neutral and circular economy.