Development of flexible insulation and absorption panels made from sustainable natural fibers using additive manufacturing and parametric design
In the case of free-form structures (e.g. the roof of Stuttgart's new main railway station), it is difficult to install thermal insulation and panels for sound absorption, as insulation and absorption systems are based on prefabricated, cuboid units that do not correspond to the shape of the structure. Additive manufacturing lends itself to the production of these, as this technology enables the inexpensive production of individualized geometries. The use of scarce and non-recyclable resources speaks against the large-scale implementation of this technology in facade design. In the ZIM project 3D-Biofaser, the IDD is working together with Additivum, the Gesellschaft für nachwachsende Stoffnutzung and Lithium Designers to develop a printing paste from biogenic waste fibers that can be used to manufacture insulation and absorption panels in a cost-effective, sustainable and customized manner. To this end, IDD is developing a new additive manufacturing process that can be used to process the base material, a fiber paste made from renewable raw materials, in order to produce environmentally friendly insulation panels.