The division of Organic and Wooden Based Materials offers bachelor's theses in the modules Organic Building Materials (Wood and Polymer Materials) and Protection and Structural Rehabilitation Methods (Verfahren zu Schutz und Sanierung). The assignment of topics is done through registration directly at the institute. If interested, it is advisable to establish contact with the institute early.
Wood is one of the oldest materials in human history. As a building material, wood and all lignocellulosic materials are relatively complex due to the diversity of wood species, as wood exhibits a wide range of properties and hygroscopic behavior. We engage with the physical and mechanical properties of materials derived from renewable resources (NaWaRo), spanning from chemical and sub-microscopic to macroscopic levels. Our focus lies in hybrid building materials, where wood, wood-based, and natural fibers are combined with other inorganic materials (such as concrete or geopolymers) to create new properties. Additionally, recycling and reusing these materials are taken into consideration. In this realm, we collaborate closely with the Fraunhofer Center for Lightweight and Environmentally Friendly Building (ZELUBA).
The in-situ evaluation of timber is a specialized field where various methods (non-destructive, semi-destructive, destructive) are employed to perform qualitative and quantitative evaluations of wooden components and systems. In addition to experimental techniques, statistical methods are necessary to determine uncertainties in loads, geometry, and material properties. The evaluation is often, though not exclusively, used in historical construction. New building materials such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL), cross-laminated timber, or wood-concrete composite systems are also subjects of investigation.
Polymers differ significantly in their chemical and structural composition from materials like metals due to their macromolecular structure, which affects their behavior under external influences.
Goodyear was already engaged in the vulcanization of rubber, a latex extracted from the rubber tree, in 1839. In 1865, Parker and Hyatt developed celluloid from cellulose obtained from plant materials, which was, among other uses, the raw material for celluloid film.
While the raw materials were initially of plant origin, fossil resources have been used for synthetic plastic production since the end of the 20th century. In chronological order, phenolic resins, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethanes (PUR), polyamide (PA), also known as nylon, low-density polyethylene (PE-LD), epoxy resins (EP), polypropylene (PP), and polyacetal (POM) were developed. It was only in 1963 that Ziegler synthesized low-pressure polyethylene, also known as high-density polyethylene (PE-HD), which is indispensable in supply technology and pipeline construction with its highly resistant PE 80 and PE 100 types. There are also numerous advancements in plastics, combinations of mutually compatible plastics that have significantly increased the range of properties based on application requirements. Fiber-reinforced plastics, as well as various organic adhesives, usually based on the aforementioned plastics, find essential applications not only in construction but also in mechanical engineering. The share of fossil resources used in plastic production is about 5% to 8%. Meanwhile, there are promising developments in producing plastics from renewable resources.
Plastics offer numerous applications due to their low density, often high resistance to media, and sometimes complex shaping possibilities. Even though additives enhance the performance of plastics, they, like other materials, have limits. This must always be considered in relation to time, temperature, load, and media influence.
The close collaboration established through a cooperative framework agreement between the TU Braunschweig and the Fraunhofer Society with the WKI (Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kasal, Director of Fraunhofer WKI, and Apl. Prof. Dr. Libo Yan, Senior Scientist) also offers topics that encompass the entire spectrum of wood and renewable resources research. The focal points include NaWaRo technology, wood fiber research, adhesion, indoor air quality, wood and renewable resources in transportation, biobased plastics, and quality assurance.