SALIX AFS | Production of willow in agroforestry systems as a raw material for willow wood fiber and salicylates - Subproject 2: Processing of willow fiber into semi-finished textile products

Project Background

Sustainable, bio-based materials are gaining increasing importance in the context of climate protection, resource conservation, and the circular economy. At the same time, the demand for innovative materials that combine ecological benefits with functional performance is steadily growing. Willow wood offers significant potential in this regard: it is a locally available, fast-growing renewable resource with favorable mechanical properties and a wide range of application possibilities. However, its use in industrial processes—particularly in textile applications—has so far remained largely unexplored.

Project Objectives and Work Packages

The aim of the project is to establish willow wood as a novel material for textile applications. To this end, suitable willow types with specific material and growth characteristics are identified and cultivated within multifunctional agroforestry systems. A key focus lies on the development of a continuous willow wood thread as a basis for innovative textile structures.

The project is structured into the following work packages:

• Selection and cultivation of suitable willow types, considering site-specific and material-related characteristics
• Optimization of harvesting and processing methods to ensure consistent raw material quality
• Development of a willow wood thread production system for generating continuous, processable wood threads
• Adaptation and testing of textile processing techniques (in particular weaving and braiding) for the use of willow wood threads
• Characterization of the willow wood threads with regard to their mechanical and textile properties
• Development and evaluation of potential applications in areas such as architecture, interior design, and lightweight composites

Through the close collaboration of all project partners, the individual steps along the entire value chain are iteratively developed and systematically integrated.

Role of ifm (Hof University of Applied Sciences)

The Institute for Materials Science (ifm) at Hof University of Applied Sciences is responsible for the textile-technological implementation and evaluation of the willow wood threads. This includes the adaptation and further development of textile processing methods, such as weaving and braiding, as well as the characterization of the material with respect to its mechanical and textile properties. The objective is to establish a reliable basis for industrial processing and to unlock the potential of willow wood threads for innovative textile applications.