The aim of the lead project “Sustainable Biobased and Biohybrid Materials” SUBI²MA is to develop new types of biobased and biohybrid high-performance materials and to bring them to application more quickly in the future by means of digitalization.
The project focused on developing a new, completely bio-based high-performance polyamide called Caramid. The material has a significantly higher glass transition temperature than the conventional polyamides PA6 and PA6.6. This makes it more stable and allows for completely new applications. Both the synthesis and processing methods of the bio-based polyamide have been improved to such an extent that it offers a competitive alternative to petroleum-based polyamides, for example for use as an environmentally friendly tire cord in the automotive industry.
A decisive milestone was reached in 2024 with the successful synthesis and purification of almost 20 kilograms of the precursor as well as its polymerization to Caramid. At the same time, strategies were developed to produce customized types of Caramid for fiber and foam applications. Samples of the spun fibers and foams showed promising results in terms of processability and mechanical properties, even at this early stage.
A second focus was on the functionalization of technical polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and cellulose. Bioactive additives were used to achieve, for example, hydrophilic surfaces, bio-based flame retardancy, and enzymatically controlled degradation. Stabilized enzymes, which will enable efficient degradation of PET under mild conditions, were successfully integrated. Prototypes of diagnostic devices as well as completely biobased hydrophobic cellulose were also produced.
The first virtual material models for protective textiles and technical components such as tires were created and validated. The integration of simulation, material analysis, and ecological assessment enables the rapid, targeted development of sustainable materials, right through to virtual demonstrators.
Emphasis in the coming project year will be on scaling up the processes and applications. One focus will be on producing demonstrators for protective clothing and technical foams. The results from SUBI²MA show how bio-based and biohybrid materials can be brought to industrial maturity through intelligent process control and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Fraunhofer SUBI2MA flagship project is coordinated by Fraunhofer IAP and plays a pioneering role in the biotransformation of plastics technology. A team of researchers from six Fraunhofer institutes is focusing on the use of building blocks made from bio-based materials. The integration of biological components means that completely new materials can be developed, manufactured, and placed on the market in the future. Model- and data-based simulation methods are also being developed to accelerate material development. The project began in January 2022 and will end in December 2025.
Fraunhofer Institute for 
