Project
HOOFTECH – THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS FROM SHEEP’S WOOL
Start date: 15/05/2022
End date: 14/11/2022
Thanks to a helping hand from the Walloon Region and its WIN4expertise program, Battiste Deiana, young entrepreneur graduated from Ichec, and manager of the company HOOF-TECH, collaborated with Materia Nova for the development of a trail sole and hiking trail made from biomaterial.
Each year, some 5 million tonnes of hair waste, sheep wool scraps and even feathers containing keratin are not really recovered.
The Role of Materia Nova:
- Analyze potential sources of supply,
- Chemical extraction of keratin according to different protocols,
- Extrusion (vulcanization of natural rubber and incorporation of keratin),
- Development of thermoplastic material/thermosets.
- Test different composition of the biopolymer (proportions of keratin) and specify the relevance of the use and dosage of keratin in this product.
This product is not only bio-inspired, but it also recycles waste, and the soles produced from it are potentially recyclable or biodegradable.
Read the article in DAILY SCIENCE
Access the Linkedin from HOOF-TECH