We were very interested and excited to discover a project utilizing basalt fabrics. As shown at the 2017 Dutch Design Week Eindhoven, students Anja Zachau and Jakob Kukula from Bauhaus Universitat Weimar explored new applications for heat resistant basalt fiber. Turning the basalt fabric into heat protective clothing.

Photos and Video: Copyright Anja Zachau.

As quoted by Anja Zachau

THE PROJECT “MADE OF ROCK” IS ABOUT THE INTERESTING AND RARELY USED MATERIAL BASALT. 15% OF OUR EARTH CRUST IS COVERED WITH BASALT STONE, WHICH CAN BE HEATED, MELTED AND FURTHER FABRICATED INTO A VARIETY OF FIBRE BASED MATERIALS. APART FROM ITS CHEAP PRICE IN RETAIL IT IS UV PROTECTIVE, HAS A HIGH ALKALI AND ACID RESISTANCE, IS NON FLAMMABLE AND MAINTAINS INTEGRITY AT TEMPERATURES UP TO 600°C. SO FAR IT HAS MAINLY BEEN USED IN THERMOPLASTIC AND
CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT, SO OUR GOAL WAS TO FIND A NEW AND SMART SCOPE OF APPLICATION – USING FIBRE REINFORCED TEXTILE MATERIAL.

FOCUSING ON ITS EXTREME HEAT RESISTANCE WE DECIDED TO MAKE USE OF THE THERMAL FEATURES TO CREATE A CONCEPT AROUND HEAT PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. PROTECTIVE WEARABLES ALWAYS WORK WITH SANDWICH LAYERED STRUCTURES. WE ARE EXCHANGING THE OUTER LAYER, USUALLY THE SYNTHETIC TEXTILE ARAMID WITH OUR NATURAL BASALT FIBRE FABRIC.

WITH COMPARABLE HEAT RESISTANCE BUT WITH ADDED ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMICAL ADVANTAGES THIS IS WHERE WE SET OUR VALUE CHAIN INTERVENTION TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT. IT IS A DELIBERATE DECISION AND OF HIGH IMPORTANCE TO OUR CONCEPT TO WORK WITH A NATURAL MATERIAL THAT HAS NEARLY UNLIMITED RESOURCES.

IN COOPERATION WITH JAKOB KUKULA

Credit for this post’s content: Anja Zachau and Jakob Kikula

Photos and Video: Copyright Anja Zachau