A joint research project by the Wieselburg Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Hof University of Applied Sciences, and the company Groz-Beckert shows that even horsehair—which has traditionally been discarded during the animals’ seasonal molting—could be used in the future as a sustainable raw material for textile applications.
As part of a master’s thesis in the Ecodesign program at the Wieselburg Campus, Mag. Annabell Eder investigated the “raw material analysis, potential assessment, and textile processing” of horsehair into nonwoven fabrics. The focus was not on tail and mane hair, which is already used in isolated cases, but on the significantly shorter hair from the seasonal coat change. “The thesis demonstrates a creative approach to tapping into new fiber sources and developing sustainable products,” explains Prof. Dr. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal of Hof University of Applied Sciences.
Laborious Raw Material Collection
For the research project, nearly 31 kilograms of raw fiber were collected in advance. The collection was supported by numerous private horse owners. The quality of the hair varied greatly—depending on whether the hair was collected directly from the horse or from the ground, how intensively the animals were groomed, and how carefully the collection was carried out. In addition to the hair, the material naturally often contained dust, hay, and other contaminants. Consequently, the researchers already discussed potential improvements for future industrial use—including specialized collection brushes or central collection points at equestrian centers and agricultural supply stores. However, the chemical analyses then confirmed the typical composition of keratin-based natural fibers and clearly classified the material as an animal-based natural raw material.
Initial textile trials yield promising results
A key focus of the work was on the question of whether the shed hairs could be technically processed into nonwoven fabrics. Initial sample production took place at the company Groz-Beckert. It became apparent that the smooth and barely crimped fibers are difficult to process. Targeted experiments on nonwoven formation were therefore conducted at Hof University of Applied Sciences under the technical supervision of Prof. Dr. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal.
In these experiments, horsehair was combined with other natural or nature-like fibers. Embedding the horsehair between two wool nonwovens using the well-known needling technique proved particularly promising. This could lead to future applications in areas such as horse blankets or sound absorption.
“The results show that horsehair is fundamentally suitable as a sustainable textile raw material, even if further research is needed to ensure the fibers are securely incorporated.”
Prof. Dr. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal
Sustainable prospects for previously unused fibers
Experiments with Lyocell fibers as well as processes such as hydroentanglement and needle-punching have also already led to the first functional nonwoven fabrics. The researchers see great potential in this for sustainable textile applications and new material concepts in line with the circular economy. The master’s thesis was conducted by Annabell Eder in collaboration with Emmerich Haimer and Prof. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal.
