Technologietransfer

Polymers from renewable raw materials are synthesized, modified, characterized, compounded, and processed at the cooperating Fraunhofer Instutute for Applied Polymer Research IAP at Potsdam, Schkopau and Schwarzheide. In the focus of interest are natural polymers such as polysaccharides (e.g. cellulose, starch), lignin, and proteins, as well as bio-based polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and other bio-based polyesters, polyamides, and epoxies. For creating new polymers either monomers are combined into new polymers and copolymers, or existing bio-polymers – utilizing nature’s synthesis work – are chemically modified. By the use of additives, polymeric blend partners, reinforcing fibers and nano-fillers, recipes are developed and processing parameters are determined for each application in question. Methods for melt and solution processing include film and blown film extrusion, extrusion blow molding, non-woven melt blowing, injection molding, and fiber spinning. In addition to mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, and impact strength, also thermal properties such as heat distortion temperature, maximum service temperature, and glass transition temperature as well as permeation properties are optimized. For specific applications, e.g. films, bottles, injection molded parts, of fibers, tailor-made bio-based materials can be developed on your behalf.

Within the Processing Pilot Plant for Biopolymers at BASF's site Schwarzheide we develop contributions for processing of marketable and novel bio-based plastics. We benefit from the proximity of the chemical park in order to faster transfer the results of our research and development work to the market. The main goal is to help small and medium-sized plastics processors extending their product range to include bio-based materials.

For more information please refer to https://www.iap.fraunhofer.de/en/research/biopolymers.html.