In your day-to-day work, as an employee of an industrial company, you are faced with a wide range of challenges. In addition to its research and teaching responsibilities, the Chair of Polymer Materials (LSP) sees itself as a competent development partner and service provider for industrial companies. We aim to help you resolve the plastic-related issues that arise in day-to-day industrial operations quickly, cost-effectively and in a targeted manner, drawing on the expertise available at our institute. In doing so, we focus not only on the development of new compounds and materials, but also on identifying and evaluating alternative suppliers. We have a diverse, modern portfolio of methods at our disposal for tackling your task, which we apply according to the specific problem at hand.
- Thermoanalytical methods (DSC, TGA, DMTA)
- IR- und Raman spectroscopy for chemical analysis
- Scanning electron microscopy
- Rheological characterisation using various rheometers under shear and strain conditions
- Molecular analysis, including molecular architecture, using multi-detector GPC (light scattering, viscometry, IR and UV detection)
In particular, the technical centre, with its pilot plants, also enables:
- Development of process windows for biaxial stretching processes
- Compounding using a twin-screw extruder with variable barrel and screw geometry
- Film production using blow moulding and cast film processes (chill-roll system)
- Analysis of plastic surfaces with regard to roughness and surface energy, e.g. for issues relating to paintability and bondability
- Statistical data and process analysis
- Structure-property relationships of silicone breast implants
The Chair’s expertise in this area is based on many years of experience gained through various research and industry projects with our partners. You can find a detailed list of our research achievements, including publikations, and information about our technical facilities on our website.
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Dirk W. Schubert , who also has 10 years’ personal experience in industry, offers support in patent management and process optimisation; he is also an internationally recognised expert in the analysis of silicone breast implants.
Michael Redel (Senior Research Fellow) heads the ‘Molecular Characterisation and Rheology’ division. He has been working in molecular analysis under the supervision of Dr. Joachim Kaschta since 2018 and took over the division following his retirement.
