Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF
Fraunhofer LBF offers comprehensive expertise in the synthesis of polymers, of plastic additives and processes for improving the quality of recycled materials. Synthesis processes for polymers include anionic, radical and controlled radical processes in substance, solution and in emulsion. Representative examples include work on new photoresists, new polystyrene copolymers, and polymeric acrylates. Additive syntheses, which may also involve polymeric structures, include in particular antioxidants and various classes of flame retardants. In recent years, intensive work has been carried out on the post-stabilization of recycled materials, particularly polyolefins, and systems have been developed that go beyond the stabilization concepts known to date. Core elements of these new systems, which are used in combination with phenolic antioxidants, are additives made from renewable raw materials.
Suitable analytical protocols have been developed for the characterization of recyclates using model polymers as examples. Thus, the degree of degradation of thermoplastics can be evaluated in a well-founded manner using coupled liquid chromatographic techniques and multispectral detection. The influence of ingredients, such as detergents and disinfectants, as well as conditions of use was demonstrated in detail on examples using spectroscopic methods and extended by microscopic investigations. The importance of high-throughput concepts for the identification of compositions was recognized at an early stage and transferred to the development of plastic compositions in the polymer melt and on flat films.