Prof. Dr. Christian Rytka

Activities at the FHNW

Group Leader Polymer Processing and Sustainability at the FHNW Institute of Polymer Engineering
Lecturer for Polymer Processing and Sustainability
Program Manager MAS Kunststofftechnik

Research

Process engineering of polymers and digitalization of processing chains
Recycling, biopolymers and natural fiber composites
Replication of functional micro- and nanostructures with focus on injection moulding
Composite Technology with focus on processing
Additive manufacturing with novel materials
Polymers for the solar industry

Profile

Video mit Microbez: Pilze statt Plastik | FHNW eMagazin 3/2024
Mit Thermoformen gegen Hüftschäden, Seetaler Bote, 2024
Rytka C, Krzikalla P, Battaglia S, Volatile Verbindungen in Kunststoffrezyklat, Technische Rundschau, 2024
Rytka C, Die Vielseitigkeit von Kunststoffen macht es so spannend, bz, 2024
Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW. 26.02.2024. Plastikfrei angeln.
Rytka C, Biopolymere – eine nachhaltige Alternative?, Kunststoffextra, 2023
S, Tiesnes, Rytka, C., 2023, Life cycle assessment, biodegradability and sustainability of biopolymers in the textile Industry, Nachhaltige Kunststoffe in komplexen Anwendungen, Rapperswil, Schweiz; Slide 1 (ost.ch)
Werlen V, Rytka C, Dransfeld C, Brauner C, Michaud V. A multiscale consolidation model for press molding of hybrid textiles into complex geometries. Polym Compos. 2024; 1-19. doi:10.1002/pc.28139
Werlen V., Vocke R., Brauner B., Dransfeld C., Michaud V., Rytka C., A model for the consolidation of hybrid textiles considering air entrapment, dissolution and diffusion, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Volume 166, 2023, 107413, ISSN 1359-835X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2022.107413.
Markstaller R, Krzikalla P, Wegmann S, Rytka C, Sandwichplatten aus rezykliertem Kunststoffmix, Kunststoffextra, 2022
Voegelin T, Durchbruch im Recycling von GFK-Abfällen, Kunststoffextra, 2021
Werlen V, Rytka C, Wegmann S, et al. Novel tooling for direct melt impregnation of textile with variotherm injection moulding: Methodology and proof of concept. Journal of Composite Materials. 2022;0(0). doi:10.1177/00219983221130720
Diaz-Rodenas M., Thommen M., Rytka C., Le Canut J.M., Gschwend G., Queloz S., Tsotra P., Roussel J., Weber J.F., Highly conductive polypropylene based composites for bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, Composites Meet Sustainability – Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM20. 26-30 June, 2022, Lausanne, Switzerland
Werlen V., Vocke R., Schwanemann P, Michaud V., Brauner C., Dransfeld C., Rytka C., Consolidation of hybrid textiles for aerospace applications, Composites Meet Sustainability – Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM20. 26-30 June, 2022, Lausanne, Switzerland
Rytka C., Zurück in den biologischen Kreislauf, Kunststoffxtra, 14.April 2022
Wegmann S.; Rytka C.; Diaz-Rodenas M., Werlen V.; Schneeberger C., Ermanni P., Caglar B., Gomez C., Michaud V., A life cycle analysis of novel lightweight composite processes: Reducing the environmental footprint of automotive structures, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 330, 2022, 129808, ISSN 0959-6526,
Werlen V., Rytka C., Michaud V., A numerical approach to characterize the viscoelastic behaviour of fibre beds and to evaluate the influence of strain deviations on viscoelastic parameter extraction, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 143, 2021, 106315, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2021.106315
Bühler R., Thommen M., Le Canut J.-M., Weber J.-F., Rytka C., Tsotra P., Highly conductive polypropylene-based composites for bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Fuel Cells. 2021,1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201900232
Jakubowsky M., Werder J., Rytka C., Kristiansen M., Neyer A. (2020): Design, manufacturing and experimental validation of a bonded dual component microstructured system for vertical light emission Microsystem Technologies, 26(6), 2087-2093; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-020-04767-z
Arexabaleta, L.; Rytka, C.; Walker, L.; Analysis of the manufacturing process of a car bonnet using Compression Resin Transfer Moulding (CRTM). AEMAC, [S.l.], v. 3, n. 3, p. 60-67, july 2019. ISSN 2531-0739.
Fairhurst A., Thommen M., Rytka C. (2019): Comparison of short and long term creep testing in high performance polymers Polymer Testing 78 105979, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2019.105979
Rytka, C., (2016) Replication of Functional Polymeric Micro- and Nanostructures, phd-thesis, TU Dortmund, http://dx.doi.org/10.17877/DE290R-17239
Rytka C., Lungershausen J., Kristiansen P. M., Neyer A., (2016) 3D filling simulation of micro- and nanostructures in comparison to injection moulding trials J. Micromech. Microeng. 26 065018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0960-1317/26/6/065018.
Rytka, C., Opara, N., Andersen, N. K., Kristiansen, P. M. and Neyer, A. (2016), On The Role of Wetting, Structure Width, and Flow Characteristics in Polymer Replication on Micro- and Nanoscale. Macromol. Mater. Eng. 301 597–609 doi: 10.1002/mame.201500350, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mame.201500350
Rother, M., Barmettler, J., Reichmuth, A., Araujo, J. V., Rytka, C., Glaied, O., Pieles, U. and Bruns, N. (2015), Self-Sealing and Puncture Resistant Breathable Membranes for Water-Evaporation Applications. Adv. Mater. 27 6620-4 doi:10.1002/adma.201502761, ttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201502761/full
http://www.materialsviews.com/puncture-proof-and-self-sealing-water-tight-materials/
Rytka C. , Kristiansen. P. M., Neyer A. (2015), Iso- and variothermal injection compression molding of polymer micro- and nanostructures for optical and medical applications. J. Micromech. Microeng., 25 065008. http://iopscience.iop.org/0960-1317/25/6/065008/pdf/0960-1317_25_6_065008.pdf
P.M. Kristiansen, C. Rytka, M.J. Cheung, H. Schift, A. Schleunitz, C. Spreu, H. Solak, Kleinste Strukturen in der Massenfertigung abformen, PlasticsNow!, 2011, 20-21
C. Rytka, M. Kristiansen, M. Altana, H. Solak, J. Gobrecht, High Fidelity Mass Replication of Nanostructures Poster presentation at Nanotech-date Nordwestschweiz, Baden, Switzerland, March 29, 2011
C. Rytka, U. Bruggisser, M. Kristiansen, H. Solak, J. Gobrecht, Process Effects on Tool Stability in Nano-Injection Molding, Poster presentation at MNE 2010, Genova, Italy, September 19-22, 2010
C. Rytka, H. Schift, H. Solak, C. Hofmann, J. Gobrecht, Poster presentation at NNT 2009, San Jose, USA, November 11-13, 2009

CH719093A1 (2023) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung einer geschäumten Polymercompositplatte aus Misch-Kunststoffabfall. BOXS AG, Rytka, C., Markstaller, R.
EP4047156A1 / CH718363A1 (2022) Bordbrett und Verbindungsstuck aus Kunststoff, ProCon-BTW GmbH, Rytka, C., Maurer, C., Botor, D., Zeltner, R., Tscharner, B., Tscharner, R.
WO2021094996A1; (2021) Impregnated thread, ribbed thin-walled composite product comprising such an impregnated thread, and method for manufacturing this thread and this composite product, Bcomp SA, Rytka, C., Rion, J., Aebischer, R., Masania, K., Botor, D., Jerinic, M.
DE102011087404-A1; WO2013079327-A2; WO2013079327-A3; AU2012344173-A1; EP2785278-A2; US2014296979-A1; EP2862545-A1, 2015, System for controlled loading of reconstructed or restored ligament i.e. front cruciate ligament, into knee joint of e.g. human body, has elastomer body guiding interaction of body with anchoring and connecting elements at elastic effect, Mathys Bettlach Ag; Delfosse D., De Cesaris A., Dransfeld C., Rytka C.
WO2012174673-A1, 2012, CH705159-A2 (2012); EP2723289-A1 (2014); US2014289986-A1, 2014, Cotton swab, useful e.g. for cleaning ears and eyes and for cosmetics, comprises rod-shaped grip body, and cotton body arranged on free end of the grip body, where the grip body is a biodegradable extrusion body and contains natural fibers, Roweg Holding Ag, Haeni B., Rytka C., Petignat G.
EP2871210-A1, 2015, Composition useful for composite material to produce plastic moldings as injection moldings, comprises cellulose fibers, matrix made of thermoplastic material, and adhesion promoter for embedding cellulose fibers in matrix, Rotho Kunst Ag, Rytka C.
US2010297373-A1 (2010); US8309643-B2 (2012), New polyamide molding compound comprising transparent polyamide, fibrous reinforcing material and particulate filler, useful in injection molding for producing molded article such as fiber, film, pipe and hollow body, Ems-Chemie Ag, Thullen H.; Rytka C.; Buehler F.; Hala R.

Education
1996 – 2001	Studies in Polymer Technology at University of Applied Science, Würzburg, Germany
2006 – 2009	Master studies in Micro and Nanotechnology at Nano-Netzwerk Bodensee-Region, graduated as M.Sc. Micro- and Nanotechnology
2012 – 2016	Doctoral Studies on Replication by Injection Moulding at TU Dortmund (Prof. Dr. A. Neyer, Prof. Dr. P.M. Kristiansen)
Employment
2001 – 2004	Materials Engineer and Deputy Head of Materials Technology at Georg Fischer, Switzerland
2004 – 2009	Development Engineer in Application Technology and Deputy Head of Processing Department at Ems Chemie, Domat-Ems Switzerland
2009 – 2016	Senior Research Engineer at the Institute of Polymer Engineering (IKT) and the Institute of Polymer Nanotechnology (INKA) of the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Engineering, Windisch, Switzerland
2016 - present	Group leader polymer processing and professor at the FHNW Institute of Polymer Engineering and the FHNW Institute of Polymer Nanotechnology of the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Engineering, Windisch, Switzerland
2016 - present	Program Manager Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) Polymer Technologies