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Polymer Processing and Sustainability

We conceive product and procedure innovations and develop them until they are ready for the market, focussing in particular on high-performance polymers and composites.

The interplay of material development, process engineering, tool construction and the precise control of critical processing parameters forms the basis of every procedural innovation. We achieve this goal due to the synergy between the numerical and experimental methods we carry out at our extensive pilot plant where we fuse nanotechnology together with conventional polymer engineering and composite technology. Whether you would like to convert natural fibres into high-performance composites, take pultrusion, extrusion or sheathing processes to extremes, produce high-performance composites on an injection moulding machine, manufacture innovative compounds, integrate functional structures (see the surface structuring group at the Institute of Polymer Nanotechnology) or help discontinuous fibre architectures achieve an industrial breakthrough, we have just the right expert for you.

Selected projects

Sustainable recycling of glassfiber reinforced plastic

Plastic waste represents valuable resources. By recycling them and returning them to the materials cycle, we make our contribution to a more sustainable ...

to Sustainable recycling of glassfiber reinforced plastic

Functional prosthetic legs made of glass fiber reinforced plastic recyclate

Worldwide, 35 to 40 million people depend on prostheses and orthopedic services. Project Circleg has therefore the goal to develop a prosthetic leg system that ...

to Functional prosthetic legs made of glass fiber reinforced plastic recyclate

Electromagnetic shielding with conductive plastic housings

To shield interfering signals from electronics, plastics must meet high EMC requirements. They are then used as substitute materials for die-cast metal ...

to Electromagnetic shielding with conductive plastic housings

Durable toe boards made of recycled plastics

Toe boards made of recycled plastic can replace wooden boards for scaffolding construction.

to Durable toe boards made of recycled plastics

Novel method for composite production with injection compression moulding

A novel composite production method, thermoplastic compression resin transfer moulding (TP-CRTM) coupled with injection compression moulding.

to Novel method for composite production with injection compression moulding

Natural fibre composites for lightweight construction applications

Natural fibre composites are one of the core competences of the Institute of Polymer Technology at the University of Applied Sciences FHNW. Together with ...

to Natural fibre composites for lightweight construction applications

Engineering of functionalized Polysiloxenes for crosslinked Polyethylene (PE-X)

Compared to pure polyethylene, PEX is more resistant for small wall thickness to electrical treeing and can withstand high thermal shocks, which makes this ...

to Engineering of functionalized Polysiloxenes for crosslinked Polyethylene (PE-X)

Digitization of the temperature control unit

Innovative, model-based thermal industrial systems: Tool Temp AG and three institutes of engineering at the FHNW realized a novel control technology concept.

to Digitization of the temperature control unit

Bipolar plates made from conductive polymer compounds

A new approach to produce innovative polymer composite bi-polar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

to Bipolar plates made from conductive polymer compounds

Reusability of blister packaging from the medical technology industry

To save raw materials and protect our environment, it is necessary to return plastic waste to the economic cycle by recycling.

to Reusability of blister packaging from the medical technology industry

Quality enhancement through digitalisation

Using digital technologies, Biotronik significantly increases the quality of its products.

to Quality enhancement through digitalisation

Foamed sandwich panels made of recycled mixed plastic

Together with UpBoards GmbH, recycled foamed sandwich panels made of mixed plastic were developed, including an efficient manufacturing process.

to Foamed sandwich panels made of recycled mixed plastic

Improvement of additive manufactured parts by nanofibers

Huntsman’s Miralon material increases mechanical performance and conductivity of thermoplastics for 3D printing and injection moulding.

to Improvement of additive manufactured parts by nanofibers

Contact

Prof. Dr. Christian Rytka
Prof. Dr. Christian Rytka

Group Leader Polymer Processing and Sustainability

Telephone +41 56 202 73 81 (direct)