Bio-based polymers and materials

Synthetic, usually petroleum-based polymeric compounds and materials significantly contribute to quality of life. We develop and evaluate alternative, bio-based products.

Synthetic and characterization bio based Polymers

Given the scarcity of our fossil resources and the environmental impact of their intensive consumption, bio-based alternatives to conventional polymeric products and materials have been developed worldwide in the past twenty years. In everyday life, you meet increasingly on the first commercial applications. Examples are packaging and disposable tableware, but also more complex products such as adhesives, coatings and composite materials.

Only in rare cases, these products are made from only a basic chemical (monomer). Usually complex mixtures of various monomers are used. They are specially selected for the application to be replaced application and chemically linked in a specific way. So far, not all bio-based monomers are commercially available since their production processes often are still in development, or their properties have not been systematically investigated. Correspondingly, it could not yet be assessed, which bio-based raw materials represent real alternatives for conventional ones and which new fields of application can open up to them.

We work on these issues in our projects. In addition to the investigation and optimization of commercial products, our work focuses on the application-specific development and optimization of new bio-based polymers and materials. We synthesize new functional structures and carry out comprehensive structural and application-oriented material characterizations. We pay particular attention to the aspects of functionality, economy and safety.

Contact

Dr. rer. nat. Henning Storz

Gallery

Glass and stainless steel reactors (500 und 2.000 mL)

Sample collection in polyester synthesis

Thermogravimetric Analyzer, differential scanning calorimeter with UV unit

Bending test with the universal testing machine

Projects

Biodegradable biobased plastics - Recommendations for appropriate use

Products made of biodegradable biobased plastics (BBK) are often seen as a potential solution for the increasing pollution of the environment with durable plastic waste. But where does a substitution of conventional, petroleum-based plastics by BBK really makes sense in practice? The Institute of Agricultural Technology and the Institute of Market Analysis are pursuing this question.

Itaconic Acid for Polyesters

Polyesters nowadays represent an important group of plastics which generally are obtained using fossil raw materials. Another, more sustainable approach, we work on in an ERA-IB project, is the use of renewable resources like chaff or orange peels for their production.

Biobased unsaturated Polyester Resins

Many composite materials are dependent on petro-chemically produced unsaturated polyester resins. These contain large amounts of harmful styrene. We develop styrene-free, bio-based alternatives.

New bio-based Polymers and Materials

Synthetic polymers and materials make a decisive contribution to the preservation of our high standard of living. We analyze, evaluate and develop alternatives for a bio-based economy.

Bio-based hot melt adhesives

Hot melt adhesives are important industrial adhesives, which are used in large quantity in the packaging and furniture sector. They are currently produced almost exclusively from petrochemical raw materials. The use of products made from renewable resources increases the bio-based content of hot melt adhesives and preserve fossil resources.

Biobased binders for lithium-ion batteries (BeBAT)

Because of high energy density, light weight and a high cycle stability, lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly important in the field of electric mobility and in the stationary storage of electrical energy. In order to improve their manufacturing process and reduce environmental impact of these batteries, we develop epoxy-based binder from renewable resources as a component for the coating of the electrodes.

Research Equipment

Bio-based polymers and materials

The Institute can rely on extensive equipment for the preparation and functionalization of polymers and materials. The analytical instrumentation used allows the determination of complementary structural and property parameters under conditions of use.