Press | Media

Lightweight construction, compact design, and reliable functional performance are key requirements for components used in space applications. As part of the project “Additive Manufacturing of Solar Panels for spACE applications (AM-SPACE),” the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP developed shape memory polymers (SMPs) specifically designed for the additive manufacturing of satellite components. Using these materials, the researchers fabricated lightweight, thermally activated hinges for deploying satellite solar panels. Weighing approximately 1.4 grams each, the hinges are approximately 93 percent lighter than conventional hinges currently in use. The project was carried out in collaboration with German Orbital Systems GmbH (GOS), Orion Additive Manufacturing GmbH, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM. Fraunhofer IAP will showcase these developments at Formnext in Frankfurt and Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen in November 2026.

How plant-based residues can be transformed into packaging or consumer goods made from bioplastics is demonstrated by the »Plastic from Wood« station in the TouchTomorrow-Truck of the Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation. The truck travels to schools throughout Germany and presents topics from mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. More than 10,000 students from Berlin and Brandenburg have already visited the truck and learned about the bioplastic polybutylene succinate (PBS) and its future applications at the station. PBS is being developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP.

How can fossil-based raw materials be replaced, plastic waste be used as a feedstock, property profiles be expanded, and new material systems be reliably integrated into existing production processes? At Fakuma 2026, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP will showcase developments in recyclable and bio-based plastics, chemical recycling, functional polymers, and bio-based carbon fibers. For the first time, the institute will be exhibiting at the TecPart association booth as a new member of TecPart – Association of Technical Plastic Products e. V.

3D bioprinting opens up new possibilities for producing organs and tissues needed for applications such as organ transplants and drug development. However, while existing bioinks are cell-compatible and printable, they do not adequately replicate the physiological structure and composition of tissue. In the PhysioINK project, Fraunho-fer researchers are developing bioinks from the most common tissue proteins to repli-cate physiological tissue structures without chemical modification.

Just a few atomic layers at the surface can strongly influence how effectively a material binds pollutants from water or how efficiently a photocatalyst responds to light. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP use X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the chemical states and interactions at the surfaces and interfaces of bio-based carbon materials and organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Their insights can support the targeted development of functional materials for future industrial applications.

Halogenated flame retardants raise environmental concerns and are considered harmful to human health. As a result, researchers have been searching for alternatives for many years. Fraunhofer researchers are focusing on sustainable phosphorus-based raw materials derived from corn steep liquor. The phytic acid it contains is an excellent natural flame retardant for biomaterials.

Using carbon dioxide as a feedstock, efficiently storing renewable energy, and making industrial processes less dependent on fossil fuels: Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, and South Korean company SGC Energy plan to jointly advance technologies for energy conversion and energy storage. The collaboration will focus on CO₂ electrolysis, hydrogen technologies, fuel cells, and battery technologies. To this end, the partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Deep insights into complex mixtures of substances, more precise conclusions about structure-property relationships, and new possibilities for quality control and process optimization: With a new infrastructure for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam Science Park supports companies in the plastics, fiber, and materials industries in developing and improving advanced materials. The focus is on polymer materials—ranging from poorly soluble substances and gels to chemically resistant plastics and carbon fiber intermediates.

Self-actuating textile structures are used in a wide range of applications, such as medical technology, automation, architecture, agriculture, and the apparel industry. An example is the use of shading nets in greenhouses, which can be deployed and retracted depending on the sunlight intensity. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are developing textiles based on shape-memory polymers with reversibly controllable geometry.

Developing the building blocks for sustainable chemistry using yeast—and reducing reliance on fossil-based feedstocks: Since March 2026, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP at Potsdam Science Park and the TAILOR junior research group at the University of Potsdam, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), have joined forces to help make this vision a reality. Together, they offer companies seeking to make their processes more sustainable by using microorganisms an end-to-end development pipeline—from strain engineering and bioprocess optimization to industrial scale-up and application testing.