Press | Media

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have developed a foil that changes into polyurethane foam (PU foam) when heated – entirely without health risks. The foil allows for isocyanate-free foaming, thus improving workplace safety. Additionally, it offers logistics advantages for storage and transportation. The material can be customized for various applications ranging from the automotive and construction industries to packaging.

Highly efficient solid-state heat pumps without compressors – that is the vision of Fraunhofer researchers. With the recent completion of the ElKaWe research project, they took a big step towards realizing this vision. The team made great progress in terms of material and system design, and set up the first electrocaloric demonstrators to show the vast potential of this technology.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP and Notion Systems GmbH announce their strategic partnership for the further development of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing.

Folding boxes are considered sustainable packaging solutions for numerous everyday products – whether breakfast cereals, electronics, medicines, or perfumes. Made from paper and cardboard, folding boxes are resource-efficient in production, biodegradable, and easily recyclable. However, environmentally friendly adhesives are still lacking for completely sustainable manufacturing. Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP are developing and testing bio-based adhesives for the industrial production of folding boxes in the project Sustainable Gluing With Renewable Adhesives (SUGRA).

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP is taking another important step towards sustainability and energy resilience: a photovoltaic system has been installed on the institute building in Wildau. The project is funded by the Brandenburg State Ministry of Science, Research and Culture.

Fungi have more to offer than meets the eye. Their thread-like cells, which grow extensively and out of sight underground like a network of roots, offer huge potential for producing sustainable, biodegradable materials. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam Science Park are using this mycelium to develop a wide range of recyclable products, from wallets and insulation to packaging.

Sporting activities promote our health but can lead to injuries of the musculoskeletal system if not performed correctly. This often affects the cartilage in the joints. Untreated cartilage defects can lead to osteoarthritis at older age, for which there is currently no effective treatment. Personalized cartilage cell implants made by 3D printing should provide a remedy in future. Special printing inks containing the body's own cartilage cells are being developed for this purpose. The four-year project at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg BTU started in January 2024 and is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with around 2 million euros.

As part of a pioneering initiative to promote renewable energies, a photovoltaic system is being installed at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in the Potsdam Science Park. The infrastructure measure is being realised as part of the Fraunhofer climate strategy.

Flexible, disposable plastic films used in shopping or garbage bags are made mainly from petroleum-based low-density polyethylene (LDPE). These films, however, come with a large carbon footprint and contribute to environmental pollution. A team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP has now developed a flexible and recyclable plastic film material based on polylactide (PLA) bioplastic and paved the way for its commercialization. Their efforts have earned the researchers the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize for 2024.

Due to their stability and resistance to water and grease, PFAS chemicals (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in a wide range industries, but they are harmful to health and the environment. Membranes containing PFAS are used in many semiconductor manufacturing processes, for example. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have now developed a sustainable alternative in the form of an innovative, PFAS-free membrane. The chemically stable, highly permeable polymer membrane has a pore diameter of approx. seven nanometers and enables filtration of the smallest particulate contaminants. The membrane can be customized to meet specific needs, which makes it easy to integrate the new process into existing systems.