Shape memory polymers

You are looking for a reliable and trustworthy partner to carry out an R&D project? You have a business idea related to shape memory polymers and want to take it forward? You want parts of one of your products to deform when heated or that they move back and forth when the temperature changes?

Then you have come to the right place!

Every innovation starts with an idea. Nothing has driven us as much in recent years as the need to satisfy our customers and add value to society with our research. This has led us to continuously develop our knowledge and skills in chemistry and technology.

We recognized early on the potential that lies dormant in shape memory polymers. We would like to share our knowledge with you. It can be profitably applied in many industries!

 

Research | Development

 

Services

 

Smart materials for aligner therapy

 

4D printing: heat shrinks printed objects

 

Shape memory
QR codes

 

Questions?

Are you interested in the potential of shape memory polymers and 4D printing?

Our services

If you need a new type of polymer, we select the appropriate raw materials for you and carry out the synthesis work. Our specialty is thermoplastic polyurethanes, whose properties we adjust to meet your needs. With a view to sustainable production, we select raw materials based on the data available to us in such a way that the carbon footprint is kept as low as possible.

Are you interested in the field of polymer processing? We are familiar with extrusion processes and use compounding to optimize properties. Are you looking for innovations in the foam sector? We will be happy to assist you with our reactive foaming processes.

Do you need assistance in additive manufacturing? In three-dimensional (3D) printing, we are experts in fused filament fabrication (FFF), also known as fused deposition modeling (FDM). We qualify polymer materials according to your requirements and produce 3D objects for you. With our expertise in so-called 4D printing, we would like to show you where the journey can go in the future. Here we take the function integration already in the additive manufacturing, so that the printed objects react to heat. This saves valuable resources and speeds up implementation.

Polymer Synthesis

  • Biobased monomers
  • Synthesis of shape memory polymers
  • Polyester synthesis
  • Synthesis of thermoplastic polyurethanes
    - Polyesterurethanes
    - Polyetherurethanes
  • Application-oriented material optimization

Polymer Processing

  •  Extrusion: production of
    - 3D printable filaments
    - Granulates, powders, tubes, foils
  • Compounding, injection moulding
  • Foaming (chemical | physical)

Virtual Component
Design

  • Creation of 3D models via
    computer-aided design (CAD)
  • Design of components for additive
    manufacturing
  • Design of filigree structures
  • Reverse engineering

Additive Manufacturing

  • Fused filament fabrication (FFF process) using
    - Standard materials
    - Thermoplastic polyurethanes
  • Production of components with shape memory properties
  • Material-oriented process development
  • Testing of materials on FFF printers
  • Production of filigree print objects
  • Multi-material 3D printing
  • Components with
    carbon fiber reinforcement
  • Postprocessing of print objects
    - Removal of support structures
    - Post-treatment with a sandblaster
    - Laser engraving and cutting
  • 4D printing

Thermomechanical Treatment

  • Application-oriented adjustment of
    - Shape memory effects
      (1W, 2W, multiple)
    - Stress memory effects
      (1W, 2W, multiple)
  • Durability studies
  • Parameter studies

Characterization

  • Chemical | Physical
  • Thermo-mechanical
  • Shape memory properties
  • Durability
  • Quality control

Consulting

  • State of the art in technical and
    patent literature
  • Preparation of feasibility studies
  • Material and process development

Our research topics

We research new polymer materials for the energy transition and design solutions for product protection and monitoring of deep-freeze chains. We are familiar with innovative assembly and disassembly concepts. Our processes for function integration can be used in applications such as personalized medical technology. Together with our partners, we are developing "Programmable Materials", which have considerable potential as drivers for new technological developments. With our expertise, we contribute to various projects in the »FRAUNHOFER CLUSTER OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAMMABLE MATERIALS CPM«.

In short – shape memory polymers are our passion!

Method for controlling shape memory
properties

Stimuli-responsive,
multifunctional polymer materials

 

Shape memory polymers
for orthodontics

Aligners for correction of malocclusions | IGF project (20400 BG)

Collaboration: Orthodontics Department at the University Hospital of Düsseldorf (UKD)