Press releases

A strong European Materials ecosystem driving the green and digital transition as well as a sustainable inclusive European society through a systemic collaboration of upstream developers, downstream users and citizens and all stakeholders in between.

Recyclates make products sustainable and competitive. Safety and reliable function must be guaranteed in the process. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability will be demonstrating how the quality of products made from recycled plastics can be reliably tested in the early development process, before series production, at the Fraunhofer booth, Hall 7, SC01, at the "K-Messe" in Düsseldorf from October 19 to 26.

To respond individual customer requirements and to meet social and political responsibility, a research project was carried out in cooperation between Ansmann AG and Fraunhofer Institute für Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF. Aim was the development of natural fibre-reinforced plastics for usage in Li-ion battery housings. Fraunhofer Researchers will present more details at the Fraunhofer booth, Hall 7, SC01, at the "K-Messe" in Düsseldorf from October 19 to 26.

Design of plastic components is primarily based on the methods developed for ductile metals. Applied to plastics these methods provide errors in components subjected to multi-axial tensile loads. The adjusted methods require the test results under 2D and 3D tensile loads, which cannot be gained from the uniaxial tensile tests. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF have improved known test specifications for the biaxial tensile test under the effect of temperature. The implemented optical measurement during the loading allows the precise acquisition of the mechanical response of the plastic sheets. The data from the new test method improves the material modelling thus providing the basis for an enhancement of the design quality of plastic components.

The International Congress of the Foundry Industry for intelligent Combining of Design, Casting, Computer Simulation, Checking and Cyclic Behavior for efficient Cast Components „InCeight Casting C8“ offers the opportunity to share experiences and knowledge of all the disciplines involved in the product life cycle of cast components. The aim is to develop a common understanding of the various requirements for high-performance and efficient cast products. From 6 to 8 March 2023 the second congress „InCeight Casting C8” will take place in Darmstadt. The Call for Papers is open until May 15, 2022.

What sustainable plastics solutions are available for automotive electronics? How exactly does optimized, high-quality polyolefin recycling work? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed at the fourth “Forum Plastic Recyclates” event to be held on March 24, 2022. Addressing topics such as the recycling market and recycling standards, using additives to improve quality and applications for recycled plastics, this year’s forum will focus once again on the field of mechanical recycling. The program and online registration form for the virtual conference are now available here. The conference fee is 250.00 euros.

Elastomers are indispensable and highly innovative materials. Through targeted compounding with selected raw materials, they achieve top performance in numerous applications in mobility, mechanical engineering, medical technology and many other areas of daily life. In connection with the increasing responsibility with regard to resource conservation and sustainability, it also makes sense in the field of elastomers to produce their components from renewable raw materials. In doing so, the properties of the products must be reliably maintained. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF are developing new formulations to make rubbers, fillers, plasticizers, additives and crosslinkers "greener".

How can viruses be effectively eliminated from indoor air? This question is now becoming more important as fall approaches. Efficient indoor air purification is essential, especially in schools. Fraunhofer researchers are investigating and optimizing various filter and air purification techniques in the AVATOR project.

The Forum Plastic Recyclates will now be operating, with immediate effect, under new management: All rights associated with the event have been transferred from Hanser Publications to the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Darmstadt. Fraunhofer LBF will now be assuming responsibility for operative planning of the event and will put together the conference program along with the experienced advisory committee. The fourth Plastic Recyclates Forum will be held on March 24, 2022. As before, the functional emphasis will be on mechanical recycling.

The results of virtual simulation of elastomer parts often differ significantly from the real behaviour of components. Possible reason is that only data from unidirectional tensile tests are taken into account. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF have improved known test specifications for the biaxial tensile test. The implemented 3D optical measurement during the loading allows the precise measurement of the mechanical response of the elastomer sheets. The data from new test improves the material modelling thus providing the basis for an enhancement of the design quality of elastomer components.