3D printing
3D printing is a manufacturing process of components or objects by computer-controlled layer-by-layer deposition of materials or their precursors. Polymers are just as suitable as metal or ceramic powders. The difference to classical processing of polymers is that no tool is required for a molding, in which the material is pressed in the liquid form. This technology was originally developed for the production of prototypes.
Headlight
The light source and reflector of a car headlight are protected by a transparent material (glass, transparent polymers). Today's car headlights consist mainly of the polymer polycarbonate. This type of polymer is crystal clear, very lightweight, shatterproof, extremely malleable and also the material of choice for LED headlamps, which are increasingly replacing traditional bulbs.
Transparent polymer granules
Raw materials can be handled in solid, liquid or gaseous form. Polymeric materials are supplied as powder, granules, tablets, bales, dispersion, liquids or solutions, thermoplastics usually as granules.
Plastic sheets
Polymers can be processed into thin films. Films on surfaces are known as "coatings," while self-supporting, windable films are called films. Films may consist of one or more polymers and of one or more layers (composite films). Films are mainly utilized for packaging according to their functionality or properties.
- 3D printing
- Headlight
- Transparent polymer granules
- Plastic sheets
Locations
The research in macromolecular chemistry is spread all over Germany, from Rostock to Constance and from Dresden to Aachen. Polymer research can be found at 39 German locations and 46 institutions.
Who we are
The Division of Macromolecular Chemistry brings together scientists from universities, research institutes and industry and pools the expertise of the following areas:
- Polymer synthesis and modification (synthetic polymers & biopolymers, hybrid materials & composites, nanocomposites, etc.)
- Polymer physics and characterization (structure determination & representation of structure-property relationships)
- Industrial polymers / polymer materials and their applications
- Functional polymers with tailor-made properties and systems based on polymers (devices)
- New developments in the polymer field (for example polymers based on renewable raw materials, polymers and systems with (switchable) functions for electronics, optics, medical technology, biomaterials)
Through intensive collaboration, the division meets current challenges in research, application and training in the field of macromolecular sciences and, thus, contributes effectively to the preservation and promotion of the competitiveness of Germany as a scientific and industrial location.