Technological watch
Project topic informationHit the mark with sustainable and recyclable composite materials
A holistic project approachOur colleague, Dr. Kristin Trommer, has convinced with her project idea "Development of sustainable recyclable composite materials". The research project is co-financed by the Saxon State Ministry for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture (SMEKUL) and the European Union in the "Application-oriented energy and climate research" program.
Our colleague and her team from the "Functional Layer Systems" department now have 4 years to further expand the existing competencies in this field and to pursue a holistic project approach: to develop sustainable, recyclable and flexible composite materials that are manufactured in an energy-efficient manner and use bio-based, biodegradable polymers. The aim is to demonstrate the material recycling and circularity of these materials and thereby significantly reduce plastic waste.
Sustainable circular economy and energy-efficient processesWith this holistic approach, our research team is making a significant contribution to a sustainable circular economy and more energy-efficient processes in industry. The focus is on:
The successful implementation of the project will make a significant contribution to achieving social goals for sustainable development and increasing the competitiveness of the economy in Saxony and throughout Germany. By making flexible composite materials based on non-fossil raw materials, producing them in an energy-efficient manner and recycling them, resources are conserved, waste is avoided and the CO? footprint is reduced. This strengthens competitiveness and the production location in Saxony and beyond along the entire value chain: textile and raw material manufacturers, the coating industry, film manufacturers, assemblers as well as reprocessors and waste disposal companies.
We would like to thank the Saxon State Ministry for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture (SMEKUL), the European Union and the Saxon Development Bank (SAB) for their trust and support.
Our colleague and her team from the "Functional Layer Systems" department now have 4 years to further expand the existing competencies in this field and to pursue a holistic project approach: to develop sustainable, recyclable and flexible composite materials that are manufactured in an energy-efficient manner and use bio-based, biodegradable polymers. The aim is to demonstrate the material recycling and circularity of these materials and thereby significantly reduce plastic waste.
Sustainable circular economy and energy-efficient processesWith this holistic approach, our research team is making a significant contribution to a sustainable circular economy and more energy-efficient processes in industry. The focus is on:
- Sustainability: Use of bio-based, biodegradable polymers instead of conventional PVC and PU polymers.
- Energy efficiency: Use of coating technologies that are less energy-intensive, such as thermoplastic processes or calendering.
- Material cycle: Closed cycle through shredding and reuse of the material fractions.
- Recycling: Material recycling instead of chemical recycling, with high energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
- Diverse applications: Materials to be used in tarpaulins, artificial leather, roofing membranes, protective clothing and more.
- Cascade use: Use of recyclates that do not return to the material cycle in other applications.
- Environmental friendliness: Reduction of waste and CO? emissions, evaluation through life cycle analysis (LCA).
The successful implementation of the project will make a significant contribution to achieving social goals for sustainable development and increasing the competitiveness of the economy in Saxony and throughout Germany. By making flexible composite materials based on non-fossil raw materials, producing them in an energy-efficient manner and recycling them, resources are conserved, waste is avoided and the CO? footprint is reduced. This strengthens competitiveness and the production location in Saxony and beyond along the entire value chain: textile and raw material manufacturers, the coating industry, film manufacturers, assemblers as well as reprocessors and waste disposal companies.
We would like to thank the Saxon State Ministry for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture (SMEKUL), the European Union and the Saxon Development Bank (SAB) for their trust and support.