Application-oriented research on technical polymers and fibre-based composites for practical use are characteristic for ICT’s core competencies in the area of polymer engineering. Through our cooperation within the Fraunhofer network, our excellent contacts abroad, and our collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), we can offer our partners end-to-end solutions from a single source: from polymer synthesis to material technology, plastics processing, component development and production, and even recycling.

The goal here is a holistic material and process development for robust, automated and flexible technologies against the background of increasing digitization and resource-saving material efficiency. We see ourselves as a link between research and industry and develop innovative solutions for tomorrow’s products.

Product innovation:

Technical Polymers and Fibre-based Composites

Research fields relating to lightweight construction:

• Polymer engineering (material and process development)
• Environmental engineering (recycling management)
• Applied electrical chemistry (battery research)
• New drive systems (lightweight construction in the drive-train)

Key research areas related to lightweight construction:

• Material development and compounding technologies for thermoplastic polymers
• Foaming technologies for thermoplastic polymers
• Processing and production methods for fibre composite materials based on thermoplastic and thermoset matrix materials:
  – Function integrated composites – Structural composites
• Surface treatment and hybridization
• CAx-based product and process development of fibre composite materials
• Recycling management for polymers and fibre-reinforced polymers