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Research group of Polymer and Composite Materials

We offer research and development on polymer-based materials such as plastics, rubbers, composites, adhesives, coatings and gels, and the methods for converting the materials into products.

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We develop, modify and improve the materials, in addition to R&D on recycling. Circular economy and sustainability are key factors in our research. We cooperate with universities nationally and abroad. Our laboratories are well equipped. 

Research areas

  • Generic competence on polymer-based materials 
    • Plastics, rubbers, composites, adhesives, gels 
  • Polymer chemistry 
    • Development and modification of materials, additives and surfaces 
  • Material-process-morphology-property relationships 
    • Experimental characterization combined with numerical modelling 
  • Polymer processing 
    • Injection moulding, extrusion, additive manufacturing (3D printing), vacuum infusion 
  • Mechanical and thermo-mechanical response 
    • Mechanical properties (static, dynamic/fatigue, impact), ageing and lifetime, damage mechanisms - testing and numerical modelling 
  • Circular economy and sustainability 
    • Recycling and upgrading of materials, materials from renewable sources, biodegradable materials, green chemistry, input to LCA 
Four images of research work in a collage

Research approach and infrastructure:

Four pictures of research in a collage
  • Polymer chemistry
    • Reactor of various sizes for synthesis and modification of materials and additives, chemical modification of surfaces and interfaces,  chemical recycling, improving adhesion
  • Lab-scale and pilot-scale polymer compounding and processing
    • Micro compounding and compounding/extrusion equipment for modification of materials, injection moulding and 3D printing
  • Characterization of materials and products
    • Spectroscopy, thermal (DSC, TGA, DIL), microscopy, rheometry
  • Mechanical testing
    • Standard and non-standard mechanical testing (static, dynamic/fatigue, creep, impact), digital image correlation
  • Environmental performance
    • Chemical and physical aging: "Sun and rain", various tough environments (e.g. autoclaves), permeability and migration
    • Long-term mechanical performance at various temperatures: Fatigue, creep, stress relaxation, compression set  
  • Various support for the industry
    • Troubleshooting, material analysis, process optimization, product development, material selection

Laboratories

Polymer chemistry lab

Polymer chemistry lab

In this lab we synthesize polymer materials from monomers. We also modify commercially available materials and make formulations for tailored applications. A third field of R&D is chemical degradation studies to establish routes for chemical...

Polymer and composite material characterization lab

Polymer and composite material characterization lab

This lab has instruments for characterizing polymer and composite materials (and products made of these materials) in terms of chemical and physical structure and properties. This includes special instruments for characterizing surfaces (chemical...

Polymer and composite ageing lab

Polymer and composite ageing lab

This lab has equipment and infrastructure to carry out ageing experiments with polymer and composite materials (and products) in different environments. Hence, in this lab we perform experiments which simulate how the properties of a material change...

Polymer and composite processing lab

Polymer and composite processing lab

In this lab we produce test specimens and simple product prototypes of polymer and composite materials. Effects of processing and recycling can be studied. Furthermore, new material formulations can be compounded, e.g. by blending polymers or by...

Projects

DACOMAT - Damage Controlled Composite Materials

DACOMAT - Damage Controlled Composite Materials

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The objective of DACOMAT is to develop more damage tolerant and damage predictable low cost composite materials in particular aimed for used in large load carrying constructions like bridges, buildings, wind-turbine blades and offshore structures...

TailAd - Tailoring adhesion

TailAd - Tailoring adhesion

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The TailAd project will develop new characterization methods utilizing advanced instrumentation that will provide the capabilities to study adhesion characteristics of paints in much greater detail.

About us