Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPEHigh-quality fibers and films made from recycled plastics and biopolymers
Sustainability requirements from society and regulators are now affecting every industry and are leading to a reassessment and further development of many products. Recycled materials and the use of renewable raw materials are playing an increasingly important role in plastics - at Fraunhofer CCPE, we are therefore rethinking the plastics cycle for biopolymer and recycled applications.
Due to their variability and versatility, plastics have rightly secured a firm place as indispensable materials and their highly individual properties enable them to fulfill a variety of tasks. However, too many plastic products are still disposed after only one use phase. Even if they are reused in the form of a circular process, the subsequent product is not always of the same high quality as the original product (downcycling). Biopolymers also often have the unjustified stigma that they are not suitable for demanding technical applications. The Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE is therefore working on two issues that are relevant for a large number of industrial applications: Can high-quality fibers and films be produced from plastic recyclates that have not previously been used for high-quality purposes? Can high-quality fibers also be developed from biopolymers for demanding applications?
The project for plastic recyclates such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) will cover the entire process chain - from the sorting of used plastics from material streams that have not yet been used to high value via the recycling process, the application-optimized improvement of recyclate quality thanks to adapted post-stabilization through to shaping. Aging and weathering tests are also being carried out. Nonwovens and films for the production of materials for roof underlays are considered as an application scenario.
With a view to biopolymers such as polylactide (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS), both the necessary process steps for the production of high-quality fibers and investigations into controlled degradation in soils and aquatic environments are being carried out. This will also enable an ecotoxicological assessment of the new developments. In the application scenario, the focus will be on geotextiles.
The development work for the plastic recyclates and biopolymers mentioned above is supported by ongoing life cycle analyses. As Fraunhofer CCPE, we attach great importance to the application-oriented nature of our research and development and work closely with partners from industry. We therefore welcome interest in our project and even more active cooperation with partners from industry. Feel free to contact us about these and other topics relating to circular plastics!