Bio-based polymers for the market

In the synthesis of biopolymers, our focus is on optimizing and further developing the chemical structure of bio-based polymers, e.g. bio-based polyesters, polyamides and polyurethanes. The aim is to provide bio-based plastics as an alternative for established applications.

Our services include the synthesis of new or optimized polymer structures from bio-based building blocks, as well as the evaluation of monomers obtained from new biotechnological or recycling processes. These evaluations provide decision support regarding the suitability of monomers for polymerization and the optimization of polymerization processes. For this purpose, we have various vessels and reaction units (e.g. 1 L, 1.5 and 7.5 L; up to 60 bar, up to 300°C) at our disposal, which, among other things, can be combined to form a polylactic acid (PLA) mini-plant. This means that PLA can be synthesized from lactic acid via the step of lactide production and purification to additivated and stabilized PLA. The modular design of this plant makes it possible to use the aggregates for a variety of other industry-relevant polymer syntheses.

We have particular expertise in the further development of the plastic polybutylene succinate (PBS). Our goal is to accelerate the synthesis and development of marketable PBS types comparable to the variety of PE types (HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE) (PBS as a focus). In collaboration with the Fraunhofer IAP's Processing Pilot Plant for Biopolymers in Schwarzheide, blown films are produced, for example, to investigate the influence of PBS structure variations on the processing and property profile of the films and to identify suitable applications.

The evaluation of sustainable raw materials for plastics production is a complementary field of research. Particularly promising is the biogenic synthetic building block 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCS), which offers a wide range of possibilities for polyester-containing polymer materials. FDCS is being considered as a substitute for terephthalic acid, which cannot currently be produced from renewable carbon sources. As our research shows, FDCS offers a clear bio-based alternative to this (focus on elastomers). For example, the IAP has succeeded in producing new thermoplastic polyester elastomers (TPEE) based on FDCS.