Chemistry of Surfaces
The chemical properties of surfaces and interfaces play a key role in numerous fields of application among them adhesive technology, coatings, composites, tribology and medical engineering. The PCCL has extensive know-how and well established techniques to functionalize the surfaces of organic and inorganic materials and to optimize surface parameters such as wettability, friction or reactivity. The main interdisciplinary research areas focus on:
- Development of tailored elastomers comprising tunable tribological properties, optimized adhesion to coatings and improved biocompatibility
- Novel composite materials with enhanced delamination resistance
Chemistry of Elastomers
Elastomeric materials are not only the driving force in the automotive industry but are also employed in a large number of different commodities such as seals or gloves. The properties of elastomers are strongly influenced by the chemistry of the cross-linking process. In the field of elastomer chemistry, PCCL develops innovative and praxis-oriented cross-linking strategies for both polymeric as well as rubber materials. The main research fields include:
- Development of new energy-efficient cross-linking techniques (e.g. with UV light)
- Preparation of elastomers with optimized material properties (e.g. biocompatibility)
- Development of reversible cross-linked materials
- Implementation of new characterization methods (e.g. NMR) to analyze network structures