The main topics in research concern the relationship between molecular structure, rheological and processing properties, rheology of disperse systems, fluid mechanics of polymer melts, composites of polymers with metals, the development of functional polymers for electronic applications by physical modification, polymer ceramics, and the development of functional polymers for medical applications. The general approach to research are fundamental studies on problems of technical relevance.

Rheology:

• Capillary rheometer: Göttfert Rheograph 2000 and 2003, corrosion protected, 0.1 to 2000 bar, 25 to 500°C

• Rotational rheometers: Rheometric Scientific ARES: -150 to 600°C, Bohlin VOR: -150 to 600°C, Bohlin CSM: stress controlled, 25 to 400°C

• Elongational rheometer 1, 2: Tensile creep and stressing experiments, max. 220°C, 5 to 200 N, Hencky-strain rates: 0.001 to 3 s ^-1

• Elongational rheometer 3: Stressing experiments, max. 220°C, 20 N, 0.01 to 1s^-1

• Melt tensile tester: Göttfert Rheotens

• Melt flow indexer: Göttfert MI-Robo, 25 to 400°C

• Magnetic bearing rheometer: Very low friction, creep recovery experiments, 2x10^-7 to 10^-3 Nm

• Biaxial stretching machine: Brückner Karo IV

• Laser-Doppler velocimeter: Dantec, time resolution 2 µs, spatial resolution 30µm
  

Thermal Analysis:

• DSC: TA Instruments DSC 2920, -150 to 600°C

• TGA: TA Instruments TGA 2950, 25 to 1000°C

• DMTA: Rheometric Scientific DMTA IV, -150 to 600°C

• Dilatometer: -150 to 250°C

• pvT-Apparatus: Gnomix, 25 to 400°C, 100 to 2000 bar

• Measuring device for thermal conductivity
  

Microscopy:

• Light microscopes: Different modes, image analysis, microtome sample preparation available, 25 to 350°C (with hot stage)

• Scanning electron microscope (SEM): LEO 435VP, low vacuum mode, image analysis: Quantimet 500

• Atomic force microscope (AFM): Topometrix Discovery

• Laseroptical profilometer: UBM Microfocus, max. depth 2 mm, resolution 0.05µm
  

Polymer Analysis:

• Size exclusion chromatography 1: 10³ to 10⁷ g/mol, room temperature equipment

• Size exclusion chromatography 2: (SEC-MALLS) 60 to 150°C, Waters 150C with Wyatt Dawn EOS, Polymer ChAR IR 4 , absolute MW: 10² to 10⁸ g/mol, branching analysis software

• FTIR-Spectroscope: Nicolet Magna-IR 750, transmission and ATR, gas cell (coupled TGA-FTIR)

• Contact angle measuring device: Data Physics OCA 30, video capture of experiment, 25 to 400°C
  

Mechanical Testing:

• Tensile Tester 1: Zwick Z050 with video equipment, environmental chamber, -80 to 250°C, max. 50 kN

• Tensile Tester 2: Frank, max. 100 kN

• Tribotester: Test of friction and wear properties for biomaterials

• Impact tester: Instrumented, recording of force and deflection, -100 to 250°C
  

Electric and dielectric devices:

• Capacitor: Vacuum applicable, 25 to 300°C, with: 1. Bridge: 100 Hz to 1 MHz; 2. Micro-amperemeter: 0.01 to 100 Hz, conductivity measurement; 3. High frequency measuring device: 0.1 to 999 MHz, 20 to 300 MHz

• Bridge: Fixed frequency 50 Hz

• Ultra-high frequency measuring devices: 25°C, 45 MHz to 20 GHz, network analyzer

• Measuring device for the determination of powder conductivity: Conductivity measurement under pressure, 25°C, 1 to 2000 bar

• Measuring device for anti-electrostatic properties: 25°C, max. 10kV/mm, time resolved measurement
  

Processing:

• Extruders: Göttfert: single screw, diameter 30 mm, twin screw, diameter 35mm, L=15, 25 D

• Grooved barrel extruder: Göttfert, diameter 20 mm, 20 D

• Single screw extruder: Brabender Plasticorder, screw-diameter 19, 25mm, L=30D,

• Twin screw extruder 1: Leistritz LSM 30/34, Counter-rotating, screw and barrel element kit, screw-diameter 34 mm

• Twin screw extruder 2: Leistritz LSM 30/34, Co-rotating, screw and barrel element kit, screw-diameter 34 mm, wear protection, degassing unit, gravimetric feeders

• Injection moulding machine 1: Arburg Allrounder 270E50/210, screw-diameter 25, 35 mm, L=20 D, barrels for thermoplasts, elastomers and duromers, measurement of cavity pressure

• Injection moulding machine 2: Arburg Allrounder 320S500-100, screw-diameter 25 mm, L=20 D, wear protection, moulds for different test specimens

• Hydraulic press: Arenco BMDHL60/12, 60 to 600 kN

• Hydraulic press: Labopress 200T, max. 300°C

• Kneader: Haake PolyDrive, inert atmosphere

• Film blowing equipment: Measurement of take-up force and bubble pressure, Chill-roll

• Dryer: Somos TF10HT, 25 to 160°C

Für die Jahre 1999-2002
http://www.lsp.uni-erlangen.de/deutsch/broschuere/brosch6.pdf

Für die Jahre 2002-2003
http://www.lsp.uni-erlangen.de/deutsch/broschuere/2003Publications.pdf

• Metallisieren von Kunststoffen mittels thermischen Spritzens von Metallen
  
• Nanoparticle filled polymers
  
• Polypropylene foams
  

• Development of a transparent and injection-moldable polymer material for the manufacture of foldable intraocular lenses
  
• Development of bioresorbable composite materials for the osteosynthesis
  
• Development of formulations and technologies for the production of high quality classical mono- and multilayered polymer films (filled and unfilled) and special films of high performance polymers on the basis of new developed and built materials
  
• Development of high temperature platable materials suitable for two-component injection molding
  
• Development of new polymer systems for coatings of pistons und bearings
  
• Electromechanical devices from polymer materials for the surface mount technology
  
• Elongational behavior of different PC/ABS blends
  
• Elongational behaviour of long-chain branched polycarbonate melts
  
• Fertigen antielektrostatischer Funktionsbauteile im Sandwich-Spritzguß
  
• Flow of Polymer Melts: Experiment and Simulation
  
• Forschungsprojekte 1999 - 2001
  
• Forschungsprojekte 2002-2003
  
• Heterogeneous photocatalytic initiation of polymerization
  
• High temperature resistant films for flexible printed circuit boards and components
  
• Influence of additives on the flow of polymer melts investigated by laser-Dopplervelocimetry
  
• Influence of elongational flow on the morphology of polymer blends
  
• Influence of high molecular components and long chain-branching on rheological properties of polystyrenes
  
• Influence of molecular structure on viscous and elastic properies of polyethylene melts
  
• Influence of particular fillers on properties of pyrolysed polymer-derived ceramics
  
• Investigation of the evolution of stress and velocity in flows of polymer melts and solutions using flow induced birefringence and laser-doppler velocimetry
  
• Investigation of the evolution of stress and velocity in flows of polymer melts using flow induced birefringence and Laser-Doppler velocimetry
  
• Kunststoffgebundene Dauermagnete in der Elektronikproduktion
  
• Laser activation of thermoplastic materials for the metallization of molded-interconnect-devices (MID)
  
• Modification of the molecular structures of polypropylenes by elctron beam irradiation and its influence on rheological properties and the crystallisation behavior
  
• Molecular and rheological characterization of branched polyolefins
  
• Morphology of biaxially stretched polypropylenes
  
• Morphology of polymer blends and its relation to gas permeability
  
• Nonmetallic, bio-active bone replacement materials and there individual shaping by the use of selective laser sintering
  
• Polymer-derived ceramics
  
• Postbone polymer processing instabilities (3PI)
  
• Reliable composites from fiber-reinforced plastics and metals
  
• Rheological and fluid mechanical investigations of ceramic slurries for the production of large ceramic substrates with low tolerances in thickness
  
• Rheological characterization of thermoplastic fluropolymers
  
• Rheological properties and film blowing performance of polyethylenes
  
• Rheological properties of disperse polymer systems
  
• Specialty antimicrobial polymers (SPAN)
  
• Towards an understanding of extrudate instabilities