Institute of Polymer Nanotechnology

We deal with the functionalisation of plastics by means of micro and nano-structuring of surfaces, chemical modification or additives.

We are a multi-disciplinary institute at the interface between polymer engineering and nanotechnology. An interdisciplinary team is devoted to developing new materials, processes and applications. Functionalisation or functional integration in polymer systems is always the focus of the work.

The Institute of Polymer Nanotechnology is a shared facility with the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI which gives access to clean-room technology and large research facilities. We collaborate closely with the FHNW Institute of Polymer Engineering.

Skills

Production and modification of monomers
Chemical and electrochemical modification of plastics
Formulation and additivation of plastics to enhance intrinsic properties
Polymerisation and hardening of thermoplastics and duromers
Chemical analysis of original substances and plastics via chemistry, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, chromatography, microscopy and viscometry

More on chemistry and analytics at the Institute of Polymer Engineering

Injection moulding, injection compression moulding, multi-component injection moulding, overmoulding, insert and outsert moulding
Extrusion, compounding, sheathing, pultrusion, melt spinning
Pressing methods, tool engineering, fast prototyping, 3D printing, additive production
Connection technology, welding, bonding
Composite technology, thermoplastic composites, natural fibre composites, direct impregnation, compression RTM, curing kinetics, vacuum infusion, winding
Simulation, FEM, statistical test planning, process control

More on process engineering at the Institute of Polymer Engineering

Selected projects

Production of a violin support with functional surfaces

Plastics experts at the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland developed an injection-moulding production process for a violin ...

to Production of a violin support with functional surfaces

Multi-purpose functionalisation of non-woven materials by means of an e-grafting process

Researchers at the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland are developing a non-woven material with an innovative combination of ...

to Multi-purpose functionalisation of non-woven materials by means of an e-grafting process