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In general, plastics are processed at way over a hundred degrees Celsius. Enzymes, by contrast, cannot usually withstand these high temperatures. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applie .
Functionalised plastics are possible thanks to scientific breakthrough
June 2, 2021
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have managed to embed enzymes into plastics without them losing their activity in the process. Enzymes traditionally are unable to withstand the high temperatures that plastics are processed at.
Materials that clean themselves, have anti-mould surfaces or are even self-degrading are just a few examples of what will be possible using active enzymes embedded into plastics.
Scientists at Fraunhofer IAP have developed a solution as part of its ‘Biofunctionalisation/Biologisation of Polymer Materials BioPol’ project, which has been running since summer 2018 in cooperation with BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.
Scientists have worked out a way to embed active enzymes in plastic that can give it different capabilities, such as an ability to break down proteins on the surface or degrade itself to avoid polluting the environment.
Stereocomplex PLA for composites
1st June 2021
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP), based in Potsdam, Germany, have received funding to develop new reinforcing PLA fibres for composites.
The challenge is that conventional PLA has a relatively low temperature resistance and technical fibres can be produced most economically using the melt spinning process.
The Fraunhofer IAP team has developed more thermally stable stereocomplex PLA (sc-PLA), in which the PLA molecules form a special crystal structure. This allows the production of fibres which have a melting point that is 40-50°C higher than conventional PLA fibres.
The researchers are now working with fibre producer Trevia to optimise a melt spinning process for sc-PLA filament yarns.