DREAM Compound Conti – A new high-performance polymer

 

High performance polymers such as polyethersulfones or polyetherimides stand out for their good mechanical properties and high temperature resistances with simultaneous low densities compared to conventional polymers. Therefore, high-performance polymers are used for lightweight construction of aircraft, cars and ships. The weight reduction of the vehicles and the resulting fuel savings is usually offset by a higher production expenditure.

In order to reduce the high production expenditure and the associated costs and environmental effects, a new high-performance polymer was developed on a laboratory scale in the project Dream Compound. The new polymer promises excellent material properties and has a resource-conserving synthetic route compared to other high-performance polymers. In the project Dream Compound Conti, the laboratory scale will be transposed into a continuous process. The aim of the project is to accelerate the further development of the high-performance polymer and to promote the substitution of other energy- and resource-intensive polymers.

  Copyright: © LTT Figure 1: Life Cycle of novel single polymer composite materials

The Institute for Technical Thermodynamics accounts for the environmental impacts (e.g. climate change or fossil depletion) of the novel high-performance polymer in a holistic life cycle assessment. This includes various environmental impacts over the entire life cycle, from cradle to grave, of the novel polymer.

  Copyright: © BMBF