CHRISTIAN DOPPLER LABORATORY
for Impact of recycled materials on the mechanical lifetime estimation of polymers
This CD Laboratory researches the interactions between the design of plastic pipes, their loading conditions and the materials used. On this basis, methods for estimating the service life of such pipe systems are developed in order to contribute to their reliable
Modified PP-H: Comparison of structure and function
02.06.2025
As part of his bachelor's thesis, Zeye Zhu dealt with the basic characterization of various homo polypropylene materials (PP-H) with a specifically produced internal structure. The materials are specifically modified polymers in which the polymer chain is broken in a controlled manner in order to obtain different molecular weight distributions and better flow properties (e.g. MFR). The work focused on comparing the base PPs with the modified types to gain a better understanding of the structure-property relationships. For this purpose, mechanical properties, by means of tensile tests and impact tests, as well as thermal and rheological properties, by means of a DSC and a plate-plate rheometer, were analyzed.
New Publication alert!
25.05.2025
A new joint publication between Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH and the Christian Doppler Laboratory ImReMat from Montaninversität Leoben is out. Check the abstract and link below.
Jessica Hinczica, Mario Messiha, Jutta Geier, Carina Maurer, Gerald Pinter, Florian Arbeiter, Correlation of temperature-dependent fracture behavior and thermo-mechanical behavior of a polypropylene pipe grade material under cyclic load, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2025, 111182, ISSN 0013-7944, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2025.111182
Cold Plasma for Better Polymer Blends
07.05.2025
For her Master’s thesis, Jelke Pauwels explored the effects of cold plasma treatment on the miscibility of polypropylene/high – density polyethylene blends. She conducted a series of analyses, including tensile testing, Charpy impact testing, DSC analysis, fatigue testing, and Scanning Electron Microscopy to compare the properties of neat, processed, and plasma-treated virgin materials, as well as blended samples. The aim was to improve the miscibility and compatibility between HDPE and PP within a blend primarily consisting of PP.
The Materials of her work were provided by Prof. Johan Verbeek and Dr. Jesna Ashraf from the Centre For Advanced Materials Manufacturing & Design from the University of Auckland – New Zealand.
Research on the ageing of polypropylene
30.01.2025
As part of the CD Laboratory, Pia Hainz worked on her bachelor's thesis, which focused on the effects of room temperature storage on material properties of polypropylene.
She examined different types of polypropylene and conducted various measurements over a set period of time.
The goal was to determine when the material properties no longer changed significantly and to investigate whether these properties continue to change with prolonged storage or remain largely constant
Opening of the CD Laboratory “ImReMat”
23.10.2024
On Wednesday, October 23, the CD laboratory for the influence of recycled materials on the mechanical durability of plastics, “ImReMat” for short, was opened at the Montanuniversität Leoben. The new CD laboratory is headed by Dr. Florian Arbeiter from the Institute of Materials Science and Testing of Polymers.
