The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Polymeric Materials and Composites PYCO has developed highly cross-linked polymers (thermosets) for all applications with particular reference to aviation, IT-Technology and scientific instruments as well.

The work is particularly focused on lightweight composites as well as on micro- and optoelectronics: new (nano) materials, prepregs, core materials, laminates, all kinds of fiber reinforced materials, sandwich structures, bi-stable displays, integrated optical devices and barrier layers.

Thermosets are used in the field of adhesives, coatings, varnishes, binders, inmoulds and gelcoats, castings, foams, prepregs, resin transfer molding (RTM) and pultrusion. The following properties can be designed into these resin systems: high flame retardancy, high fracture toughness, minimum volume shrinkage upon curing, fast and latent curing at one time, debonding ability (e.g. with adhesives), barrier properties preventing water vapor and oxygen leakage, adjusted thermal expansion coefficient of expansion, adjusted refraction index, finishing and recycling. As those properties are often in contrast to each other, we focus particularly on the combination and optimum balance of material properties like high Tg (glass-transition temperature) along with high fracture toughness in a single system, just to mention a few examples.

Polymer systems along the whole supply chain beginning with the monomers up to the finished product which is unique to every material research center in Germany. Fraunhofer PYCO is synthesizing monomers and prepoplymers sometimes including one or more of the following: co-reactants, flame retardants, tougheners, fillers and modifiers. Subsequently, we work closely with our customers to ensure that the systems and prototypes can be reproduced and manufactured according to the customers needs. We characterize the finished parts and work on quality assurance criteria. As a result, we provide thermosetting polymer systems in any developmental stage as agreed between us and our clients. Those stages can be the reactive resin system itself, fibre reinforced materials, sandwich structures or any other demonstrator part that has been agreed upon.

In addition, we offer the following exclusive and unique methods for material characterization:

1. Optical crack tracing for the determination of fracture toughness

2. Volume dilatometry for the determination of the volume shrinkage

3. Nano TMA/TGA/DVS for the investigation of thin polymer films

4. Determination of permeation rates of water (vapor) and oxygen

All those methods were exclusively developed at our site in Teltow and by today have gained excellent reputation in the marketplace by users and suppliers of reactive resin systems. We are also able to meet the needs of SME's for scientific advice by way of a range of Application Labs as well as the Manufacturing Lab for fibre reinforced plastics. These labs offer a variety of special services to our customers.