Recent Research

In the "SkaNaPA" project, the Fraunhofer IMWS is collaborating with partners to develop natural fiber-reinforced biopolyamides for safety-critical automotive components.

In the "Bio-Foam-NFK" project, the Fraunhofer IMWS is working with various partners to develop novel sustainable lightweight components based on bio-based and natural fiber–reinforced plastic sandwich composites for use in urban electric vehicles.

In the current “rSandwich” project, Fraunhofer IMWS is working on manufacturing sandwich components based on recycled materials under industrial conditions.

Plastics based on polybutylene succinate (PBS) offer great potential for sustainable packaging. The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS has now presented solutions for this.

Five partners from Central Germany want to jointly develop bio-based, continuous fiber-reinforced UD tapes for lightweight construction and at the same time create solutions for production up to pilot scale. They are relying on a combination of bio-based polyamide as a matrix and basalt fibers as a reinforcing component.

Load-path-compatible and material-efficient fiber reinforcement of components is made possible by the use of UD tapes. If these are laid down three-dimensionally in the manufacturing process, many design options are available, especially for lightweight components that are manufactured in small quantities. 

Plastic-free packaging nets for fruit, vegetables and Christmas trees are the aim of a new project at the Fraunhofer IMWS. Together with partners, the institute wants to develop corresponding waxes, color pigments and compounds that are bio-based and biodegradable.  

EconCore works with Airbus, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Fraunhofer on a new technology for a more sustainable type of rudder for short and medium-range aircraft, based on thermoplastic honeycomb sandwich composites.

A process patented by bioplan GmbH and further developed by the Fraunhofer IMWS now offers an environmentally friendly solution for preventing biofouling processes.