Current Research Projects

  • TexKreis - Recycling process for returning plastic-based textile products to the material cycle
    In 2022, 113.8 million tons of textile fibres, including 87.6 million tons of chemical fibres, were produced worldwide according to the Federal Statistical Office. These quantities pose major challenges for the fashion industry in particular, as textiles have been difficult to recycle so far. In view of the increasing production of clothing, particularly through fast fashion, and the associated resource consumption and waste volumes in recent years, it is therefore crucial to find sustainable solutions to meet the growing environmental requirements and stricter legal regulations in various industries.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)
    Duration: 02/2024 to 02/2026
    © Pogrzeba | IKK
  • R-Schaum - Circular Economy: Process development and prototype application for recycling cross-linked foam waste
    Plastic-based foams play an important role in many applications, such as suitcase inserts or packaging padding, but also in mattresses or medical pillows. Foam waste is generated during the manufacturing process (post-industrial) as well as after the use phase (post-consumer). According tot he current status, however, the recycling of plastic-based foams, especially cross-linked foams, is hardly possible.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)
    Duration: 12/2023 to 12/2025
    © Pogrzeba | IKK
  • ENK - Energy-efficient and sustainable production of plastic components
    The rise in prices for energy and raw materials has meant that energy savings and the efficient use of resources have gone from being a subordinate aspect to a key priority for operational improvements within entire branches of industry and are now an essential necessity. In addition to the fulfilment of legal requirements with regard to defined environmental targets, energy efficiency measures are more necessary than ever, especially in Germany as a production location and also against the background of international competitiveness. This is precisely where the ENK research project - energy-efficient and sustainable production of plastic components - steps in.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: BMWK
    Duration: 01/2024 to 12/2026
  • Development and implementation of circular economy concepts in SMEs in the plastics sector
    Conventional plastics economy is mostly linear and is therefore closely linked to resource consumption and waste generation. An alternative concept is the circular economy (CE), which aims to reduce environmental pollution.
    Year: 2022
    Funding: Promotionsstipendium Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)
    Duration: 12/2022 to 11/2025
  • ReKon - Recycling concepts for high-quality mechanical recycling of previously non-recyclable waste streams of technical plastic components from the mobility, energy, electronic and electrical equipment (E&E) and health/pharmaceutical sectors
    The project is investigating mechanical recycling approaches for previously non-recyclable waste streams. Various pre-treatment methods are flexibly adapted to the input streams in order to ensure the highest possible quality of the recyclates.
    Year: 2023
    Funding: MWK
    Duration: 07/2023 bis 06/2025
  • SkalAb: Multi-scale analysis of aquatic degradation mechanisms of polymeric materials
    Behind the project is the establishment of an extensive infrastructure for the examination of a multitude of open questions on the degradation behavior of polymeric materials in water, which IKK is currently investigating and will continue to do so in the future.
    Year: 2021
    Funding: EFRE, REACT-EU
    Duration: 12/2021 to 06/2023
  • TurbuStruk: Reduction of cooling times through turbulent flow in structured cooling channels of injection moulds
    In the future, cooling channel structures are to ensure more efficient molds and more precise and faster process control in injection molding. Within the framework of the „Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand“ (Central Innovation Program for SMEs), or ZIM Guideline for short, Konstruktionsbüro Hein GmbH (KB Hein), the IfW - Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Machine Tools and the IKK - Institute for Plastics and Recycling Technology, both institutes of Leibniz University, are working together on this development.
    Year: 2022
    Duration: 03/2024