Material Modeling and Characterization

To achieve a complete understanding of the structure and properties of polymer materials, we develop material models that describe the mechanical, rheological and tribological behavior of plastics. We make use of different methods, e.g. bead-and-spring models, molecular dynamics simulations or continuum mechanics methods. Our theoretical investigations serve to describe the processing behavior of polymer materials and the component properties of plastics. In order to obtain material parameters and to validate theoretical predictions, a wide range of equipment for the experimental determination of mechanical, rheological and tribological parameters is available at the chair. Our experimental investigations are used to measure material properties that are relevant for plastics processing methods and the use of plastics, and are used in this way for the development of innovative polymer materials.