Polymer foams are key materials for lightweight construction and thermal insulation in sustainable engineering applications. A critical requirement in foam extrusion is sufficient strain hardening of the polymer melt to stabilize cell growth and prevent collapse. This can be achieved either by long-chain branching or by the targeted design of well-defined branched polymer architectures.

This project is a cooperation of the group “Sustainable Polymer Materials” of Prof. Valerian Hirschberg at TU Clausthal and the Chair of Plastics Technology at TU Dortmund. It investigates the influence of defined branched polystyrenes as minor additives in homopolymer blends. The aim is to control extensional rheological properties and thereby enable the formation of low-density, closed-cell foam structures with uniform morphology. 

The study systematically links molecular architecture (topology and tacticity) with processing behavior during CO₂-assisted foam extrusion, as well as with the resulting thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties.

Ultimately, the project establishes structure–processing–property relationships to guide the development of high-performance additives for advanced polymer foams and improved recycling and upcycling strategies.

Duration: 2025-2028

Project Number: 553369617