IMPE Institute of Materials and Process Engineering

// INTERNATIONAL PROJEKT TOGETHER WITH UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO //   Chenyu Wang from the University of Tokyo was visiting the IMPE for 2 weeks working together with the research group of Adhesives and Polymer Materials (headed by Christof Brändli). The joint project aims to generate 3D printed components with superior water resistance and improved isotropy and was funded by the Consolidation Grant of the Leading House Asia (ETHZ) and Staatssekretariat für Bildung Forschung und Innovation SBFI. Catechol-modified polymers developed for underwater bonding were synthesized together with the IMPE scientists Massimo Zambito Marsala and Bettina Vetterli. Innovative properties can be generated by introducing metal-polymer networks. We are excited to see what results can be achieved with these novel materials applying 3D additive manufacturing processes. #polymers, #3dprinting, #additivemanufacturing, #underwateradhesive, #metalpolymernetwork

// NEW KEY EQUIPMENT // We are pleased to announce that we have acquired and recently commissioned a new high precision printing and coating machine: The challenger 273 from nsm Norbert Schläfli AG. Equipped with a flexographic printing unit and a slot die from TSE TROLLER AG this machine considerably expands the possibilities of the research group of polymer coatings in the field of thin coatings, such as for solar cells. The first project is already being carried out on this machine. In the project we are coating perovskite solar cells under the lead of the Institute of Computational Physics together with FLUXiM AG, Solaronix, and our Korean partners Pusan National University, Unis Co. Ltd, Ajou University, Inha University. We are impressed by the high precision this tool can achieve and we look forward to many new projects that can and will be realised with this machine. #coating #printing #solarcells #perovskite #slotdie #flexographicprinting, #inkapplication #sheettosheet 

// INNOVATIVE EXCHANGE: PROF HIDETAKE TANAKA FROM SOPHIA UNIVERSITY VISITING IMPE //   Hidetake Tanaka, Associate Professor in Machining Measurement and Functionality from Sophia University in Japan visited the IMPE on 25 November 2024. Sophia University has been a close partner of ZHAW School of Engineering since 8 years for student exchange programs, but is now expanding its interest into faculty exchanges as well. The Laboratory for Fiber Composites at IMPE was identified as particularly interesting for Prof. Tanaka and its head, Oliver Döbrich, presented many exciting research projects in collaboration with airplane companies and the European Space Agency - ESA. The cutting-edge research conducted at IMPE was then shown to the Japanese guest in the laboratory, which is always a highlight for every researcher. The visit was rounded off by a joint lunch, with IMPE’s director Rene Radis, head international relations Patricia Heuberger and Oliver Döbrich. Thank you to Livia Isufi-Nakamura from the International Office who organized the visit.

// IMPE LUNCH SEMINAR – GUEST LECTURE BY AHMET AKSÖYEK, PARMACO AG // The third IMPE Lunch Seminar took place on November 13th, 2024. Mr. Ahmet Aksöyek, Head of Development and Project Management at Parmaco AG, gave an excellent and comprehensive talk on the Metal Injection Molding (MIM) Technology for the production of complex, high precision metallic components. In his presentation Mr. Aksöyek introduced and explained in detail the entire MIM process, from initial mixing, injection molding, solvent debinding, thermal debinding, pre-sintering and final sintering. Furthermore, key features of each process step as well as their technical challenges were highlighted. Finally, it was demonstrated when and why MIM is advantageous over other manufacturing technologies, using selected application examples from various industries.   #mim #metalinjectionmolding #injectionmolding #parmaco

// SCIENTIFIC VISIT AT THE PRINCE OF SONGKLA UNIVERSITY FOR JOINT SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT // From Waste to Resource – New Hydrogels Through Chemical Recycling of Polyester We are continuing our exciting collaboration with Prince of Songkla University in Thailand on chemical recycling of polyesters and making hydrogels for wastewater treatment with a visit of the IMPE scientists Simon Cerqua and Eugenia Bonora of the laboratory of adhesives and polymer materials (Christof Brändli). We are very proud and looking forward to make significant progress on this important sustainable topic! Thank you Sirinya Chantarak, Watchanida Chinpa, Aree Choodum, Chuanpit Khaokong, Pakorn Pasitsuparoad for the hospitality and fruitful collaboration. #recycling #polyester #pet #hydrogel #waste

// IMPE PRESENTS AT THE ‘KMU FORUM’ IN WINTERTHUR // Our head of the laboratory of ‘Polymeric Coatings’, Winkler Martin, is representing the IMPE at this year's 'KMU Forum' of the 'House of Winterthur'. On November 15th, he will be explaining the opportunities for cooperation between SMEs and universities of applied sciences such as the ZHAW. In a pre-interview, he describes how the local economy can benefit from Winterthur as a location for education as well as research and development. Link to the interview: https://lnkd.in/esDWZjhQ #scientificcollaboration #researchanddevelopment #researchfunding #winterthur #houseofwinterthur #sme 

// WE ARE HIRING // We are looking for a Mechanical Engineer, Lightweight Engineer or Materials Scientist as ‘Research Associate 80-100%’ to support us with our exiting R&D projects in the field of innovative fiber-reinforced materials. Apply now and join the IMPE team! Link to the job posting: https://lnkd.in/edUQjNH7 #jobposting #hiring #research #researchassociate #mechanicalengineer #lightweightengineer #materialsscientist #composites #fiberreinforcedcomposites

// IMPE STARTS TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS // We are pleased to announce that for the first time in the history of our institute we are training apprentices. This is a major step for us and we are confident that with their dedication and curiosity they will be a valuable addition to our institute. Last week, our two new apprentices started their training as chemical lab technicians. We are happy to welcome them to our team and look forward to an exciting and succesful time! #apprenticeship #chemistry #chemicallabtechnicians

// WE ARE HIRING // We are looking for a ‘Material Scientist for Ceramic Materials as Scientific Assistant 80-100%’ to support us with our exiting R&D projects in the field of Ceramics. Apply now and join the IMPE team! Link to the job posting: https://lnkd.in/eriH5Y8Q #jobposting #hiring #research #assistent #materialscientist #ceramics #additivemanufacturing

// NEW PUBLICATION // Revealing the Impact of Viscoelastic Characteristics on Performance Parameters of UV-Crosslinked Hotmelt Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives: Insights from Time–Temperature Superposition Analysis   The interaction between visco-elastic properties and adhesive performance of UV-crosslinkable hotmelts was investigated by IMPE researchers of the Adhesives and Polymer Materials group (Marian Guder, Roman Günther and Christof Brändli) in a fruitful and very supportive collaboration with artimelt AG (Nicole Senn, Katharina Bremgartner-Lüchinger) and was published as part of Polymers MDPI special issue on Research and Application of Polymer Adhesives! The aim was to predict a correlation between specific properties of the adhesive and bonding properties by applying the time-temperature superposition method (TTS). Want to know more? Click here for the full article: https://lnkd.in/ePpg9XKF #adhesives #hotmelt #psa #tts #rheology #viscoelasticity