With the increasing use of recycled materials in plastics production, the question of the durability and long-term stability of these products is coming to the fore. Polypropylene, the second most commonly used standard plastic worldwide, is also used for buried pipes to transport waste and rainwater, for example. The CD lab's research is focused specifically on these polypropylene pipes.
Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy promotes innovation through basic research
Christian Doppler Laboratories conduct application-oriented basic research at a high level. The CD laboratories are jointly financed by the public sector and the participating companies. The most important public funding body is the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (BMAW).
Minister of Labour and Economy Martin Kocher explains the significance of the research topic:
Whether drinking water or wastewater, our underground infrastructure is critical. Extending the lifespan of important underground pipes means consuming fewer resources, and using recycled polymers is an important step towards a circular economy. This new CD laboratory will research both topics, thereby strengthening Austria as a business location and securing our critical infrastructure. I wish Florian Arbeiter and his team every success!
Three central research priorities
The CD lab “ImReMat” is divided into three central research areas. These areas examine various aspects of the behavior of polypropylene pipes using recycled materials. Area I analyzes how recycled materials affect the lifespan of polypropylene. This should serve to efficiently evaluate the stability of recycled polypropylene. Area II examines the complex internal structure of recycled polypropylene to understand how the mechanical properties of the material are affected. Area III is dedicated to the investigation of recycled materials under real-life conditions. The findings from Areas I and II will be combined to make precise lifetime predictions for polypropylene pipes.
Pioneering research for industry and science
Dr. Florian Arbeiter emphasizes the importance of this research:
The use of recycled materials in plastics production is an important step towards a more circular economy. However, this also presents us with technological challenges. With the new Christian Doppler Laboratory, we want to make a significant contribution to ensuring the durability and mechanical stability of polypropylene products with recycled content that are used in critical infrastructures such as sewage pipes.
In close collaboration with the industrial partners Poloplast GmbH & Co KG, Pipelife Austria GmbH & Co KG and Borealis AG, the laboratory will develop innovative solutions to sustainably promote the use of recycled materials and optimize the lifespan of plastic products.
Contact
Priv.Doz. DI Dr.mont. Florian Arbeiter
Department of Polymer Engineering and Science | Institute of Materials Science and Testing of Polymers, Otto-Glöckel-Str. 2, A-8700 Leoben
Tel.: +43 3842/402-2122, Mobil: +43 664 80898 2122
E-Mail: Florian.Arbeiter(at)unileoben.ac.at
