Plastics are essential for the electrical industry – they insulate and protect and must therefore be heat-resistant, flame-retardant, and mechanically robust, for example. Currently, fossil-based plastics such as polyamides or polycarbonates are predominantly used for this purpose, and there is a lack of bio-based alternatives. In the recently launched two-year joint research project “HighTechPLA,” Fraunhofer UMSICHT works with partners* to develop a bio-based high-performance compound based on polylactic acid (PLA).
In Germany, around 1 million tons of plastics are processed annually in the electrical/electronics sector. The majority of these are fossil-based, with recyclates being used to a rather minor extent. A bio-based alternative that could be used in the electrical industry could make an enormous contribution to achieving CO2neutrality by 2050. The major challenge is to equip bio-based plastics with specific, mutually influencing functions, to further develop them for technical applications, and to make them economically compatible with conventional injection molding processes.
From structure-property model to market-ready products
In the joint research project “HighTechPLA,” the project team is developing a high-performance material based on PLA for electronic components. The consortium combines expertise from research and industry in the fields of materials development, injection molding, and production development. The initial goal is to gain a deep understanding of the structure-property relationships in PLA compounds in order to systematically resolve conflicts between crystallization behavior, impact strength, and flame retardancy.
A structure-property model will then enable formulations and processes to be simulated in a practical manner and validated in real production facilities. The close integration of material and process development is intended to keep cycle times comparable to conventional processes.
“Our goal is to ensure that project results can be quickly transferred into market-ready products. The results also have the potential to be extended to other industries,” explains Christina Eloo, Circular and Bio-based Plastics Department at Fraunhofer UMSICHT.
*Project consortium: Fraunhofer UMSICHT, FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, Georg Schlegel GmbH & Co. KG, Bodo Ehmann GmbH, Werner Langer GmbH & Co. KG, LED Linear GmbH
Funding information
The HighTechPLA project is funded on behalf of and with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
Source
Fraunhofer-Institute UMSICHT, press release, 2025-02-12.
Supplier
Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR)
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH
Fraunhofer-Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik (UMSICHT)
Georg Schlegel GmbH & Co. KG
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