TU Ilmenau and TITK invest together again

A new twin-screw extrusion system officially went into operation on March 26, 2024 at the Plastics Technology Group (KTI) at Ilmenau University of Technology. It will be used for the processing and functionalization as well as the recycling and upcycling of plastics. The total costs of around EUR 500,000 were financed to 90 percent by funds from the "FTI Thüringen Forschung" funding program. The remaining own contribution of EUR 50,000 was provided by the TITK in Rudolstadt.

The system replaces an outdated twin-screw extruder from 1992 at Plastics Technology Group Ilmenau and will be used directly in various research projects. These include the Thuringian Innovation Center for Mobility (ThIMo) and the Thuringian Center for Mechanical Engineering (ThZM). "In addition, the investment will help to further intensify the close cooperation between the TU and the TITK," says Prof. Dr. Florian Puch, Head of the Plastics Technology Group at the university. 

According to Puch, a twin-screw extrusion system on a laboratory scale is ideal for basic research at the university. The knowledge gained could then be scaled up to pilot plant scale and small production scale at the business-oriented research institute TITK in order to ultimately benefit the economy - especially regional SMEs.

"This means that we are once again covering the entire research value chain - from basic research at the TU to industry transfer at TITK. This is now also fully underpinned by equipment," says TITK Director Benjamin Redlingshöfer, whose institute has been an affiliated institute of TU Ilmenau for many years. This new joint investment documents a lively cooperation and at the same time leads to a more efficient use of taxpayers' money. A new sheet extrusion system had already been purchased and installed at TITK in Rudolstadt at the end of 2020 as part of a coordinated investment strategy.

The heart of the new system in Ilmenau - manufactured by Leistritz Extrusionstechnik GmbH Nuremberg - is now a twin-screw extruder, to which plastics, additives, fillers and reinforcing materials or even reactive components can be added via associated dosing devices and side feeders. And even in liquid form, which was previously not possible. These raw materials are melted and mixed in the extruder at a defined temperature. A vacuum can also be used to remove volatile components from the highly viscous plastic mixture. The new mixture then finally emerges from the extruder through a tool and is usually cooled and then processed further.

The plant can be used to produce high-quality recyclates in the field of "recycling and upcycling of plastics", which can also be functionalized. The very demanding processing of bioplastics and their recycling as well as the processing of so-called highly filled plastics - e.g. with thermal or electrical properties - will also be researched further.

Last but not least, thanks to the investment, the teaching mission for students, doctoral candidates and interns will be fulfilled in an even more modern way. "The jointly acquired technology makes a significant contribution to training the next generation of scientists in the fields of materials development of plastics and plastics process engineering using the latest and most modern plant technology," states Prof. Puch.