Themes
New applications for biopolymers
Day by day grows the realization that many raw materials are finite and reserves are shrinking. This is resulting in renewed intensive research and development as regards biopolymers obtained from sustainable raw material sources and in finding new applications for them. The objective is to maintain normal levels of benefit and convenience or to improve on them. This also leads to greater acceptance of such products on the part of the consumer. High crude oil prices are primarily responsible for producing such marked growth and pronounced diversification in the biopolymer market that the material manufacturing side can hardly keep pace. The packaging sector is clearly dominant, especially with biodegradable bags and food packaging materials. These are not actually REHAU fields of activity, but the company’s own research and development efforts are focused on REHAU-related biomaterial applications and have already produced successful prototypes.
Do you have specific questions or are you looking for a development partner? Please feel free to contact us.
Day by day grows the realization that many raw materials are finite and reserves are shrinking. This is resulting in renewed intensive research and development as regards biopolymers obtained from sustainable raw material sources and in finding new applications for them. The objective is to maintain normal levels of benefit and convenience or to improve on them. This also leads to greater acceptance of such products on the part of the consumer. High crude oil prices are primarily responsible for producing such marked growth and pronounced diversification in the biopolymer market that the material manufacturing side can hardly keep pace. The packaging sector is clearly dominant, especially with biodegradable bags and food packaging materials. These are not actually REHAU fields of activity, but the company’s own research and development efforts are focused on REHAU-related biomaterial applications and have already produced successful prototypes.
Do you have specific questions or are you looking for a development partner? Please feel free to contact us.
Themes
Ideal – and not just for aircraft construction
Hard as steel, gossamer fine and light as a feather. Modern materials make it possible to combine such opposites. But the race to find materials that unite maximum strength with minimum weight is still far from over. However, progress has reached a point that appeared utopian but a short time ago, and REHAU materials development expertise played no small part in this. For instance, REHAU achieves lighter components by employing intelligent filler concepts. The density of high temperature thermoplastics has thereby been reduced by up to 20%. The fillers used are chemically inert and are even suitable for medical applications.
An alternative concept for lightweight yet extremely rigid components is the combination of metal and plastics, so-called “hybrid” structures. The process of firmly bonding polymer materials to metal reinforcement in a single operation directly inside the injection molding tool, developed by REHAU, means savings in material, weight and costs when compared to conventional mechanical bonding methods.
Do you have specific questions or are you looking for a development partner? Please feel free to contact us.
Hard as steel, gossamer fine and light as a feather. Modern materials make it possible to combine such opposites. But the race to find materials that unite maximum strength with minimum weight is still far from over. However, progress has reached a point that appeared utopian but a short time ago, and REHAU materials development expertise played no small part in this. For instance, REHAU achieves lighter components by employing intelligent filler concepts. The density of high temperature thermoplastics has thereby been reduced by up to 20%. The fillers used are chemically inert and are even suitable for medical applications.
An alternative concept for lightweight yet extremely rigid components is the combination of metal and plastics, so-called “hybrid” structures. The process of firmly bonding polymer materials to metal reinforcement in a single operation directly inside the injection molding tool, developed by REHAU, means savings in material, weight and costs when compared to conventional mechanical bonding methods.
Do you have specific questions or are you looking for a development partner? Please feel free to contact us.
Themes
Light breaks new ground
The possibilities of light, as regards functions or effects, for example, are nowhere near exhausted. Also, the way light affects the wellbeing of people and other life forms can still be markedly improved. To find solutions to such challenges and to get closer, step by step, to the dynamic replacement of daylight with efficient means and methods, as an overall aim, REHAU is aiming for a broad range of applications. This is yet a broad field of development in which light, quite rightly, is associated with terms such as “design” or even “intelligence”.
Do you have specific questions or are you looking for a development partner? Please feel free to contact us.
The possibilities of light, as regards functions or effects, for example, are nowhere near exhausted. Also, the way light affects the wellbeing of people and other life forms can still be markedly improved. To find solutions to such challenges and to get closer, step by step, to the dynamic replacement of daylight with efficient means and methods, as an overall aim, REHAU is aiming for a broad range of applications. This is yet a broad field of development in which light, quite rightly, is associated with terms such as “design” or even “intelligence”.
Do you have specific questions or are you looking for a development partner? Please feel free to contact us.
Themes
The strength of natural fibres
Over millions of years, nature has developed materials which achieve the best property combinations whilst using the minimum resources, thus championing natural fibres not only for their intrinsic strength, but also for their high flexibility. REHAU integrates this know-how of nature into its products, and uses wood fibre from local, certified sources in its polymer materials; a perfect example of this is REHAU's innovative decking profile, RELAZZO. Here, the wood fibres provide the necessary rigidity and natural look, pair this with the typical properties for plastic, such as resistance to weathering and low water absorption, and a whole new class of material is created.
REHAU is constantly striving to optimise the processing possibilities and application properties of fibre materials beyond the state of the art, an example of which is their attempt to modify wood fibres or to introduce alternative natural fibres like hemp, flax, kenaf, bamboo and cellulose.
Do you have specific questions or are you looking for a development partner? Please feel free to contact us.
Over millions of years, nature has developed materials which achieve the best property combinations whilst using the minimum resources, thus championing natural fibres not only for their intrinsic strength, but also for their high flexibility. REHAU integrates this know-how of nature into its products, and uses wood fibre from local, certified sources in its polymer materials; a perfect example of this is REHAU's innovative decking profile, RELAZZO. Here, the wood fibres provide the necessary rigidity and natural look, pair this with the typical properties for plastic, such as resistance to weathering and low water absorption, and a whole new class of material is created.
REHAU is constantly striving to optimise the processing possibilities and application properties of fibre materials beyond the state of the art, an example of which is their attempt to modify wood fibres or to introduce alternative natural fibres like hemp, flax, kenaf, bamboo and cellulose.
Do you have specific questions or are you looking for a development partner? Please feel free to contact us.
Themes
Hydrogen – the clean form of energy
Hydrogen technology is an environmentally-friendly, sustainable method of using and storing a renewable source of energy. The global increase in energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels has produced a marked trend towards “energy autonomy” over the past few years.
Hydrogen is a universal fuel and hydrogen technology is one of the key technologies of the 21st century. Hydrogen management (distribution, storage) using polymer-based solutions is a subject that REHAU has now dedicated itself to.
Many years of experience in three business divisions, i.e. CONSTRUCTION, AUTOMOTIVE and INDUSTRY, has produced broad-based knowledge in the fields of plastics and process engineering (processing thermoplastics). In the field of pipe systems, in particular, extensive research has already been conducted which confirms that pipe systems already in series production, as well as their associated jointing systems, are suitable for conveying hydrogen.
The intelligent combination of existing knowhow with a large measure of innovative power makes REHAU a serious partner when it comes to polymer-based solutions for hydrogen technology applications.
Hydrogen technology is an environmentally-friendly, sustainable method of using and storing a renewable source of energy. The global increase in energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels has produced a marked trend towards “energy autonomy” over the past few years.
Hydrogen is a universal fuel and hydrogen technology is one of the key technologies of the 21st century. Hydrogen management (distribution, storage) using polymer-based solutions is a subject that REHAU has now dedicated itself to.
Many years of experience in three business divisions, i.e. CONSTRUCTION, AUTOMOTIVE and INDUSTRY, has produced broad-based knowledge in the fields of plastics and process engineering (processing thermoplastics). In the field of pipe systems, in particular, extensive research has already been conducted which confirms that pipe systems already in series production, as well as their associated jointing systems, are suitable for conveying hydrogen.
The intelligent combination of existing knowhow with a large measure of innovative power makes REHAU a serious partner when it comes to polymer-based solutions for hydrogen technology applications.