Materials Science and Testing of Polymers
Mission and Vision
- We train students at a high academic level with regard to polymer physics and polymer testing
- We perform world-class research in the fields of physics, materials science, testing and applications of polymers
- We develop and optimize innovative materials, components and testing methodologies
- We aim at significantly contributing to technical progress and sustainable development
- We cooperate and study with research institutes and companies worldwide
We are smart and reliable – in everything we do!
Our Team
Head of Institute
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Gerald Pinter
Head of RELIABLE Group
+43 3842 402 - 2100
gerald.pinter(at)unileoben.ac.at
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUonline)
Specialties: polymer mechanics, fracture mechanics, life-time prediction, durability and reliability of structural polymers, fatigue testing
Office Management
Debarati Bhattacharyya, BSc
debarati.bhattacharyya(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2101
Rafaela Schwaninger (maternity leave)
Research Professionals
Reza Afsharnia, Lis. Fogh-lis.
reza.afsharnia(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2139
Profil (Pure)
Research: Fatigue analysis, fracture mechanics, thermomechanical behavior of short fiber reinforced
polymers
Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Florian Arbeiter
florian.arbeiter(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2122
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Research: Polymeric pipe grade materials, multi-layered systems and structures, fracture mechanics,
mechanical impact and high-speed testing
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Michael Feuchter
michael.feuchter(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2110
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Research: polymeric nanocomposites, recycling of polymers and composites, morphology analysis
with X-ray scattering, advanced dynamic mechanical analysis
Dipl.-Ing. Maria Gfrerrer
maria.gfrerrer(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2190
Profil (Pure)
Research:
Dipl.-Ing. Lukas Haiden
lukas.haiden(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2107
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Research:
Dipl.-Ing. Michael Huszar
michael.huszar@unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2136
Profil (MUOnline)
Research:
Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Pferschy
matthias.pferschy@unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2130
Profil (Pure)
Research: Mechanical testing of Li-ion battery components, structural evolution of metals
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Gerald Pilz
gerald.pilz(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2109
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Research: Mechanical and thermo-mechanical characterization of high performance plastics
(technical thermoplastics and fiber reinforced plastics)
Assoz.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Katharina Resch-Fauster
Head of SMART Group
katharina.resch-fauster(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2105
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Research: sustainable energy production and storage, green engineering, polymers and
composites based on renewable
Dr.mont. Dott.Mag. Jacopo Schieppati
jacopo.schieppati(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2190
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Research:
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. mont. Gabriel Stadler
gabriel.stadler(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 -2104
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Research: Fatigue of polymers with focus on short fibre reinforced polymers, computer-aided service
life assessments
Dipl.-Ing. Christoph Waly
christoph.waly(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2127
Profil (Pure)
Research: testing in the field of additive manufacturing, polymer mechanics and fracture mechanics,
multi-layered systems
Dipl.-Ing. Daniel Zach
daniel.zach@unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 -
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Research: tbd
Laboratory technicians
Jürgen Föttinger Bsc.
juergen.foettinger(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2161
Profil (MUOnline)
Cyclic test technique and component testing, engineering and construction, maintainance
Jürgen Grosser
juergen.grosser(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 664 80 898 2114
Profil (MUOnline)
Mechanical testing, measurement and testing technology
Franz Grassegger
franz.grassegger(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2131
Profil (MUOnline)
Machine shop
Walter Rath
walter.rath(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2108
Profil (MUOnline)
Microscopy and sample preparation
Teaching
We play an active role in the education of students in the study programs Polymer Science and Technology, Materials Science and Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Recycling Technology and Industrial Process Engineering.
Research
Our research philosophy encourages faculty, post-docs, professionals, and students from different science and engineering disciplines to work in a collaborative environment to meet our current research goals. Our researchers conduct world-class research in the fields of physics, materials science, testing and applications of polymeric materials. SMART and RELIABLE describe our mindset but also comprise our main fields of expertise. Please click on the links below to find out more.
New Projects
On the way to a green household: effective cooling and heating solutions
Cooling food, washing and drying laundry, cleaning dishes in the dishwasher - in all these scenarios, household appliances are used that we can no longer imagine doing without. However, cooling air or heating water requires a lot of energy. In the new FFG and SFG funded ECHODA project - Energy Efficient Cooling and Heating of Domestic Appliances - our Institute of Materials Science and Testing, together with Graz University of Technology as a scientific partner and numerous industrial partners, is looking for ways to make household appliances more efficient.
Contact:
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Gerald Pilz
gerald.pilz@unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2109
Projectname: ECHODA - Energy Efficient Cooling and Heating of Domestic Appliances
Funding: FFG COMET Antragsnummer 50248130 und SFG - Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft m.b.H.
Duration: 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027
Partner:Nidec Global Appliance Austria GmbH, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, Electrolux Italia S.P.A., Quooker International B.V., TDK Electronics GmbH & Co OG, Infineon Technologies Austria AG, ec²t GmbH, Technische Universität Graz – Institute für Thermodynamik und nachhaltige Antriebssysteme, Wärmetechnik, Elektrische Antriebstechnik und Maschinen, Werkstoffkunde, Fügetechnik und Umformtechnik, Grundlagen und Theorie der Elektrotechnik, Montanuniversität Leoben – Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffkunde und Prüfung der Kunststoffe
This project is funded by the FFG www.ffg.at and the Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH SFG www.sfg.at
Innovative epoxy resins made from bio-based raw materials
Epoxy resins are high-performance polymers and are already being used in many future technologies. However, regarding sustainable development their raw materials sources and recyclability need to be reconsidered. The new interdisciplinary COMET project bio-ART at the Department of Polymer Engineering and Science Leoben now aims to revolutionize this class of materials and thus contribute to fulfilling the EU Green Deal.
Contact:
Assoz.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Katharina Resch-Fauster
katharina.resch-fauster(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2109
Projectname: bio-ART - Bio-based and resource-efficient thermosets for demanding applications
Funding: The COMET competence center programme is a joint funding programme of the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMAW) and the federal states. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) has been responsible for professional program management for more than 20 years.
Duration: 01.04.2024 - 31.03.2028
Partner:Andritz Hydro GmbH, Bruno Bock GmbH, bto-epoxy GmbH, Capita MFG GmbH, Design Composite GmbH, Isovolta AG, Luxinergy GmbH, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH, Poschacher Kompost e.U., Wood KPlus - Kompetenzzentrum Holz Gmbh.
Research Partner
Science
- Universität Innsbruck, Technische Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt (TVFA)
- Fraunhofer Austria Research
- Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Angewandte Physik
- Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH
- Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung
- DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH
- FH Kärnten
- Institute of Physics of Materials, Czech Academy of Sciences
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Chimica
- Universidad degli Studi di Brescia
- Erich Schmid Institut f. Materialwissenschaft (ESI)
- Universidad National de Mar del Plata
- Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
- Imperial College London
- EPFL Lausanne
- Eidgenössische Material und Prüfanstalt (EMPA)
Industry
- Semperit Technische Produkte Gesellschaft m.b.H.
- Lenzing Plastics GmbH & Co KG
- Head Sport GmbH
- carbon-solutions Hintsteiner GmbH
- agru Kunststofftechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H
- Borealis AG
- PIPELIFE Austria GmbH & Co KG
- Poloplast GmbH & Co KG
- Voestalpine Rail Technology GmbH
- PrimAs Tiefkühlprodukte GmbH
- SGL TECHNOLOGIES GmbH
- Altran Austria GmbH
- Österreichische Vereinigung für das Gas- und Wasserfach (ÖVGW)
- ÖBB
- AFINAG
- Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH
- SKF Sealing Solutions Austria GmbH
- Magna Powertrain, Engineering Center Steyr GmbH & Co KG
- Hilti AG
We are part of AM@MUL
At Montanuniversität, a group of more than 60 researchers are working in the field of additive manufacturing and have now joined forces in the AM@MUL network. → More information can be found here
Publications
For a list of current publications please follow the link on the right side.
Equipment
Our testing laboratories consist of microscopic, spectroscopic, polymer-physical and mechanical characterization facilities, which contain the latest version of standard as well as some specialized equipment complemented by various sample preparation, sample conditioning and deformation analysis devices.
The laboratories are used to establish the basic molecular and microstructure as well as the thermal, thermo-mechanical and mechanical macroscopic properties of polymers and composites. Our expertise comprises:
- Morphology and structure analysis on various length-scales
- Generation of comprehensive polymer-physical property profiles
- Mechanical and component testing on various time-scales
For details as to our devices please adhere to the equipment list of the department
Equipmentlist Polymer Engineering and Science Leoben
Contact & Approach
Institute of Materials Science and Testing of Polymers
Otto Glöckel-Straße 2
8700 Leoben
Austria
+43 3842 402 2101
Office
2nd floor, straight ahead of the elevator.