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
Rafaela Schwaninger
Research Professionals
Reza Afsharnia, Lis. Fogh-lis.
reza.afsharnia(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2139
Profil (Pure)
Specialties: Fatigue analysis, fracture mechanics, thermomechanical behavior of short fiber reinforced polymers
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Florian Arbeiter
florian.arbeiter(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2122
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Specialties: 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)
Specialties: 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)
Dipl.-Ing. Lukas Haiden
lukas.haiden(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2107
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Dipl.-Ing. Michael Huszar
michael.huszar(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2136
Profil (Pure)
Specialties:
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Gerald Pilz
gerald.pilz(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2109
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Specialties: Mechanical and thermo-mechanical characterization of high performance plastics (technical thermoplastics and fiber reinforced plastics)
Ing. Katerina Plevova
katerina.plevova(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2119
Profil (Pure)
Specialties: polymer recycling, Raman and IR spectroscopy analysis of polymer and composites
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)
Specialties: 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)
Specialties:
Dipl.-Ing. Markus Schwaiger
markus.schwaiger(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2129
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline) | KT in portrait
Specialties: Thermosets based on renewable resources, smart composites, advanced thermal analysis
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. mont. Gabriel Stadler
gabriel.stadler(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 -2104
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Specialties: 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)
Specialities: testing in the field of additive manufacturing, polymer mechanics and fracture mechanics, multi-layered systems
Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Wiener
johannes.wiener(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 2134
Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)
Specialties: biomimetic polymers, applied fracture mechanics with specific focus on optimizing fracture toughness
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
Teaching
We play an active role in the education of students in the fields of Polymer Engineering and Science, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Recycling Technology, and Industrial Process Engineering. Our basic classes provide comprehensive and sound scientific knowledge in the fields of polymer physics and polymer testing. Elective courses cover topics such as material selection, material and energy efficiency, component testing as well as ecological aspects of polymer engineering. Please click on the link on the right hand side to find details to all of our courses.
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.
Science
- Polymer Competence Center Leoben (A)
- Technical University Vienna
Institute for Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics - AIT Austrian Institute of Technology (A)
Leichtmetall Kompetenzzentrum Ranshofen - Imperial College London (GB)
Department of Mech. Eng. - Technical University Munich (D)
Chair Carbon Composites - Polytecnico di Milano (I)
Dipartimento di Chimica - Academy of Sciences Brno (CZ)
Institute of Physics of Materials
Industry
- BMW AG (D)
- Robert Bosch GmbH (D)
- ContiTech Industrial Rubber Kft (H)
- Dow Europe GmbH (CH)
- EMS Chemie AG (CH)
- FACC AG (A)
- Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH (A)
- MAHLE Filtersysteme GmbH (A)
- Poloplast GmbH Co KG (A)
- Semperit Technische Produkte GmbH (A)
- SKF Sealing Solutions Austria GmbH (A)
- Volkswagen AG (D)
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
wpk(at)unileoben.ac.at
Office
2nd floor, straight ahead of the elevator.