Current projects

PFAS, also known as perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds, are chemicals with outstanding technical properties. They have the ability to repel water, dirt and grease, and are therefore known as "everlasting chemicals". The molecular structure of PFAS consists of bonds between carbon and fluorine that are very stable and therefore difficult to break down in the environment.

By combining physical and chemical effects in ORMOCER^® coatings, tailor-made solutions can be developed to replace PFAS.

ORMOCER^® was developed over 30 years ago at the Fraunhofer ISC as an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer. It is characterised by high hardness and resistance to wear, temperature and environmental influences. ORMOCER^® combines the advantages of inorganic materials such as glass or ceramics with organic polymers to create a new hybrid material.

Although a fluorine-free all-in-one solution has not yet been developed, various combinations of functions are possible for different applications such as non-stick, medical products and aerospace. Each combination can be tailored to specific requirements.

Project ZeroF: Focus on alternatives to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
 

The aim of the project is to replace PFAS with renewable and non-toxic compounds. The materials developed should be highly resistant to water, oil and grease and reduce environmental impact by at least 25%.
 

The Fraunhofer ISC is focusing on the development of an omniphobic coating for textiles as an alternative to PFAS. The ORMOCER^® System developed at the ISC will be used and optimised through chemical composition, various additives and nano- and microstructuring.

The project partners will analyse the technological, economic, socio-economic and regulatory incentives for new PFAS-free coating materials to facilitate their introduction in the textile and packaging industries.

Progress in finding alternatives to animal testing

In recent years, research in the medical and cosmetics industries has made great progress in finding alternatives to animal testing. The 3Rs principle - Replace, Reduce, Refine - is at the heart of this. By reducing the number of test animals, improving test methods and using surrogate models such as cell cultures and computer-based simulations, efforts are being made to minimise the need for animal testing. These advances are not only ethically important, but also enable research results to be obtained more quickly and cost-effectively. The search for alternatives to animal testing is therefore an important step towards an animal-free future.

One of the goals of the Fraunhofer ISC is to establish alternatives to animal testing as a recognised standard for the general public, research and industry. The Fraunhofer Translational Centre for Regenerative Therapies TLC-RT in Würzburg develops in vitro human tissue models and works on standardised manufacturing and testing methods. In addition to various research projects, the TLC-RT plays a key role as coordinator of the WI3R initiative, which was founded in close cooperation with the academic partners University Hospital and University of Würzburg. The long-term goal of WI3R is to establish alternatives to animal testing as an accepted standard in the public, research and industry.