Research and Transfer

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Bilateral research in the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory: Doctoral student from Portugal visits Gengenbach

Laura Prior from the University of Aveiro uses Prof. Dr. Stefan Junk's state-of-the-art laboratory equipment for her research work.

Laura Prior, Marvin Henkel und Daniel Kehret im Labor Rapid Prototyping vor dem Pollen o2 MC
© Hochschule Offenburg

Marvin Henkel, Laura Prior, and Daniel Kehret (from left) in the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory in front of the Pollen o2 MC.

The PhD student was sent to Gengenbach by Prof. Victor Neto from the University of Aveiro.

Cutting-edge research: 4D printing and sustainability

The visit focused on the question of how recycling cycles affect the functionality of thermally actuated smart materials. Supported by Daniel Kehret and Marvi Henkel, Laura Prior conducted intensive investigations. This involved the use of a key technology in the laboratory: the Pollen PAM o2 MC pellet printer. This made it possible to process shredded thermoplastics from Portugal directly into so-called soft robots.

A strong European network

The teams led by Prof. Victor Neto and Prof. Stefan Junk share a common research focus: 4D printing. While 3D printing determines the shape, the fourth dimension – time – enables objects to change their shape or function under thermal influence, for example.

This collaboration not only highlights the international relevance of this field of research, but also the close European cooperation in science. Prof. Junk's team would like to express their sincere thanks for the inspiring exchange and are delighted to have contributed to the success of this project with their technical expertise and specialised equipment.

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