SKZ Launches Pioneering Project for Efficient Thermoset Simulation
The SKZ Plastics Center plans to launch a new pioneering project aimed at making the simulation of thermosets easily accessible. Under the title “Material Data for the Simulation of Thermosets—Simple, Practical, Valuable,” SKZ experts are collaborating with interested industry partners to develop a standardized and practical approach for efficiently determining material data and making it usable for simulations.
Example of a component simulation. (Photo: Luca Hoffmannbeck, SKZ)
Industrial project develops practical approach for the rapid and cost-effective use of material data
Due to their unique material properties, thermosets are indispensable in many demanding applications—from electrical engineering and automotive manufacturing to structural components. However, simulating thermosets has been a complex process to date, and determining the material’s characteristic data is complicated. While the determination of material data and simulation have long been established standards for thermoplastics, this remains a time- and resource-intensive special case for thermosets.
Simplifying Material Data Determination
This is where the project comes in: “Our goal is to simplify and standardize material data determination in order to create a reliable material profile for a specific material using as few measurements as possible in combination with existing datasets. Until now, companies had to either rely on generic material charts that inadequately represent their own material or conduct a complete, costly, and time-consuming material data determination,” explains Thomas Zimmermann, Group Leader of Crosslinked Materials at SKZ.
The goal is to develop a streamlined and efficient process that provides companies with a fast and cost-effective path from material to simulation. The central question is: How can robust simulations be realized with as few and as cost-effective measurements as possible?
Target audience of the project
The project is aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that cannot maintain their own development department for complex material analyses.
However, larger companies are also expressly invited to participate and benefit from the collective expertise and project results.
SKZ Pioneer Projects – Collaborative Research for Industry
The so-called SKZ Pioneer Projects are industry-funded collaborative projects that are practical, innovative, and technologically valuable. Several companies jointly participate in a research project and share the project costs.
Since no public funding is used, the results benefit exclusively the participating companies. The project durations typically range from twelve to 24 months, with five to 50 participating companies per project.
“Interested companies are cordially invited to register early for participation in the project ‘Material Data for the Simulation of Thermosets – Simple, Practical, Valuable’ and to pave the way into the future of thermoset simulation together with the SKZ,” Zimmermann concluded.
Further information on the collaborative project
