CONSORTIUM

CARBOWAVE Partners

IFAM

The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM) in Bremen is one of the 76 members of the German non-profit Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and employs more than 700 people.

The «Surface Technology» division performs research in the field of lightweight construction by use of CFRPs, multifunctional coatings, adhesive bonding, plasma technology, and polymer chemistry. This includes expertise in the damage free pre-treatment and functionalisation of surfaces as well as in surface analysis.

With over 25 years of experience, the «Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (APP) Technology» group is using novel plasma techniques in the field of functionalisation, activation and nm-coating of surfaces.

With a deep understanding of plasma processes and their effects on polymeric materials IFAM will develop tailored APP processes for pre-treatment of the PAN fibres within CARBOWAVE. Based on existing know-how in the field of APP nozzle and process design IFAM will help to implement an inline process for endless fibre treatment. With regard to recycling, IFAM brings in expertise in the field of microwave induced pyrolysis of CFRPs for re-use/re-capturing of source materials.

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Christopher Regula

Head of AP Plasma group at IFAM

Christopher Regula studied physics at the University of Hamburg with a focus on interface/surface physics (2002-2008), followed by a doctoral thesis at Fraunhofer IFAM in cooperation with the University of Bremen in Chemistry in the area of plasma polymer coatings and layer formation mechanisms by atmospheric pressure plasma deposition (2008-2011). He has been working as a research assistant at Fraunhofer IFAM since 2011 in the field of surface treatment and specializing in atmospheric pressure plasma. During this time, he gained expertise in many international research and industrial projects. His expertise involves development of innovative plasma plants and processes as well as functional layers and new materials. In 2024, he became head of the atmospheric plasma group at Fraunhofer IFAM.

Laura Schilinsky

Project Leader

Laura Schilinsky studied chemistry at the University of Bremen/Germany with a focus on physical chemistry (2004-2010). In 2011 she took up employment as scientific assistant in the department ‚Plasma Technology and Surfaces‘ at the Fraunhofer IFAM (Bremen, Germany). Since then, she has worked in the field of pre-treatment of polymers. In 2018 she completed a doctoral dissertation on the topic of photon-induced oxidation of silicone polymers. During this time, she spent several months doing research at the ETH in Zürich (2015) and the EMPA in Thun (2018). Since then, she worked mainly in the field of atmospheric pressure plasma, leading many international research and industrial projects.