Fraunhofer Institutes unveil biopolymer components and new fatigue database for plastic parts

At the Fakuma 2026 trade fair in Friedrichshafen, Fraunhofer ICT showcased new process routes for biobased polymer systems and a Duroplast injection technique aimed at improving thermal management in electric motors. Demonstrations included a front grille for Daimler Truck's Re‑Econic waste‑collection vehicle made from a specially developed PLA compound, as well as recycled material components for wheel arches and dashboards. The institute also presented the PerKuel project’s thin‑walled, thermally conductive Duroplast isolation injection for efficient motor cooling.

Separately, Fraunhofer LBF in Darmstadt released a comprehensive fatigue‑strength database for thermoplastic polymers, covering more than 11,000 tested samples and roughly 1,300 S‑N curves. The tool enables early‑stage lifetime predictions, material selection and digital durability modelling by accounting for variables such as temperature, stress, notch geometry and fiber orientation. Validation on a dishwasher door‑opening mechanism demonstrated reliability for an 18‑year service life (about 100,000 cycles at 50 °C), supporting repair concepts, second‑life applications and lightweight design.