DECHEMA/VDI Chemical Reaction Engineering Section

The Working Party on Polymers addresses all aspects of the development, production, processing, characterization, and application of polymeric materials. It serves as a platform for exchange between academic research and the polymer industry, thereby fostering knowledge transfer and initiating joint projects. Close industrial relevance is the defining characteristic of the Working Party. Topics and focus areas are continuously adapted to emerging requirements in research and industry. A central objective is the integration of industrial partners, including SMEs, start-ups, and international companies. In addition, the Working Party is engaged in societal outreach, particularly in promoting young talent in STEM fields. Early‑career researchers are actively involved and encouraged to present their work. The Working Party further provides advisory contributions to policymakers and society, for example through position papers on regulatory or funding-related topics. Beyond traditional core areas - such as polymer synthesis, structure–property relationships, and reaction engineering - new and interdisciplinary approaches are gaining importance, especially in the context of sustainable, digital, and circular value‑creation pathways.

Key Current Topics of the Working Party on Polymers:

• (New) polymers, polymer syntheses, and polymer reaction engineering
• Structure–property relationships and application‑oriented polymer design
• Life cycle and circularity of polymers
• New raw‑material bases, bio‑based and sustainable replacement systems
• Environmental aspects: microplastics, biodegradability, regulation
• Cross‑cutting topics: data science, machine learning, analytics, simulation/digital twins

                                                                                                                                                         March 2026

Arbeitsschwerpunkte

• Reaktionsführung, Reaktoren; neue Untersuchungsmethoden; Methoden der Modellierung von Prozessen
• Entwicklung von Polymerisationsreaktionen
• Polymermodifizierung/Verarbeitung
• Prozessanalytik
• Polymeranalytik
• Neue Produkte