Conference "In Focus: Transparent Plastics" September 9-10, 2020 in Leipzig

The plastics processing and application industry is constantly operating in a very dynamic environment: new technologies and materials are gaining importance and pose both a challenge and a great opportunity for the industry. What this specifically means regarding "transparent plastics" is the subject of the technical event "In Focus" at the Plastics Center in Leipzig on September 9 and 10, 2020.

Speakers from the plastics processing and application industry and research will explain in which areas transparent plastics are used, what challenges are associated with them, and how various sectors can benefit from the use of these plastics and innovative developments.

Program

The comprehensive technical program is divided into the following three thematic blocks:

- Transparent plastics – properties and their modification, processing peculiarities
- Challenges in injection molding including quality assurance
- Applications with transparent plastics

After introducing transparent plastics, their properties, application areas, and processing specifics, the technical event provides new insights from the industry: material manufacturers will report concretely on the potentials of materials such as PC, PMMA, COC, and PP for various applications. Users of transparent plastics will present exemplary practical projects, illustrating how specific material requirements are reflected from development to process engineering implementation. Quality control in the process will also be discussed. This includes questions of measurement as well as the characterization of total transmission, haze, and resolution according to standards. An outlook on the possibilities of additive manufacturing with transparent material systems completes the lecture series.

Technology Live and Trade Exhibition

On the evening of the first day, all participants are invited to the KUZ's technical facilities to see practical demonstrations and presentations on the topic.

Procedural aspects of compounding transparent plastics will be shown. The production of COC sheets and related challenges, including quality control, will also be demonstrated. The presentation of various test specimens for material preliminary investigations explains their significance. Another focus is on the production of microfluidically structured biochips and injection molding as a process technology for manufacturing high-quality optical components. The separation of the injection system from microlenses using ultrasound will also be demonstrated. An introduction to the KUZ's own manufacturing plant with cleanroom production of small endoscope lenses with automated removal and optical defect detection completes the practical demonstrations.

In an evening get-together, there will be an opportunity for intensive professional exchange.