Research + Development
Research + Development
- Surfaces
  Surfaces
- Functional Layer Systems
  Functional Layer Systems
- Chemistry of Polymers
  Chemistry of Polymers
  The research projects of the previous years resulted in the finding that the properties of coatings and compound materials could be designed more functional and improved in quality if one succeeded in integrating additional "functions" and avoiding compatibility problems occurring. This can be achieved for instance through a targeted chemical modification of the polymers involved in the composite structure and/or with customised additives. The department "Chemistry of polymers" which is currently set up rises to this challenge.
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- Leather and Leather Processing
  Leather and Leather Processing
  Besides wool, stone and wood leather is one of the oldest natural materials in human history. It has always been used as protective and decorative clothing but also as technical material. Today, leather has nearly vanished from technical applications. But despite numerous substitutes leather continues to be popular with the automotive, furniture, shoe and fashion industries thanks to its precious and natural character. And as sustainability and ecology play an important role in particular in these industries, there are consistently new approaches for research topics.
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- Collagen
  Collagen
  Collagen is the most important structural protein in animal organisms. It forms fibres and fibre networks and provides shape and stability for organs and tissues. It can be extracted from hides, tendons, ligaments and other tissues and serves as biopolymer for the manufacture of a large number of products. Depending on the method it can be processed into films, threads, non-woven fabrics, tubes or 3D moulds. Collagen-based products are applied in numerous fields such as the food production industry (sausage casings, pet food), the cosmetics industry (collagen hydrolysates), the pharmaceutical industry (drug delivery) or medical engineering (wound dressings, implants, suture material, tissue engineering).
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- Biology
  Biology
- Research Projects + Publications
  Research Projects + Publications
  About 70 publicly funded research and development projects are carried out at our institute every year. In the course of these projects, important results and knowledge are generated, which we share with our partners, customers and the interested public. In this section you will find all currently running projects as well as a library of completed research projects of the past 20 years. In the publications section you will also find lectures, publications in specialist titles and poster presentations by our scientists on a wide range of topics. To simplify your search, please use the filters provided.
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- Research Networks
  Research Networks
Testing + Certification
Testing + Certification
- Accredited Test Laboratory
  Accredited Test Laboratory
- Certification
  Certification
  Certifications are an important instrument for the assessment of conformity and comparability of products, services, processes, technologies or locations. They are encountered in nearly any area of economic or social life. They provide a reliable measure of safety with regard to qualitiy and compliance with corresponding standards.
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  - OEKO-TEX® Certifications
  - ECO₂L Energy Controlled Leather
- Material Failure Analysis + Expertise
  Material Failure Analysis + Expertise
  The accredited test laboratory offers a wide range of special analytics and methods for leather, coated textiles, textiles, foils and material composites in order to solve the most diverse tasks in assessment and failure analysis.
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Materials + Components
Materials + Components
- Leather + Leatherfibre Boards
  Leather + Leatherfibre Boards
  Leather is undisputedly one of the oldest materials in the history of mankind, one could also say it is as old as mankind itself. The natural material has always been used to make protective and decorative products for mankind. In the absence of plastics, leather was above all an important technical material for transport containers, tools, packaging, bellows, drive and transmission belts or gear wheels.
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- Coated Textiles + Plastic Roll Goods
  Coated Textiles + Plastic Roll Goods
  The coating of textiles for producing flexible compound materials dates back to the middle of the 19th century when three scientists simultaneously discovered guncotton, a white, fibrous, odour- and flavourless mass. At first it was used for the manufacture of artificial silk, later for coating films (celluloid) e. g. on films and textiles. Due to its explosiveness the substance can still be found in explosives today.
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- Functional Coatings + Composites
  Functional Coatings + Composites
  A composite material in general is a material consisting of two or more basic materials which are combined with each other. The materials are combined by adhesive bond or form fit or by a combination of both techniques. The aim of producing composites is to obtain a material which combines the properties of its components, thus receiving the properties of the composite material.
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- Collagen + Biogenic Materials
  Collagen + Biogenic Materials
  Did you know that collagen can develop a tensile force of 100 megapascal if water is eliminated, which is 300 times as much as that of a muscle. Human as well as animal bodies above all owe their strength this fibre-forming protein, the collagen. Large amounts of it are contained in bones, tendons, ligaments or the skin. Like all proteins, collagen is composed of a complex arrangement of individual components hierarchically, too.
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- Biomaterials
  Biomaterials
  The modern medicine can no longer be imagined without biomaterials. Biomaterials are synthetic or natural, non-living materials which are determined for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes for short- or long-term retention in a body, or which come into contact with it on its surfaces. In any case there are interactions between material and biological system.
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- Plastics + Elastomers + Foils
  Plastics + Elastomers + Foils
  Although plastics had captured the world since the middle of the 19th century, there were only a few information about the exact structures of polymer materials at first. From vapour pressure and osmosis measurements one only knew that very large molecules with a high molecular mass were involved here. Erroneously, one thought that these are colloidal structures.
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- Textiles + Yarn
  Textiles + Yarn
  A textile is a laminar, two- or three-dimensional, flexible material mainly consisting of one or more yarns and is produced using a textile technique. Yarns used for the manufacture of textiles consist of individual fibres of different origins for instance vegetable, synthetic or mineral origins. In addition to clothing, textiles can be found today in almost all industrial applications.
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- Trendsubstitutes
  Trendsubstitutes
  During the past years we have encountered materials more and more frequently, which are to substitute the traditional leathers and coated textiles. Background is a growing need of consumers for products which do without raw materials of fossil or animal origin. There are very different approaches concerning the raw material base and the selected technologies.
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Conferences + Training
Conferences + Training
- Meetings / Conferences
  Meetings / Conferences
  The "Freiberg Leather Days", the "Freiberg Collagen Symposium" and the german lecture series on "Applied Collagen Research" are an integral part of the FILK calendar of meetings and conferences.
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  - Freiberg Leather Days
  - Freiberg Collagen Symposium
- Trade Fairs / Exhibition
  Trade Fairs / Exhibition
  Participation in trade fairs and exhibitions is also an important component of communication policy in the research environment. The Institute regularly participates as an exhibitor in major trade fairs related to its fields of expertise. The techtextil in Frankfurt, the Biotechnika in Hanover and the mtex in Chemnitz are fixed components in the Institute's calendar of events. In addition, there are presentations at exhibitions accompanying conferences and scientific symposia related to the Institute's fields of research.
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- Seminars
  Seminars
  As part of the industry-oriented research landscape, an important task is the transfer of knowledge, expertise and experience to industry. The institute offers a series of specialist seminars to transfer ready-to-use know-how to industry and other scientific fields. The events are aimed at employees in development section, quality management, acquisition and sales in the manufacturing sector. Those in wholesale and retail as well as experts who want to acquire fundamental knowledge and material understanding of flexible polymer materials for their professional activities are also welcomed. Please noticed that, all seminars are held in German.
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- Lectures
  Lectures
  In the research environment, participation in conferences through presentations or participation in topic talks is also an important component of the communication policy. FILK staff members like to enrich the program by presentations at accompanying exhibitions to conferences and scientific symposia related to the research fields of the institute.
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- Teaching at TU Bergakademie Freiberg
  Teaching at TU Bergakademie Freiberg
  Since 1993, FILK has been an affiliated institute of the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg (TU BAF), which was decided upon in a cooperation agreement. Synergies can be used for research projects, events or in supporting teaching on the subject of polymer sciences. For the some study courses the FILK scientists give various lectures.
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- Vocational further qualification
  Vocational further qualification
  The next course to qualify as an association-recognized Leather Technician starts on April 12, 2021 at the VDL e.V.'s educational partner, the Sächsische Bildungsgesellschaft (SBG) in Dresden and is open for registration with immediate effect. The preceding master craftsman training course Industriemeister/in Chemie (IHK) started on October 14, 2020 with the course model full-time course over 5.5 months. Both are held only in German language.
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Services + Consulting
Services + Consulting
- Test Laboratory
  Test Laboratory
  The institute's independent, accredited testing laboratory provides a wide range of testing services. These include standardised and normed tests in accordance with German, European and international standardisation bodies (DIN, EN, ISO, VDA), technical conditions of delivery of the automotive and furniture industries and other sectors in which flexible polymer materials are used. In addition, there are specific testing and service offers such as analysis accompanying processes or research, proof of usability or functionalities, comparative material tests, pollutant analyses and the examination of the marketability of materials in accordance with legal regulations.
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- Use of our technical facilities
  Use of our technical facilities
  As an industrial research institution, we regularly have to prove that our research and development work is of industrial use. For this reason, we have numerous pilot plants in our traditional fields of science with pilot plants on a semi-industrial scale. These can be used for the industrial roll-out of technology and material developments. These plants can also be used by our customers and partners from industry and science.
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- Consulting / Contract Research
  Consulting / Contract Research
  We have enormous scientific background knowledge in our fields of competence, which we are happy to share with you, because Sharing is Caring. We support you in managing your operational tasks and help you achieve your professional goals.
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- Characterisation of materials
  Characterisation of materials
  The analysis and evaluation of materials and substances first describes their properties in detail. Based on the results, an evaluation then follows and ensures their performance and quality. Material characterization provides the certainty that a material has the necessary mechanical-technological and chemical properties for the respective application.
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- Freiberg Hide Powder
  Freiberg Hide Powder
  Freiberg hide powder for the gravimetric analysis of vegetable tanning agents and extracts is manufactures in Freiberg since 1905.
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  - Order Form Freiberg Hide Powder
- Catalogue for Assessment of leather and coated textiles in automotive interior
  Catalogue for Assessment of leather and coated textiles in automotive interior
  The assessment catalog is intended to provide users, such as workshop foremen, service managers, service advisors, complaint processors and experts, with an aid to differentiate and assess damage cases and complaints professionally and reliably using the latest knowledge.
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  - Order Form Catalogue