F R A U N H O F E R I N S T I T U T E F o R A P P L ie d P oly m er R esear c h I A P

1 Microencapsulated thermochromic

CHROMOGENIC POLYMERS

composites.

2 Range of different thermochromic pigments.

3 Thermochromic polymers an overview.
4 Film extrusion.
A further functionalization of polymeric

Thermochromic materials visualize

materials will enhance their use and broad-

temperature changes

en their range of possible applications.

Chromogenic polymers change their color

The introduction of thermochromic

Fraunhofer Institute for

by an outer stimulus, and therefore, they

properties into commodity polymers

Applied Polymer Research IAP

can easily visualize surrounding changes.

thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers,

According to the affecting stimulus differ-

lacquers and coatings is one feature

ent material classes are known:

of the current work. In this context, it is

Potsdam-Golm Science Park

Geiselbergstr. 69
14476 Potsdam

our goal to retain the material properties

thermochromic materials change of
color by temperature variation

Contact

thermotropic materials change of

Dr. Arno Seeboth

photochromic materials change of

Volmerstrae 7B
12489 Berlin-Adlershof

transparency by temperature variation

color by light exposure
piezochromic materials change of
color by an impact of pressure

Phone +49 30 6392-4258

Further materials are investigated

Fax +49 30 6392-2065

exhibiting electrochromic, ionochromic or

arno.seeboth@iap.fraunhofer.de

mechanochromic properties.

www.iap.fraunhofer.com

The R&D work of the Fraunhofer IAP

www.thermochromic-polymers.com

meets the growing interest of industrial

relevant to the application. This requires

thermochromic additives which are stable
in the polymer matrix as well as during
the manufacturing processes with their
strongly differing demands:
heat and mechanical impact during the
extrusion of plastics,
thermal and chemical impact during the
curing of thermosets or crosslinking of
elastomers and
attack of solvents and other chemicals
during the drying and curing of lacquers
and coatings.

applicants in the field of chromogenic

A broad range of different colors, switch-

materials.

ing temperatures and transitions with

Intelligent glazing
Changing the transmittance in response to temperature

glazing

glazing

re
e

ctio

solar

radiation

solar

radiation

ctio

ree
Color change in injection-molded test pieces.

Scheme of thermotropic glazing.

reversible or irreversible color changes

Thermotropic materials contribute to

Thermotropic films are of special interest

are possible. In principle, thermochromic

more energy efficiency in buildings

due to its cost-efficient processing

additives can be integrated in different

technology by extrusion.

polymer matrices like thermoplastic films,

Modern architecture is characterized by

duroplastic materials, etc.

large-area glass facades creating a light

Further investigations in our laboratories

and airy atmosphere inside a building.

including a variation of the switching

An excellent example is the application

From an energy-saving point of view, a

temperature and experiments in different

of thermochromic materials as optical

high amount of glass has pros and cons: In

polymer matrices emphasize the high

sensors in mechanical engineering. To

winter, solar light reduces the energy con-

potential of the concept for various fields

avoid the overheating of moving machine

sumption for heating and artificial lighting.

of application.

parts color changing polymers can be used

However, in summer, sun-drenched

as an integrated warning system. They

buildings heat quickly and require an

indicate transgressions of safe operating

immense effort for air conditioning and air

conditions, for instance by turning red to

circulation. In such cases, intelligent glass

indicate a red alert. Once the fault has

facades with thermotropic properties open

been corrected, the color transforms back

up new perspectives.

into its original state.

Thermotropic glass systems consist of a
layer containing either a thermo-sensitive
resin or polymer film. By an increase of
temperature induced by solar radiation,
this thermotropic layer changes from
transparent to opaque and a large part
of the solar radiation is reflected by back
scattering. Thus, the energy requirements
for cooling can be reduced significantly.

Thermotropic glazing (off- and on-state).