Shaping the Future

We strive to provide a vibrant learning environment, inspiring innovative research and outstanding value for partners from industry in one of the most interesting technological fields in the world.
Study programs for engineers of the future

Faculty of Polymer Technology is the only one in South East Europe offering holistic study programs in polymer technology, covering all aspects: Chemistry and Materials Science, Design and Simulation, Processing, Characterization of polymer materials and Applications.

News

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

/ Categories: News

FTPO's scientific contribution in a newly published book

On March 24, 2025, Springer Cham published a book titled Sustainable Nanocomposites with Green Biomaterials. The editors of the book are Rishabha Malviya and Sonali Sundram. The Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Blaž Nardin and Senior Lecturer Silvester Bolka, who are the authors of the chapter "Tailore-Made Sustainable Nanocomposites for Injection Moulding and Fused Granulate Fabrication", also participated in the publication of the book. The book is also available in the library of the FTPO.

Chapter summary:

»Thermoplastic composites with a PLA matrix are of commercial interest due to their bio-based nature and biodegradability. The main obstacle to their use in more demanding applications is their fragility and limited exploitation temperature. The present work describes the use of PLA in combination with polycarbonate (PC) and the addition of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) without prior surface treatment. Reactive compatibilizers were used in the production process to simultaneously produce a homogeneous thermoplastic mixture of PC and PLA and to enhance the surface interactions among NCC and the PC/PLA blend and additives. We performed a comparison between injection moulding and 3D printing using Fused Granule Fabrication (FGF) technology. The best results were obtained with the reinforcement of 1 wt% NCC in the PC/PLA matrix with compatibilizer and additives. Reactive extrusion with a thermoplastic mixture of PC and PLA reinforced with 1 wt% NCC with additives enhanced impact strength by more than 160% and toughness evaluated by tensile tests by more than 90% regarding to neat PLA in injection moulded parts. The comparison between injection- moulded and FGF parts showed that the stiffness was higher and the strength and toughness were lower in FGF parts than in injection-moulded parts.«

Name:

Email:

Subject:

Message:

Students

Researchers

Industry

Faculty of Polymer Technology is an internationally recognized academic institution tightly linked with the economic sector. It grows on the excellence of study, development and research work, while also enabling students and industry to acquire knowledge in one of the most interesting technical fields in the world.

Why study at FTPO

Let our students tell you why to study at FTPO.

Because the study programmes are intersting and practically oriented
Because the employment after graduation is secured
Because you will be working on state-of-the-art research equipment
Because the student is not only a number.

Faculty of Polymer Technology is a private non-profit higher education and research institution based in Slovenj Gradec

Faculty of Polymer Technology is a private non-profit higher education and research institution based in Slovenj Gradec. It was founded in 2006 as Polymer Technology College and was promoted to Faculty by the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in February 2017.

Its founders are companies from Slovene plastics industry (Adient Slovenj Gradec d.o.o., Grammer Automotive Slovenija d.o.o., Plastika Skaza d.o.o., Kopur d.o.o., BSH Hišni aparati d.o.o. Nazarje), Regional institutions (Municipality of Slovenj Gradec, RRA Koroška d.o.o) and Industry associations/Research organisations (GIZ Grozd Plasttehnika, TECOS - Razvojni center orodjarstva Slovenije).

Others about us

Boris Maroh, inž. tehnol. pol.
Researcher - Polymer competence center Leoben GmbH

I will always remember countless debates from all the lectures that our group of eight students attended. We were the first generation of MA students of Polymer Technology. My Master’s degree enabled me to continue my career path in polymer materials abroad, as well as to continue my studies at University of Leoben.

Read more
Igor Skaza,, Owner and Managing Director of
Plastika Skaza d.o.o.

The services that the Faculty of Polymer Technology offers help solve the problems that we encounter in our production and development of products. They help us reach our company goals. We have been successfully cooperating for many years; they offer quality solutions and are a responsive and a reliable partner that helps us grow and fulfil our mission – to create high quality products from Eco-friendly Plastics.

Read more
Tadeja Rožanc,
Graduate

The faculty organises meetings with foreign experts and professionals, company visits, use of laboratory, and a whole list of practically oriented skills which definitely play a much more decisive role when talking to employers than the actual evaluation grades in the grade book.

Read more
Žan Skodlar,
BA Student of Polymer Technology

The studies at FTPO are practically oriented and offer lectures from a range of professionals connected to the business sector as well, which quarantines high quality education for the students and enables them to have excellent employment opportunities.

Read more

Education, Research and Industry cooperation

As the only academic institution focusing on polymer technology in Slovenia, Faculty of Polymer Technology bases its activities on three pillars: Education, Research and Industry cooperation. We provide our students with the necessary knowledge and skills to become innovative and competent engineers that are fit for responsible tasks in their future assignments. We support society and industry in Slovenia and beyond to cope with the increasingly competitive economic and rapidly changing technological environment by knowledge creation through innovative application oriented research on polymer materials and technologies, Know-How transfer and opportunities for life long learning. We live by our values – Responsiveness, Continuous improvement, Practical Attitude and Personal Approach – to achieve these goals.