David Zidar

David Zidar holds the Chair of Polymer Processing and is recognized for his research in polymer engineering, plastic recycling, and injection molding processes. His work bridges industrial applications with sustainability, particularly in wear mechanisms and circular economy solutions.

His research focuses on:

• Recycling methodologies for challenging materials like winter sports equipment
• Wear behavior optimization in plastic mold steels
• Performance enhancement of recycled polypropylene composites
• Upcycling technologies for post-consumer plastics
• Sustainable injection molding processes

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a concentrated effort on circular economy implementation in niche industries, material performance validation through statistical design methods, and addressing environmental impacts in polymer processing. Key themes include winter sports recycling challenges, viscous dissipation effects on tooling, and Box-Behnken optimization of recycled composites.

David Zidar has supervised Master's student K. Höfler on ski recycling research, demonstrating active mentorship in sustainable materials engineering.