Michaela Gedan-Smolka

Dr. Michaela Gedan-Smolka is a Researcher leading the "Sustainable Reactive Systems" research group at the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research Dresden (IPF Dresden) within the Department of Materials Engineering. She specializes in polymer chemistry with emphasis on sustainable materials development.

Her research interests focus on polymer cross-linking mechanisms and functional coatings:

• Two-stage cross-linking mechanisms and thermally controlled catalysis
• Cross-linking in polymer melts through reactive melt and solid-state extrusion
• Synthesis and modification of polymers/oligomers for bio-based resins
• Wear-resistant chemically coupled plastic-PTFE materials
• Functional powder coatings with scratch resistance, self-healing, and hydrophobic properties
• Thermally cross-linking resin systems for fiber-reinforced plastics

Dr. Gedan-Smolka has made significant patent contributions across polymer applications:

• Coatings for wood materials and aluminum components
• Material-plastic composites and reactive adhesive layers
• Hydrophobic permanent coatings and curing processes
• Specialized adhesives and fixation masses