Prof. Dr. Christof Brändli

Work at ZHAW

Position

Senior Lecturer, Head Laboratory of Adhesives and Polymer Materials

Focus

Adhesive formulation, polymer synthesis, polymer functionalisation, polymer processing, rheology, thermo-mechanical analysis, surface charachterisation

Teaching

Senior Lecturer

Experience

• Senior Lecturer, Head of Laboratory
  ZHAW
  09 / 2012 - today
• Research Scientist
  Dow Europe
  05 / 2007 - 08 / 2012
• Product Specialist
  Mettler-Toledo
  05 / 2005 - 04 / 2007
• R&D Leader
  Chemspeed Technology
  05 / 2001 - 04 / 2005
• Postdoc
  UCSB
  02 / 2000 - 04 / 2001
• PhD
  University of Berne
  01 / 1996 - 12 / 1999

Education and Continuing education

Education

dipl. chem. / Chemistry
University of Zurich
09 / 1990 - 12 / 1995

Network

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1474-8453

Projects

• WAstewater Treatment with Conductive Copolymer Hydrogels covered with Microbial Biofilm / Project leader / ongoing
• Innovative Polyester-Hydrogels as Sustainable Filter Materials / Project leader / ongoing
• Better quality of life with Live4all: Intelligent wheelchair cushion to prevent pressure-related tissue damage / Team member / ongoing
• Glueing without sticking / Project leader / ongoing
• Guar Gum Bioplastics: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future / Project leader / ongoing
• Modular bee magazines from the 3D printer / Co-project leader / completed
• Innovative development of a sustainable debonding-on-demand adhesive to promote the recycling of polyurethane mattresses / Project leader / completed
• Biomimetic material for MEX 3D printing in humidity with optimized isotropy / Project leader / completed
• Development of PEF/PET-starch hydrogels for Thai shrimp farms wastewater treatment / Project leader / completed
• Innovation Booster Applied Circular Sustainability / Team member / completed
• Printer for optical lenses for fast prototyping and small series / Deputy project leader / completed
• Adhesive for sports equipment with broad adhesion range and optimal curing process / Project leader / completed
• Development of a structural rubber adhesive / Project leader / completed
• Development of new family of high-endurance sealing system(s) for high-pressure / fast pneumatic valves / Project leader / completed
• Functional polyolefinic adhesives / Project leader / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Yamada, E., Brändli, C., & Ejima, H. (2026). Reversible surface functionalization of cellulose nanocrystals mediated by metal-phenolic networks. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c10711
• Guder, M., Günther, R., Bremgartner, K., Senn, N., & Brändli, C. (2024). Revealing the impact of viscoelastic characteristics on performance parameters of UV-crosslinked hotmelt pressure-sensitive adhesives : insights from time-temperature superposition analysis. Polymers, 16(15), 2123. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16152123
• Günther, R., Caseri, W., & Brändli, C. (2023). Application of atmospheric-pressure jet plasma in the presence of acrylic acid for joining polymers without adhesives. Materials, 16(7), 2673. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072673
• Günther, R., Caseri, W., & Brändli, C. (2022). Copper ions absorbed on acrylic-acid-grafted polystyrene enable direct bonding with tunable bonding strength and debonding on demand. Polymers, 14(23), 5142. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235142
• Günther, R., Caseri, W. R., & Brändli, C. (2021). Direct bonding and de‐bonding on demand of polystyrene and polyamide surfaces, treated with oxygen plasma. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.51753
• Song Ko, Y., Herrmann, D., Tolar, O., Elspass, W. J., & Brändli, C. (2019). Improving the filament weld-strength of Fused Filament Fabrication products through improved interdiffusion. Additive Manufacturing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2019.100815
• Schaible, S., Meincke, O., Schulthess, A., & Brändli, C. (2018). Process optimization for improved adhesion in the grafting of triethoxyvinylsilane on VLDPE via reactive extrusion. European Polymer Journal, 107, 9–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2018.07.046
• Ledergerber, P., Balmer, T., Bernet, C., Brändli, C., & Schaible, S. (2016). Basic study on the evaluation of thermoplastic polymers as hot-melt adhesives for mixed-substrate joining. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 6, 579–592. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojapps.2016.68057
• Harling, S., Meola, G., Schaible, S., Schulthess, A., Brändli, C., & Meincke, O. (2013). Latent reactive polyurethanes based on toluenediisocyanate-uretdione and polycaprolactones. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 46, 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2013.05.012

Other publications

• Bonora, E., Cerqua, S., & Brändli, C. (2025). Nachhaltige Hydrogele aus PET und PEF. KunststoffXtra, 2025(11/12). https://kunststoffxtra.com/nachhaltige-hydrogele-aus-pet-und-pef/
• Cerqua, S., Bonora, E., Kongseng, P., Chantarak, S., & Brändli, C. (2024, November 14). PEF/PET-starch hydrogels from recycled sources for shrimp farm’s wastewater treatment. Fachkonferenz Technik, Architektur Und Life Sciences (FTAL), Lugano, Switzerland, 14-15 November 2024.
• Brändli, C., Haberl, J., Hauenstein, M., Massocco, A., Guigner, D., Jousset, P., Hoffmann, K., Knüttel, M., & Vetterli Hanimann, B. (2024). Klebetechnische Untersuchungen für Batterie-Kühlplatten. adhäsion KLEBEN & DICHTEN, 68(7), 40–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s35145-024-1650-6
• Brändli, C., Caseri, W., & Brändli, C. (2023). Molekulares Kleben durch den Einsatz von Plasma und Metallionen. adhäsion KLEBEN & DICHTEN, 67(10), 44–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s35145-023-1228-8
• Arnold, S., Jenal, N., Preisig, F., Vetterli Hanimann, B., Wick, R., Penner, D., & Brändli, C. (2022). Modular und 3D-gedruckt. KunststoffXtra, 2022(5-6), 21–24. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-25180
• Schroffenegger, M., & Brändli, C. (2021). Der beste Schaum kommt von der Statistik. KunststoffXtra, 2021(9), 26–29. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-23135
• Brändli, C., Groh, A., Elspass, W. J., Herrmann, D., Tolar, O., & Kälin, W. (2019). Präzisionsbauteile durch 3D-Druck. KunststoffXtra, 2019(12), 71–74.
• Brändli, C. (2016). Funktionalisierte Polymere : Klebstoffentwicklung. KunststoffXtra, 2016(12), 48–51. http://issuu.com/sigwerbgmbh/docs/layout_kx_12-2016_buch?e=2736742/41870461
• Brändli, C. (2016). Warum klebt der Leim überall, aber nicht in der Tube? In Kinder fragen Experten (pp. 31–35). ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.
• Brändli, C. (2015). Innovationen in der Klebstoffentwicklung : neuartige, reaktive Klebefolien - Vernetzbare Schmelzklebstoffe - Selbstheilende Klebstoffe. Innovation Report, 146–151.
• Brändli, C. (2015). Selbstheilende Klebstoffe. In Innovation Report 2015 (pp. 150–151). Swiss Plastics.
• Meincke, O., & Brändli, C. (2015). Neuartige, reaktive Klebefolien. In Innovation Report 2015 (pp. 146–147). Swiss Plastics.
• Walter, M., & Brändli, C. (2015). Vernetzbare Schmelzklebestoffe. In Innovation Report 2015 (pp. 148–149). Swiss Plastics.
• Brändli, C. (2015). Massgeschneidert Kleben. Swiss Engineering STZ, 112(9), 20–22.
• Brändli, C. (2015). Warum klebt Leim? : Kinder fragen Experten. Aktuelle Technik, 2015(6), 30–31.
• Brändli, C. (2014). Klebrig und reaktiv bis zur Marktreife. Materials.Now!, 12–13.
• Lutz, A., Droste, A., & Brändli, C. (2013). Strukturkleben im Fahrzeugleichtbau : Eigenschaften Haftungsspektrum moderner Strukturklebstoffe, Simulation und Anwendung im Karosserierohbau und in der Montage. Verlag Moderne Industrie.

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Bonora, E., Kongseng, P., Cerqua, S., Perego, C., Principi, P., Chantarak, S., & Brändli, C. (2025, June 13). PEF/rPET-starch hydrogels from recycled sources for wastewater treatment. Nordic Polymer Days 2025, Trondheim, Norway, 11-13 June 2025.
• Brändli, C. (2023, January 19). Die Leichtigkeit des Klebens von Kunststoffen. Swiss Plastics Expo, Luzern, Schweiz, 19. Januar 2023. https://www.swissplasticsplatform.com/de/c/die-leichtigkeit-des-klebens-von-kunststoffen.32002
• Brändli, C. (2022, June 15). Adhesion and polymer applications - from a chemist’s perspective. Forschungsseminar Der Hochschule Für Life Sciences FHNW, Muttenz, Switzerland, 15. June 2022.
• Brändli, C. (2022, May 19). Neue Technologien in der Klebstoffforschung. Kickoff Praxiszirkel Klebetechnik: Einsatz von Klebstoffen: gestern, heute, morgen, Brugg, Schweiz, 19. Mai 2022.
• Brändli, C. (2019, June). Faszination Klebstoffe : Sicht eines Chemikers. Fachveranstaltung “Kleben” NTN Innovative Oberflächen, Winterthur, 04. Juni 2019.
• Brändli, C. (2018, June 27). The art of adhesive formulation to meet the requirements of specific industrial applications. 1st Rapperswil International Bonding Forum, Rapperswil, 27 June 2018.
• Brändli, C. (2018, June 21). Reaktive Extrusion zur Herstellung von Haftvermittlern für die Co-extrusion. Technische Anwendungen von coextrudierten Folien (FGKS-Veranstaltung), Schmitten, 21. Juni 2018.
• Brändli, C., & Schaible, S. (2017). Chemical modification of polyolefins for improved adhesion by reactive extrusion [Conference presentation]. Chimia, 71(7/8). https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2017.510

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