report
3.5.4 Additional demand for research

Concerning nano-polymers, there are several open issues to be addressed in future. "Smart textiles" or "smart fibers" for example are one of the most promising innovations. However, the area is currently in a basic research state and especially the "smartness" of the material has to be proved both on the lab scale as later on in volume production.

Open issues concerning nanostructured polymer-films are e. g. the question of biocompatibility which requires further research and the large scale production. Here is a lack, in particular for PMMA-films, of suitable industrial high volume fabrication methods which on the other hand makes the materials quite pricy. Other polymer film types frequently suffer from long term decomposition by oxygen.