Research cluster

Multifunctional metal-based structures

  • Manufacturing of components from multi-material structures with
    • different metallic materials
    • non-metallic materials in metallic matrix
  • Generation of structures with local property adaptation
    • Adjusted physical / chemical / mechanical properties
    • Targeted adjustment / use of cavities / porosities
    • Improved surface properties (e.g. wear, friction, etc.)
  • Development of suitable starting materials / powders
    • Alloy development, use of additives (fluxes, etc.)
    • Surface properties / morphology of additive materials (shape-dependent e.g. through active grinding, plasma treatment, coating)
  • Creation of freedom in manufacturing technology by focusing on the use of additive manufacturing processes: Laser sintering, laser melting, Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM).
  • In-situ influencing of component properties in the manufacturing process itself (path planning, energy input, thermal cycles, etc.)

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker Wesling

Hybrid material composites and fiber composite systems

  • Development of new multi-material systems with inorganic top layer and reinforced polymer core
    • Acoustic damping (FMLs)
    • High transparency with shatter and break-in resistance (NanoGlas)
    • Application-oriented structural optimization
  • Development of novel manufacturing technologies for fiber composites (focus: resource efficiency/recycling)
  • Development and optimization of manufacturing processes for MMS
    • Integration of fiber and/or nanoparticle reinforcement
    • Combination of different manufacturing processes into a single-stage variothermal forming and joining process (FMLs)
    • Use of sterically stabilized, monomer-specific functionalized nanoparticles for property optimization (NanoGlass)
  • Research into the unique online prepreg technology at CZM (objective: zero-waste production / environmentally oriented composite production with consistent material properties)

Contact person: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Ziegmann

Lightweight construction concepts and material systems

  • Identification and further development of approaches to material and conceptual lightweight construction
  • Overcoming incompatibilities along the entire process chain from material to component
  • Generation of energy-efficient lightweight structures with special consideration of all load cases and material states
  • Development and production of fiber composite structures (injection molding, vacuum infiltration, resign transfer molding, wet molding)
  • Adaptation of material systems and filler materials
  • Realization of metallic composite designs and composite structures by means of low-heat joining processes (arc and plasma processes, pressure welding, mechanical joining and hybrid joining processes)
  • Proof of properties under static, cyclic and dynamic loading → Inclusion of material conditions (e.g. aging)

Contact: Dr.-Ing. Henning Wiche

Surface analysis and functionalization

  • All materials interact with their environment via their surfaces
  • Many material and material-specific properties such as adhesion, wear or corrosion resistance are significantly determined by the surface
  • Challenge: High demand for control and insight into the physicochemical processes on surfaces
  • Targeted use of various analytical methods and techniques from the field of surface physics and materials analysis
  • Dielectrically hindered discharges (DBE plasmas) for modification and functionalization of surfaces

Contact: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Maus-Friedrichs / Dr. rer. nat. René Gustus

Future cluster: polymer systems, microsensor technology and biologization

  • Modeling and simulative design of complex geometries and microcomponents for high-precision applications
  • Production and optimization of the process chain by means of additive manufacturing, laser lithography, micro injection molding and micro joining technology, taking into account specific boundary conditions
    • Material-technical
    • Biological/Medical
    • Optical/Sensory
  • Development of novel material combinations, such as polymer-protein composites, for biological and medical applications under clean room conditions
  • Development of foldable substrates for optical applications
  • Development of conductive polymer systems for microsensor technology
  • Research and development of coupling mechanisms for material combinations in various fields, such as medical technology, optical systems, MID technology, etc.

Future cluster: Solid and pressure-based hydrogen storage systems

  • Reliable storage options are needed for large-scale use of green hydrogen as an energy carrier
  • Areas of application are: Energy industry, mobility sector, production sector
  • Problem: high diffusibility, high risk potential
  • Pressure accumulators using hybrid material systems
    • Development of novel diffusion barriers
    • Consideration of lightweight construction aspects (metal /FVK laminate mixed construction methods)
  • Solid state storage based on metal hydride
    • Use of DBD plasmas to support storage and retrieval