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The Fraunhofer Group MATERIALS integrates the expertise of 16 Fraunhofer Institutes working in the field of materials science.

Fraunhofer materials research covers the entire value chain, from new material development and improvement of existing materials through manufacturing technology on a quasi-industrial scale, to the characterization of properties and assessment of service behavior. The same research scope applies to the components made from these materials and the way they function in systems. In all these fields, experimental studies in laboratories and technical institutes are supplemented by equally important numerical simulation and modelling techniques – across all scales, from individual molecules up to components and process simulation. As far as materials are concerned, the Fraunhofer MATERIALS group covers the full spectrum of metals, inorganic non-metals, polymers and materials made from renewable resources, as well as semiconductor materials.

The Group's expertise is concentrated specifically in the fields of energy and environment, mobility, health, machine and plant construction, building construction and living, microsystems technology and safety. Innovative systems are developed using materials and components customized for specific applications, and based on the assessment of the behavior of a material or component under specific conditions of use. Strategic forecasts promote the development of novel, future-oriented materials and technologies.

Fraunhofer MATERIALS

...FOR TOMORROW

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Press

16.1.2019

Hybrid thermoplastics give load floor impact strength

"A multiyear, publicly funded research program called System integrated Multi-Material Lightweight Design for E-mobility (SMiLE) took a holistic approach to reducing mass and costs for the entire body-in-white structure (shown here) of a battery-electric vehicle by applying combinations of composites and non-ferrous metals."

3.12.2018

Lacquering before polishing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has many advantages: custom manufacturing, flexible production and easy customization, for example. Yet many products have a high surface roughness and porosity. The post processing of the thus fabricated parts is time consuming and often a significant cost factor for manufacturers. Technical coatings open up new possibilities for the AM market, especially in industrial production. In a joint project, researchers from the Belgian NPO Sirris and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have investigated technical coatings for additive manufacturing (TCAM) with promising results.

26.11.2018

Working together for the industrialization of bipolar batteries with Lithium-ion technology

Better batteries for a greater range of electric vehicles – this is the goal of the “EMBATT-goes-FAB” project sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. For that reason, the four project partners thyssenkrupp System Engineering GmbH, IAV GmbH, Daimler AG and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS are developing bipolar batteries and processes for their fabrication. Thanks to their unique stacked layout, a higher storage capacity and, ultimately, a greater range of the vehicle are achieved using the same surface area. The innovative battery technology will now be taken to the next level of maturity and thus one step closer to industrialization.

15.11.2018

Fraunhofer IFAM honors the ten thousandth course participant of the Training Center for Adhesive Bonding Technology in Bremen

Adhesive bonding has enormous technological benefits when bonding processes are performed effectively. The key to the latter is quality workforce training – something the Training Center for Adhesive Bonding Technology at Fraunhofer IFAM has provided for more than two decades. The Workforce Training and Technology Transfer department at Fraunhofer IFAM has been led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Groß since 1994 and incorporates the Training Center for Adhesive Bonding Technology as an accredited training organization. Worldwide more than a thousand people are now being trained every year. During the recent 17th Bremen Bonding Days the ten thousandth course participant was honored by Andreas Groß and Dr. Erik Meiß, Head of the Training Center for Adhesive Bonding Technology.