Research Group Corrosion and Surface Science
Research Topics
- Functionalisation of technical materials surfaces:
- Piezo-, pyro- and ferroelectric materials for active switching of surface properties:
The electric fields that appear on the surfaces either due to a change in temperature or mechanical stress are used to control charge-dependent interfacial interactions as well as biological and physical growth processes. - Hydrothermal production of ceramic coatings: biocompatible ferroelectric and ferromagnetic coatings are grown on different substrates in high pressure hydrogenation systems for functional implant materials.
- Biomimetic implementation for surface functionalisation: e.g. hydrophilic-hydrophobic structures for the development of ice-repellent surfaces that exhibit anti-adhesive behaviour towards flowing media and prevent the adhesion of ice layers.
- Use of biological structures for surface functionalisation:
Using sol-gel technology, biological agents and organic components can be incorporated into coatings. In this way, biocidal coatings are produced and mechanical coating properties are optimised.
- Determination of coating properties:
- Ice-repellent properties
- Achievable supercooling of sessile droplets,
- Adhesion forces/ stress of adhering ice volumes
- Adhesion properties of surface coatings,
- Mechanical load capacity of coatings,
- Contact angle/surface energy
- Corrosion investigations:
- Composition of corrosion products
- Desing and evaluation of corrosion protection measures
- Electrochemical measurements, especially electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)