Expert Group: Novel Materials and Special Processes

FG Sonderwerkstoffe und Sonderverfahren.

In order to pave the way to a climate-neutral circular economy in lightweight engineering, “Neutral lightweight engineering” is the upgrade of the previous ILK philosophy of “Function-integrative system lightweight engineering in multi-material design”. Under this aspect, the research group Novel Materials and Special Processes addresses the targeted development and research of climate-friendly hybrid technologies for the production of new types of recyclable mixed composites with application-oriented properties.

The high degree of customisability of additive manufacturing processes, the performance of fibre materials, the adaptability of bionic structures, the tolerant failure behaviour of metallic materials as well as the thermal resistance of ceramics can open up unexpected potential and new fields of application. This intended fusion of different technologies for the highest possible functionality and improvement of utility value is the key competence of the research group Novel Materials and Special Processes.

Our research focuses both metallic and ceramic fibre composites, the development of novel “hybrid casting” technologies for Aluminium/Magnesium thermoplastic composites as well as generative manufacturing processes (e.g. continuous fibre-reinforced 3D printing), the application of electron beam technology for energy-efficient cross-linking of plastics and the development and advanced processing of customised multifunctional carbon fibres based on renewable materials.