Ceramics

Fraunhofer Center HTL has methods for developing ceramics and powder metallurgical materials throughout the entire production chain. From the formulation preparation and shaping processes to the heat treatment and final processing, oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics, silicate ceramics, powder metals, and fine-grain graphite can be produced. Special metal-ceramic composites and hard metals are also developed at the HTL.

A particular feature of the HTL is 3D printing using quality-assured methods. Additive manufacturing can be done using both slurry-based and powder-based processes, enabling the production of components with complex geometries.

Material Development

The development of materials starts with the selection and design of suitable materials and additives. Extensive material and thermodynamics databases are available for this purpose (see material design). With the help of specially developed in-house software, the material properties of multiphase materials with main and secondary phases as well as pores can be accurately predicted. This microstructure-property simulation is used to optimize the microstructure. The design of ceramic and powder metallurgical components is carried out using finite element methods (see component design). In particular, ceramic-conforming designs and topology optimization are used to minimize the thermomechanical loads during component use.

Examples of successful ceramic developments include Aluminium nitride (AIN), Silicon nitride (Si3N4), Silicon carbide (SiC), Zirconia reinforced aluminium oxide (ZTA), Zirconia (ZrO2), Alumina (Al2O3), Mullite as well as various silicate ceramics, glass ceramics, piezo ceramics, varistor ceramics and electrically conductive ceramics.

Service Offering:

  • Identification of suitable materials for customer-specific applications: oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics, silicate ceramics, powder metals, hard metals, fine-grain graphite, and metal-ceramic composites
  • Design of components for complex thermomechanical loading
  • Determination of optimal microstructure for customer-specific requirements
  • Microstructure analysis with electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, etc
  • Development of composites with customer-specific mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties
  • Powder metallurgical production and optimization of microstructure
  • Prototype and small-series production of components, including additive manufacturing
  • Design and optimization of heat treatment processes
  • Material and component testing

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Shaping

For the shaping of ceramic and powder metallurgical green bodies, classical methods such as cold isostatic pressing, extrusion, slip casting, or wet pressing are available, in addition to 3D printing.

 

Coatings

Fraunhofer Center HTL develops coatings for use at high temperatures. The individual development phases - from material selection to testing of in-service behavior - are accompanied by systematic instruments. Feedback loops allow insights to be incorporated into the development phases and further refined.

 

Foams

Fraunhofer Center HTL develops inorganic and carbon-based foams for thermal and acoustic insulation components, filters, kiln furniture, lightweight construction, and bone substitute materials, among others.