Fraunhofer Center for High Temperature Materials and Design HTL ensures energy-efficient thermal processes and thus makes an important societal contribution to the implementation of climate protection goals. It offers consulting, component and process development, sampling, measurements, and special equipment. To this end, the HTL is organized into two business areas: "Materials and Components" and "Processes and Devices".
Materials and Components
At the HTL, materials and components are developed using systematic experimental and computer-based methods (Integrated Computational Materials Engineering, ICME). The expertise ranges from component design, material selection and material design to process design and prototype production. The material expertise is focused on ceramics and Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs). As the only R&D facility in Europe, the HTL covers the complete technology chain for CMCs from fiber production to textile fiber processing and CMC manufacturing. It can use highly automated pilot-scale equipment for this purpose and offer customized solutions. Ceramic components can be manufactured using various 3D printing processes, and the HTL is also developing new 3D printing processes.
Processes and Devices
In addition to high-temperature components, new furnace systems - based on digital twins - are developed at the HTL and thermal treatment processes are designed or optimized. A special feature is that the input data for the computer simulation are obtained with specially developed thermo-optical measurement methods and sensors, which significantly increases their reliability. In addition, the simulation results are validated with conventional analytics, non-destructive and mechanical testing methods as well as specially designed high-temperature measuring systems. The HTL develops and manufactures customized equipment for product control and feedstock processing.
Quality Management
The HTL is certified according to ISO 9001:2015. It has over 90 employees and an annual budget of 7 million euros.