About Us

Fraunhofer-Center for High Temperature Materials and Design HTL designs energy-efficient heating processes and thus contributes to the sustainable technological progress of society. It develops high-temperature materials, high-temperature components and high-temperature measuring methods, thereby optimizing thermal processes. The HTL works with systematic methods on a high scientific-technical level. The primary goal is the implementation of its developments in the industry.

The Fraunhofer Center HTL bundles the ceramics activities of the parent institute ISC. It currently has around 100 employees at its three locations in Bayreuth, Würzburg and Münchberg. More than 3700 m2 of high-quality laboratory and pilot plant space with state-of-the-art equipment is available for development projects and R&D services (infrastructure).

The parameters of heat treatment processes are optimised for manufacturers of ceramic and metal components (cf. furnace users). New materials are developed together with manufacturers of high-temperature materials: Ceramics and powder metals and Refractory Materials (cf. refractory manufacturers). For manufacturers of thermoprocessing technology, high-temperature components are designed and built as prototypes and their application behaviour is tested (cf. furnace manufacturers and suppliers).

At the Fraunhofer Centre HTL, composites are developed in a closed process chain from component design and material design to production on a pilot plant scale and testing of the application behaviour. The technological focus is on the production of lightweight components made of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC). Starting with the development of ceramic fibres and their coating, through textile fibre processing, matrix construction (CMC components), thermal processing (cf. melt infiltration) and joining to final processing, the complete process chain is covered at the Fraunhofer Centre HTL. In addition, processes such as 3D printing are also available for the production of metal and ceramic components with complex geometries.

The HTL develops ThermoOptic Measuring (TOM) furnaces to test high-temperature materials and optimise their manufacturing processes. Materials and components can also be characterised using various non-destructive and mechanical testing methods as well as thermal testing methods.