Fraunhofer Center for High Temperature Materials and Design HTL

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. HTL works with systematic methods on a high scientific-technical level. The primary goal is the implementation of its developments in the industry.

For manufacturers of ceramic and metal components, the parameters of heat treatment processes are optimized (see Material Manufacturing). Together with the manufacturers of high-temperature materials, new materials are being developed: ceramics, refractory materials, CMCs. For manufacturers of thermal process technology, high-temperature components are designed and built as prototypes, and their application behaviour is tested (see Furnace Manufacturer and Suppliers). For the energy and drive technology, composites are being developed for use in gas turbines (see CMC components).

HTL is organized into seven working groups (see Organization Chart). In addition, there is an Application Center for Textile Fiber Ceramics (see Textile Engineering). HTL currently has about 100 employees at its three locations Bayreuth, Wurzburg and Münchberg. More than 2000 m² of high-quality laboratory and pilot plant space with state-of-the-art equipment are available for development projects and R&D services (see Infrastructure).

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

At HTL ThermoOptical measuring furnaces (TOM) are developed for testing high-temperature materials and optimizing their production processes. Materials and components can also be characterized by various non-destructive and mechanical as well as thermal testing methods.