Materials Protection and Surface Technologies

Our areas of expertise

Based on consistent long-term research and practical experience in the field of corrosion, tribology (friction and wear), degradation and surface technologies we are ensuring the functional safety of components and plants subjected to changes in thermal, chemical and environmental conditions often in combination with varying mechanical and physical stresses. 

Our objectives

• Damage prevention and investigation
• Development and validation of corresponding testing techniques
• Production and certification of reference material

Working areas

• Investigation of damage mechanisms focussing on damage prevention and guaranteeing the safety of components and plants in particular with respect to corrosion and wear as well as the durability of polymer materials
• Development and validation of process and testing techniques accompanying production as well as reference materials
• Production and assessment of functional surfaces including modified polymer surfaces
• Determination of application tolerances and limits for high performance materials ensuring the safe operation of technical components and plants
• Characterisation and evaluation of mechanical, tribological, electrical and optical properties
• Corrosion and corrosion prevention in plants and steel-concrete constructions
• Flame retardancy of polymers
• Provision of complex failure analysis and expertise for the Federal Governmental and ministries including, authorities, state prosecutors, courts and businesses
• Support in developing and updating technical regulations

Facilities and technologies

• Investigatory techniques and test methods for corrosion processes and determination of corrosion resistance
• Test benches and tribometers for friction and wear analysis involving extreme loads ( -260ºC to 1400°C, nN to kN)
• Scanning Force Microscopy (AFM, LFM, STM)
• PVD, CVD and laser-assisted coating procedures
• Test methods for analysis of the physical and mechanical technological properties of surfaces and coatings
• Surface Analysis (chemical and microscopic analytic)
• Laser-induced material changes
• Testing and validation from gas and humidity sensors
• Chemical analysis and physical characterisation from polymer materials
• Production from elastomers and preparation of thermoplastics as reference materials

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