Our key areas
House longhorn beetle Hylotrupes bajulus
On the one hand, materials are not supposed to impact their environment negatively. On the other hand, materials themselves are exposed to environmental factors whose effects on the materials must be taken into account. Economic aspects must also be considered: although the economic significance of mindful and sustainable handling of raw materials and recycling products has been well established, this knowledge has not yet been applied in all economically and ecologically relevant areas.
Multiaxial thermomechanic testing
Rapid materials development continues because industry and consumers want innovative high-quality products. We must be sure that the use of these materials does not pose risks to the public and the environment. Safety plays a crucial role in the general acceptance of new materials. Quality criteria such as "biodegradability" or certain quality seals can provide a market advantage.
Acting responsibly is important – but based on what?
Damaged aircraft spar
A number of parameters are needed for promoting the safe use of technical products constructed from new materials. Ageing mechanisms of modern building materials or efficacy and durability of stabilizers in polymer materials must be investigated. However, the use of new materials may cause unexpected problems in terms of degradation and contamination. Biological, particularly micro-biological, degradation and contamination by materials is still a problem today. To improve our understanding of the mechanisms of material damage and the role of various microorganisms in these processes, modern micro-biological monitoring and analysis methods are being developed in BAM.