News and Media

A consortium comprising Fraunhofer IWS, the TUD Dresden University of Technology, ArianeGroup, and the Warsaw Institute of Aviation has achieved a significant breakthrough in aerospace engineering: the first successful hot gas test of a 3D-printed aerospike engine powered by a combination of sustainable hydrogen peroxide and kerosene propellant. This project was conducted under the ESA-funded ASPIRER initiative. The test results hold the potential to enhance the efficiency of space missions significantly.

Methods such as computer tomography and ultrasound provide a non-destructive view into the interior of a workpiece. However, they provide too little information about the structure and properties of the material. Serial sectioning is a different matter. Although the sample part is gradually removed, the method offers clear advantages over non-destructive methods. Dr. Jörg Bretschneider explains the potential of serial sectioning, including with regard to automation using robots.

The scarcity of raw materials poses severe challenges to global industries. Recycling and the increased use of secondary raw materials have become essential for many companies. At the same time, rising raw material prices and uncertainties in supply chains are driving further research into materials. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden is now involved in a new Fraunhofer flagship project, which aims to ensure the supply of structurally and functionally secure materials, particularly for the energy transition.

The development of a continuous process chain for the sinter-based additive manufacturing of nickel-based alloys is at the center of the “Simsalabim” project. The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Dresden together with the Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS are addressing all steps from design and sintering simulation through to verification on real parts. The requirements of the industrial manufacturers and endusers are incorporated through close exchange of feedback.