Press releases 2019

Cancel
  • “COAXshield” and “LIsec”: Fraunhofer IWS presents shielding gas nozzle and light scanner for laser powder build-up welding at “formnext” trade fair / 2019

    Fine-tuning for additive production

    Press release (No. 14) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / November 14, 2019

    “COAXshield” – novel local shielding nozzle system for laser metal deposition applications with sensitive materials
    © Fraunhofer IWS

    Additive manufacturing systems can generate highly complex components, which could not be produced with conventional machine tools or only with great effort. Nevertheless, such industrial 3D printers are far from being standard equipment in factories. This is not just due to the purchase costs, but also to many other challenges. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS Dresden has developed particular solutions and will present them at the “formnext” trade fair in Frankfurt am Main in November 2019. Included here are “COAXshield”, a local molten pool shield for laser powder build-up welding and the “LIsec” analysis device for controlling the powder flow in additive manufacturing processes.

    more info
  • New thin-film electrodes made of silicon and lithium for the “Research Fab Battery” / 2019

    “KaSiLi”: Better batteries for electric cars “Made in Germany”

    Press release (No. 14) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / November 11, 2019

    SEM cross-sectional image of an NMC cathode (lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide) produced using the IWS dry film process.
    © Fraunhofer IWS

    In the umbrella concept “Research Fab Battery”, German scientists want to develop novel batteries that are capable of storing at least 70 percent more energy for electric vehicles and smartphones than conventional lithium-ion solutions while maintaining the same volume. As part of the cluster of competence for battery materials “ExcellBattMat“ funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Dresden's “ExcellBattMat Center” (project KaSiLi: structural cathode adaptation for silicon and lithium materials) contributes key components for this new battery generation. On November 1, 2019, researchers from Fraunhofer, TU Dresden and Leibniz started working together on innovative battery electrodes consisting of ultra-thin silicon or lithium layers to achieve high energy densities.

    more info
  • Symposium in Dresden focuses on a new class of materials / 2019

    High entropy alloys for hot turbines and tireless metal-forming presses

    Press release (No. 13) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / November 05, 2019

    For the first time, scientists at Fraunhofer IWS printed 3D high-entropy demonstrator structures made of the Cantor alloy "CrMnFeCoNi" using the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process. On the surface, the illustration shows an example of a particularly high-strength microstructure consisting of two phases as a planned further alloy system development.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    A new class of materials promises many innovations in aviation, turbine construction and other branches of industry: High entropy alloys (HEA) are metals in which five or more elements are atomically bonded in similar proportions. Properly designed, they are harder, more heat-resistant and lighter than steel, aluminum and other classic materials. For about 15 years, engineers around the world have been trying to make these innovative materials ready for series production. But high-entropy alloys are still too expensive and difficult to process. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS Dresden is therefore now inviting experts to a symposium in March 2020 to demonstrate how they can overcome these problems – for example through industrial 3D printing, in other words “Additive Manufacturing”. Fraunhofer IWS will give a first insight with the lecture “High entropy alloys for Additive Manufacturing” on November 21, 2019, 2:15 p.m. at the “TCT Introducing Stage” during the “Formnext” trade fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

    more info
  • Environmentally friendly: IWS Dresden ceramic coatings can reduce engine exhaust gases / 2019

    Heat shields for economical aircrafts

    Press release (No. 11) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / September 17, 2019

    Turbine blade with a thin ceramic coating of yttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide (YSZ): such a thermal barrier coating allows a higher operating temperature in the turbine, which improves the fuel yield.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    To make aircrafts more economical, environmentally friendly and robust, Fraunhofer engineers from Dresden have developed a new ceramic heat shield technology. In this process, a powder of yttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide (YSZ) is added to water to form a suspension. Quickly and cost-effectively this liquid powder mixture can be sprayed onto turbine blades or other aircraft parts. Such and similar thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) facilitate aircraft engines, which consume less fuel and do not contaminate the atmosphere as much.

    more info
  • Beijing Tsinghua University recognizes Dresden chemist / 2019

    Stefan Kaskel appointed Distinguished Visiting Professor

    Press release (No. 12) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / September 16, 2019

    Stefan Kaskel holds the professorship for Inorganic Chemistry I at Technische Universität Dresden and is Business Unit Manager Chemical Surface Technology at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS. As of now, he wears the title “Distinguished Visiting Professor” of the renowned Beijing Tsinghua University as well.
    © Martin Förster

    Professor Stefan Kaskel received high honors from renowned Tsinghua. The Beijing University appointed him Distinguished Visiting Professor. He was awarded the three-year title on the basis of many years of successful cooperation.

    more info
  • University of Waterloo appoints Dresden Materials Expert Adjunct Professor / 2019

    Further international award for Christoph Leyens

    Press release (No. 10) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / July 25, 2019

    Der Dresdner Werkstoffexperte Christoph Leyens wurde von der renommierten RMIT University in Melbourne, Australien, zum »Adjunct Professor« ernannt.
    © Martin Förster

    Prof. Christoph Leyens has been appointed Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada for his successful global commitment to Additive Manufacturing. At the beginning of this year, the Director of the Institute of Materials Science at TU Dresden and Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS received the award of the same title from RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

    more info
  • “CleanRemote” protects work environment against hazardous micro dust / 2019

    Clean lungs thanks to laser process exhaustion

    Press release (No. 9) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / June 18, 2019

    The Multi Remote System (MuReA) by Fraunhofer IWS welds, cuts and structures components on a large scale and productively with high-power lasers. The resulting particles and emissions are safely extracted. CO2 snow blasting automatically cleans the machined surfaces directly after the laser process.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    In sectors such as the automotive industry, components can be processed at extremely high speed using the laser remote process. However, this can result in harmful emissions which may cause lung damage. Scientists from the Dresden Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS have studied the issue as part of the IGF research project “CleanRemote”. They reduce particles and gases in the air by means of a suction device.

    more info
  • Dresden dry electrode coating technology allows environmentally friendly battery cell production / 2019

    Economical energy storage for the electric car of tomorrow

    Press release (No. 8) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / June 03, 2019

    This is what the electrodes coated with the new dry transfer coating technology look like. Fraunhofer IWS process enables battery electrodes to be produced on a pilot scale without using toxic solvents.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have developed a new production process with the aim of efficient and environmentally friendly future battery production. They coat the electrodes of the energy storage cells with a dry film instead of liquid chemicals. This simplified process saves energy and eliminates toxic solvents. A Finnish company is currently successfully testing the new IWS technology in practice.

    more info
  • "remoweld®FLEX" technology by Fraunhofer IWS makes nonweldable materials weldable / 2019

    Waterproof thanks to rapid lasers

    Press release (No. 7) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / May 27, 2019

    The Fraunhofer IWS technology known as "remoweld®FLEX" is suitable for particularly demanding processes, especially for components to be sealed media-tight against water and other undesirable environmental influences.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    Fraunhofer engineers from Dresden have developed a new laser welding process employing a fast oscillating laser beam. This technology, known as "remoweld®FLEX", is suitable for particularly demanding processes – especially for components to be sealed media-tight against water and other undesirable environmental influences. These include housings for electrical and electronic components, heat exchangers and coolings, which have previously been regarded as hardly weldable and often consist of die-cast aluminum. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS and Maschinenfabrik Arnold from Ravensburg were both involved in the research development.

    more info
  • Fraunhofer lighthouse project "futureAM" expected to speed up "additive manufacturing" by a factor ten / 2019

    Additive machines discover superalloys

    Press release (No. 6) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / May 17, 2019

    By means of laser powder build-up welding, components made of different materials can be integrally manufactured. Thus, specific materials can be placed exactly where their properties are required. This offers, for example, the prospect of lighter, better and cost-reduced blades for gas turbines.
    © Fraunhofer IWS

    Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have developed innovative methods enabling more materials to be processed in additive manufacturing than ever before. For example, additive manufacturing systems could facilitate better future aircraft engines with lower fuel consumption. However, engineers must first improve the current industrial 3D printers in such a way that these machines can also process very strong and extremely heat-resistant alloys. Here, the Dresden researchers rely on their profound experience with laser powder buildup welding technologies and employ artificial intelligence (AI). They contribute their profound materials expertise to the Fraunhofer joint project "futureAM". The aim of the partners is to speed up additive manufacturing systems for metal components by a factor ten and also to manage superalloys.

    more info