CD Laboratory for Multiscale chemical analysis of materials in industrial processing and use

This CD Laboratory develops new or individually adapted methods for the characterisation of modern high-performance materials with the aim of building up a comprehensive detailed understanding of the development, production and ageing of these materials. This makes it possible to specifically optimise the required properties for the respective industrial applications.

In various areas of global interest such as energy generation, mobility or infrastructure, the major future topic of sustainability is becoming increasingly important: in order to counteract climate change, environmental pollution and rising energy consumption, research and industry are working towards innovative, "greener" methods and technologies: However, high-performance materials with special properties are essential for actually making these possible.

The particular challenge here is that the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of high-performance materials such as alloys, ceramics, synthetic polymers or composite materials are closely linked to their respective composition. In order to adapt these to the respective application, additives are added on the one hand, while interfering impurities must be avoided at the same time.

In this context, it is of great importance to monitor both the content and the distribution of the additives added and the undesirable contaminants. These questions cannot be answered adequately using established analysis techniques, which is why new or specially optimised methods are to be developed in this CD Laboratory that allow direct but also rapid analysis of solid samples with sufficient sensitivity and spatial resolution.

In addition, innovative stress tests and so-called weathering methods are to be developed that enable the materials to age under defined, practical conditions: In a short period of time, it will be possible to test how these materials would react to environmental and weathering influences over a long period of time. Understanding the changes in chemical composition caused by corrosion or migration processes and the associated changes in properties should support the development of suitable countermeasures and thus increase the reliability and service life of high-performance materials.

Based on the knowledge gained from chemical analysis, weathering tests and stress tests, the interplay between material properties and chemical composition can be comprehensively analysed. In particular, a better understanding of the role of doping (in which foreign atoms are "incorporated" into semiconductor structures), additives and contamination on the processability and reliability of the materials is to be achieved. The CD Laboratory thus makes a decisive contribution to increasing efficiency and sustainability in a wide range of industrial fields such as energy, mobility and infrastructure, which will ultimately benefit all users.