Press Releases

In the AluTrace project, a decentralized data room architecture was developed that enables seamless traceability and analysis of materials and process data. This is not only important for the design process of lightweight components, but also for the entire value chain in additive manufacturing. By implementing a process-specific topology optimization algorithm (PSTO), it was possible to demonstrate how end-to-end data networking can lead to significant improvements in component quality and performance. The results achieved, including a weight reduction of up to 23% while maintaining the same mechanical strength, demonstrate the clear industrial need for effective solutions for lightweight construction.

The “CapS-PTL” project is developing an innovative technology for the production of porous titanium electrodes, which is crucial for efficient hydrogen production by electrolysis. By using capillary suspensions (CapS), precise control of the porosity and mechanical strength of the electrodes is achieved, which significantly increases electrochemical performance.

Raw material extraction in deep-sea environments requires extremely durable components – especially in pumps. In the "SubseaSlide" project, a novel diamond-SiC composite material was developed and qualified, demonstrating exceptional wear resistance and operational reliability under realistic conditions. This research makes a significant contribution to efficiency, supply security and sustainability in marine resource extraction.

Prof. Dr. Michael Moseler, Head of the Tribology Business Unit at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg and Professor for Simulation of Functional Nanosystems at the University of Freiburg, has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant worth 2.5 million euros for the research and development of a digital twin that can describe lubrication under high loads and thus predict the design and operating conditions for energy-efficient machines. An ERC grant is one of the most prestigious awards in European research funding and is awarded to top researchers for outstanding scientific research approaches.

As part of a Fraunhofer flagship project, researchers are developing a digital ecosystem that collects data along the entire value chain for raw materials — with the goal of ensuring a sustainable and resilient supply. This makes it possible to reuse and recycle materials energy-efficiently and with as little loss as possible. At the Hannover Messe 2025, the research team will be presenting a demonstrator that showcases the many different options offered by this ecosystem.

Silicon carbide (SiC) provides considerable technical advantages for power electronics — however, the costs are still a drawback. In the »ThinSiCPower« research project, a consortium of Fraunhofer Institutes is developing key technologies to reduce material losses and device thickness while increasing the thermomechanical stability of the assembled SiC chips. The savings achieved are expected to help further accelerate the market development of efficient SiC power electronics.

Dr. Silke Sommer, Head of the Component Safety and Lightweight Design Business Unit at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, is the first woman to be honored with the prestigious Carl von Bach Medal of the University of Stuttgart Materials Testing Institute on October 8, 2024 at the MPA Seminar of the University of Stuttgart. This award recognizes her pioneering contributions to research in materials mechanics, particularly in the fields of crash simulation and lightweight construction technology.

Professor Erwin Sommer, the former long-standing head of institute of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg and Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Hall (Saale), which was founded during his tenure, passed away on 16 June 2024 at the age of 88. Sommer pioneered the introduction of fracture mechanics as a field of research in Germany in the 1960s and in addition to his work as a scientist, he was active on numerous committees. He helped define the fabric of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as chair of the Scientific and Technical Council and founder and long-standing head of the Fraunhofer Group for Materials.

Due to crises such as the coronavirus pandemic or suspended trade agreements, supply bottlenecks occur time and again. Raw materials such as nickel, magnesium and rare earths, which industry needs to manufacture a wide range of products, are not always available — often for long periods of time. This is where a new Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft flagship project comes in: Since January 2024, six Fraunhofer Institutes have been researching how sustainable and resilient supplies can be maintained and secured. The four-year interdisciplinary project aims to create the information basis for preserving materials and components in the highest possible quality and feeding them into the cycle.

Many tribological systems are operated at their load limits for reasons of efficiency. Lubrication gaps are becoming narrower and lubricating films must withstand greater loads. For the reliable design of such systems, development and construction depend on precise calculation methods. However, conventional calculation approaches fail when it comes to so-called boundary lubrication. Prof. Michael Moseler and Dr. Kerstin Falk from the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg have succeeded in clarifying the mechanisms of boundary lubrication and making them predictable. This opens a path to new design possibilities for high-performance tribosystems. They present their groundbreaking approach in a renowned scientific journal.