Materials Science

Our group researches materials and processes for powder bed additive manufacturing - also known as 3D printing - of metallic materials. In these manufacturing processes, metal powder is selectively melted by a laser or electron beam in a layer-by-layer buildup process. This enables the resource-efficient production of customized components with complex, highly functional geometries. In addition, the exceptional process conditions can be used to create new materials with unique microstructures and improved mechanical properties.

Our research focuses on alloy development, i.e. the development of new, customized materials based on thermodynamic calculations, and on simulation-based process development, i.e. the development of process strategies for the defect-free processing of new materials. We work with refractory materials such as molybdenum and tungsten, titanium and aluminum alloys, and steels. Our application-oriented research projects are conducted in close cooperation with partners from academia and industry.