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Eingeladener Vortrag
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Nanoparticles (NPs) have become important materials for a variety of chemical technologies, including catalysis. One of the main challenges is the reduction of green house gases, such as CO2. One opportunity besides the capturing is the conversion to synthesis gas via the reverse water-gas shift reaction.
A facile and efficient method is described for the solvothermal synthesis of size-tunable, stable, and uniform NiCu core-shell NPs. The diameter of the NPs can be tuned in a range from 6 nm to 30 nm and the Ni:Cu ratio from 30:1 to 1:1. The NPs are structurally characterized with combination of transmission electron microscopy, anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption fine structure. Using these analytical methods, a core-shell-shell structure their chemical composition is elucidated. A depletion from the core to the shell is observed, with the core consisting of NiCu alloy, surrounded by an inner Ni-rich shell and an outer NiO shell. The SiO2-supported NiCu core-shell NPs show pronounced selectivity of >99% for CO in the catalytic reduction of CO2 to CO using hydrogen as reactant (reverse water–gas shift reaction).
In the pursuit of discovering materials with desirable properties, extending the available material libraries is crucial. High-throughput simulations have become an integral part in designing new materials in the past decades. However, there is no straightforward way of distinguishing synthesizable materials from all the proposed candidates. This project focuses on employing AI-driven methods to estimate synthesizability of materials.
Up to now, material scientists and engineers have relied on domain knowledge as well as empirical heuristics to guess the stability and synthesizability of molecules and crystals. The famous Pauling rules of crystal stability are an example of such heuristics. However, after the accelerating material discovery in all the years since Pauling, these rules now fail to account for the stability of most known crystals. A new predictive set of heuristics for crystal stability/synthesizability is unlikely to be uncovered by human perception, given the magnitude and dimensionality of crystallographic data. Hence, a data-driven approach should be proposed to find a predictive model or set of heuristics which differentiate synthesizable crystal structures from the rest. The main challenge of this research problem is the lack of a negative set for classification. Here, there are two classes of data: the positive class which contains synthesizable materials and the negative class which contains materials which are not synthesizable. While the data from the positive class is simply the data of crystals which have been experimentally synthesized, we do not have access to data points which are certainly unsynthesizable. Strictly speaking, if an attempt of synthesizing a crystal fails, it does not necessarily follow that the crystal is not synthesizable. Also, there is no database available which contains the intended crystal structures of unsuccessful synthesis attempts.
This project proposes a semi-supervised learning scheme to predict crystal synthesizability. The ML model is trained on experimental and theoretical crystal data. The initial featurization focuses on local environments which is inspired by the Pauling Rules. The experimental data points are downloaded through the Pymatgen API from the Materials Project database which contains relaxed structures recorded in Inorganic Crystal Structure Database – ICSD. The theoretical data is queried from select databases accessible through the Optimade project’s API.
Vorstellung der Themen der Nachwuchsgruppe "Materialcharakterisierung und -informatik für die Nachhaltigkeit im Bauwesen" von Prof. Sabine Kruschwitz (TU Berlin und BAM)
Within NFDI-MatWerk (“National Research Data Infrastructure for Material Sciences”/ “Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur für Materialwissenschaften und Werkstofftechnik“), the Task Area Materials Data Infrastructure (TA-MDI) will provide tools and services to easily store, share, search, and analyze data and metadata. Such a digital materials environment will ensure data integrity, provenance, and authorship. The MatWerk consortium aims to develop specific solutions jointly with Participant Projects (PPs), which are scientific groups or institutes covering different domains, from theory and simulations to experiments. The Data Exploitation Methods group of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-Steinbuch Centre of Computing, as part of TA-MDI, is developing specific solutions in close collaboration with three PPs.
PP07, together with the University of Stuttgart, aims at the image-based prediction of the material properties of stochastic microstructures using large-scale supercomputers. PP13, in cooperation with the University of Saarland, focuses on tomographic methods at various scales in materials research. PP18, together with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (“Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung”), aspires to define the criteria for materials reference datasets and usage analytics.
The requirements and goals are comparable for each PP: their research outputs, which are scientific datasets, should conform to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. We aim to shape them from a data management perspective making use of the FAIR Digital Object concept, including structured metadata and storage solutions. The results will be a blueprint which will act as a reference for future datasets. Even though the collaboration is in an early stage, the initial steps already show the added value of this approach.
This research has been supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research
(BMBF) – funding code M532701 / the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German
Research Foundation) - project number NFDI 38/1, project no. 460247524.
As part of a joint project involving the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC), the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, the Clausthal University of Technology and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), digital tools are to be created for the development of new types of glass materials. Current processes for the production of glasses with improved properties are usually very cost- and energy-intensive due to the low degree of automation and are subject to long development cycles. The use of robotic synthesis processes in combination with self-learning machines is intended to overcome these problems in the long term. The development of new types of glass can then not only be accelerated considerably, but also be achieved with much less effort.
In this talk, data generation via a robotic high-throughput glass melting system is presented, which should be the experimental basis for the ontology developed within the project GlasDigital.
Mechanochemistry offers a unique opportunity to modify or synthesize new crystal forms. Although the method is very promising, little is known about the mechanochemical means to control the synthesis of a solid form. Using an polymorphic organic cocrystal system, we show here that mechanochemistry can be used to obtain a polymorph transformation under the apparently conventional (thermal) transition point.
Industrial and agricultural waste streams (waste waters, sludges, tailings etc.), which contain high concentrations of NH4+, PO43- and transition metals, are environmentally harmful due to their toxic pollutants. At the same time, phosphorus and selective transition metals such as Cobalt could be potentially depleted as a critical raw material due to the high demand and rapidly declining natural ore deposits. Therefore, due to simultaneous scarcity and abundance, the phosphorus and 3d metal recovery from agricultural, industrial, mining, or urban wastewaters have been an important factor in sustaining our global consumption and preservation of the natural environment. Typically, separate pathways have been considered to extract hazardous substances such as transition metals or phosphate, independently from each other. Here, we report the synthesis routes for transition metal phosphate (TMP) compounds (M3(PO4)2∙8H2O, NH4MPO4∙6H2O, M = Ni2+, Co2+, NixCo1-x2+ M-struvite and M-phosphate octahydrate), which allow for P, ammonia and metal co-precipitation. The precipitation of these compounds from industrial and agricultural waste waters could be a promising P-recovery route. Through adjusting the reaction conditions, the stability, crystallite size and morphology of the as-obtained TMP could be controlled. Detailed investigations of the precipitation process using ex- and in-situ techniques provided new insights into their non-classical crystallization mechanism/crystal engineering of these materials. These TMPs involve transitional colloidal nanophases which subsequently aggregate and condense to final crystals after extended reaction times. However, the reaction kinetics of the formation of a final crystalline product vary significantly depending on the metal cation involved in the precipitation process. Ni-struvite is stable in a wide reactant concentration range and at different metal/phosphorus (M/P)-ratios, whereas Co tends to form Co-struvite and/or Co-phosphate octahydrate depending on the (M/P)-ratio. The mixed NixCo1-x system shows a significantly different crystallization behavior and reaction kinetics of the precipitation compared to the pure endmembers. The observed various degree of stability could be linked to the octahedral metal coordination environment in these compounds. The achieved level of control over the precipitates, is highly desirable for 3d- and P-recovery methods. Under this paradigm, the crystals can be potentially upcycled as precursor materials for (electro)catalytical applications.
Industrial and agricultural waste streams (waste waters, sludges, tailings etc.), which contain high concentrations of NH4+, PO43- and transition metals, are environmentally harmful due to their toxic pollutants. At the same time, phosphorus and selective transition metals such as Cobalt could be potentially depleted as a critical raw material due to the high demand and rapidly declining natural ore deposits. Therefore, due to simultaneous scarcity and abundance, the phosphorus and 3d metal recovery from agricultural, industrial, mining, or urban wastewaters have been an important factor in sustaining our global consumption and preservation of the natural environment. Typically, separate pathways have been considered to extract hazardous substances such as transition metals or phosphate, independently from each other. Here, we investigate the crystallization of transition metal phosphate (TMP) compounds (NH4MPO4∙6H2O, M3(PO4)2∙8H2O with M = Ni2+, Co2+, NixCo1-x2+ M-struvite and M-phosphate octahydrate) out of aqueous solutions, which allow for P, ammonia and metal co-precipitation. The precipitation of these compounds from industrial and agricultural waste waters has high potential as a P- and 3d metal recovery route. For this purpose, a detailed understanding of the crystallization process beginning from combination of solved ions and ending in a final crystalline product is required. Through adjusting the reaction conditions, the stability, crystallite size and morphology of the as-obtained TMPs could be controlled. Detailed investigations of the precipitation process in time using ex- and in-situ techniques provided new insights into their non-classical crystallization mechanism/crystal engineering of these materials. These TMPs involve transitional colloidal nanophases during the crystallization process. Over time, their complex amorphous framework changes significantly resulting simultaneously in an agglomeration and densification of the compound. After extended reaction times these colloidal nanophases condensed to a final crystal. However, the reaction kinetics of the formation of a final crystalline product and the lifetime of these intermediate phases vary significantly depending on the metal cation involved in the precipitation process. Ni-struvite is stable in a wide reactant concentration range and at different metal/phosphorus (M/P)-ratios, whereas Co tends to form Co-struvite and/or Co-phosphate octahydrate depending on the (M/P)-ratio. The mixed NixCo1-x system shows a significantly different crystallization behavior and reaction kinetics of the precipitation compared to the pure endmembers. The observed various degree of stability could be linked to the octahedral metal coordination environment in these compounds. The achieved level of control over the precipitates, is highly desirable for 3d- and P-recovery methods. Under this paradigm, the crystals can be potentially upcycled as precursor materials for (electro)catalytical applications.
Inspired by the chemistry of mussel adhesive proteins, polydopamine (PDA) is one of the simplest and most versatile approaches to confer new functionalities to nearly any material surface. Moreover, PDA exhibits high potential for surface modification and diversified secondary reactions that makes it extremely interesting for a wide range of application including biomedical field, e.g., drug delivery, adhesives, cell adhesion, biosensing. PDA has undergone significant expansion in its applications and is one of the most attractive areas within the materials field. Nevertheless, PDA integration in microdevices is still constrained by poor spatial and temporal control of excited deposition methods.
Herein, we demonstrate a novel maskless approach for PDA micropatterning based on Direct Laser Writing (DLW) that overcomes present limitations. The pattern is formed upon exposure of the dopamine solution by light produced by tightly-focused fs NIR laser that scans substrate surface accordingly to the selected pattern design. Neither strong oxidants, metal ions nor adjusting pH to alkaline is required by this technique. Our method achieves the PDA micropatterns with the spatial resolution of 0.8 µm, at least an order of magnitude smaller than what is possible with other PDA microplanning techniques. The here introduced PDA deposition technique will uniquely unravel applications of polydopamine and other catecholamine-based mussel-inspired materials in various multifunctional systems and microdevices (e.g., MEMS elements, microfluidics).
Adjustment of MPL parameters revealed that the morphology and thickness of resulted PDA microstructures can be controlled by altering the laser power and its scanning velocity. As a result, it also enables the production of micropatterns with structural gradient.
Apart from the glass substrate, we achieved PDA patterning at surfaces of different nature such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene terephthalate, silicon wafers, and fluorinated glass coverslips.
The chemical nature of PDA was confirmed by locally recorded vibrational and x-ray photoelectron spectra. To ensure post-modification potential of MPL deposited PDA we demonstrated one-step deposition of micropatterns with trypsin. Obtained bio-functionalised surface can be further applied as a protein sensing active microelement.
Presented in this work DLW-based microfabrication technique and the possibilities for further PDA surface post-functionalization empowers advanced applications of this material in single-molecule bioassays, sensors and other complex microdevices.
Polydopamine (PDA) is one of the simplest and most versatile approaches for forming an excellent binding exterior to confer new functionalities to nearly any material surface. Inspired by nature, it mimics the behavior of mussels and can be easily deposited on virtually all types of inorganic and organic substrates, including superhydrophobic surfaces. Moreover, PDA exhibits high potential for surface modification and diversified secondary reactions that makes it extremely interesting for a wide range of application including biomedical field, e.g., drug delivery, adhesives, cell adhesion, biosensing. PDA has undergone significant expansion in its applications and is one of the most attractive areas within the materials field. Nevertheless, PDA integration in microdevices is still constrained by poor spatial and temporal control of excited deposition methods.
Herein, we demonstrate a novel maskless approach for PDA micropatterning based on Direct Laser Writing that overcomes present limitations. The pattern is formed upon exposure of the dopamine solution by light produced by tightly-focused fs NIR laser that scans substrate surface accordingly to the selected pattern design. Neither strong oxidants, metal ions nor adjusting pH to alkaline is required by this technique to perform dopamine polymerization. Our method achieves the PDA micropatterns with the spatial resolution of 0.8 µm, at least an order of magnitude smaller than what is possible with other PDA microplanning techniques. Some examples of PDA patterns are shown in Figure 1. The here introduced PDA deposition technique will uniquely unravel applications of polydopamine and other catecholamine-based mussel-inspired materials in various multifunctional systems and microdevices (e.g., MEMS elements, microfluidics).
The chemical nature of PDA was confirmed by locally recorded vibrational and x-ray photoelectron spectra. Moreover, the morphology and thickness of PDA microstructure can be controlled by the laser power and scanning velocity revealing the possibility of fabricating the structures with gradient. In most of the applied conditions the increase of the laser intensity and decrease of the scanning velocity would lead to the thicker PDA pattern. Different morphologies from smooth and bulky-like to grain like has been obtained.
PDA was produced in the presence of tris buffer, phosphate buffer and DI water only. We also tested the effect of the solution pH applying pH 6.0, 7.0 and 8.5. Furthermore, the effect of antioxidants and purging of the solution with oxygen and nitrogen was investigated. Summarizing, we could see that the structures could be produced in all the given conditions, however their thickness and quality, morphology and roughness would differ. We did not observe negative impact of the antioxidants and nitrogen purging on the performance of PDA build up indicating that the PDA formation mechanism is different to common autooxidation. The current mechanism is based on the interaction of dopamine molecules with the photoinitiator added to solution as active to DLW laser light component.
Apart from the glass substrate, we achieved PDA patterning at surfaces of different nature such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene terephthalate, silicon wafers, and fluorinated glass coverslips.
We also performed facile posts-modification of the PDA surface with protein enzymes like trypsin that was confirmed by XPS. Obtained bioactive pattern could be further integrated in the protein sensing devices.
Presented in this work DLW-based microfabrication technique and the possibilities for further PDA surface post-functionalization empowers advanced applications of this material in single-molecule bioassays, sensors and other complex microdevices.
Als bildgebendes und zerstörungsfreies Verfahren eignet sich die Röntgen-Computertomographie (CT) insbesondere bei der Untersuchung von Kunst- und Kulturgütern. Die für Werkstoffprüfung und Materialanalyse konzipierten CT-Anlagen bieten dank hoher Röntgenleistung die Möglichkeit zusätzlich zu Holz, Keramiken und Kunststoffen auch stark schwächende Materialien, wie bspw. Metalle, zu durchdringen. Für eine hohe räumliche Auflösung im unteren Mikrometerbereich (2-200µm) sorgen entsprechend ausgelegte CT-Anlagen. In der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) stehen mehrere solcher CT-Anlagen für unterschiedliche Fragestellungen sowie Probengrößen und - materialien zur Verfügung. Einige Beispiele aus den vergangenen Arbeiten der BAM veranschaulichen das große Potential dieser Untersuchungsmethode.
Da bei einer CT-Messung in der Regel das gesamte Untersuchungsobjekt erfasst und in ein digitales Volumenmodell überführt wird, eröffnet sich für Archäologen und Restoratoren die Möglichkeit Untersuchungen hinsichtlich Materialzusammensetzung, Erhaltungszustand und Herstellungstechnik am virtuellen Objekt vorzunehmen, ohne die Originalsubstanz zu beeinträchtigen. Gegenüber der klassischen Radiografie, bei der nur eine zweidimensionale Abbildung erreicht wird, bietet die CT-Untersuchung die Möglichkeit innenliegende Strukturen dreidimensional zu erfassen. Die notwendige Bestimmung der Objektoberfläche erlaubt zudem die Erstellung eines Oberflächenmodells des untersuchten Gegenstandes. Damit lassen sich unter anderem mechanische Simulationen (Belastung, Durchbiegung, Durchströmung) durchführen. Der erzeugte Datensatz kann somit auch zur Herstellung eines Replikats im 3D-Druckverfahren genutzt werden. Anhand der Untersuchung der Mandoline von Smorsone wird gezeigt, wie eine CT-Messung durchgeführt wird und wie in dem anschließend rekonstruierten 3D-Datensatz mittels Koordinatenmesstechnik Maße (Abstände, Wandstärken, Winkel) exakt ermittelt werden können.
Für die konventionelle Fertigung hat sich das bestehende System der Qualitätsinfrastruktur (QI) bewährt. Die additive Fertigung vergrößert den gestalterischen Spielraum von möglichen Bauteilgeometrien und Prozessfehlern jedoch erheblich. Hier gerät die QI an ihre Grenzen, sodass die Fertigung und Zulassung sicherheits-relevanter Bauteile sehr zeit- und kostenintensive Versuche erfordern. Eine moderne digitale QI erlaubt eine effizientere Qualitätssicherung für additiv gefertigte Bauteile. Dies erfordert eine durchgängig digitale Abbildung des physischen Materialflusses.
When it comes to higher accuracies, new technologies and real applications in additive manufacturing, there is one topic which cannot be avoided: The material response on the chosen processing parameters and its agreement and correspondence with literature data of the wrought material grade counterpart. In industrial Additive Manufacturing (AM) standards in terms of printing parameters, protection gas atmospheres or powder handling instructions are not obligatory. Therefore, the question must be answered whether the AM process is reproducible and reliable over different printing companies. This was the motivation to realize a round robin test between 8 European printing companies and academic partners. The consortium had printed and tested fatigue and tensile testing bars under plant-specific conditions. A commonly used cast aluminum alloy, AlSi10Mg, was chosen as test material for the PBF-LB/M process. Differences of the results between the partners and the scatter itself were discussed in detail.
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are one technology to overcome the challenges of climate and energy crisis. They are widely used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, or as storage for renewable energy sources. However, despite innovations in batteries' components like cathode and anode materials, separators, and electrolytes, the aging mechanism related to metallic aluminum current collector degradation causes a significant drop in their performance and prevents the durable use of LIBs. Glow-discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES) is a powerful method for depth-profiling of batteries' electrode materials. This work investigates aging-induced aluminum deposition on commercial lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) batteries' cathodes. The results illustrate the depth-resolved elemental distribution from the cathode surface to the current collector. An accumulation of aluminum is found on the cathode surface by GD-OES, consistent with results from energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) combined with focused ion beam (FIB) cutting. In comparison to FIB-EDX, GD-OES allows a fast and manageable depth-profiling. Results from different positions on an aged cathode indicate an inhomogeneous aluminum film growth on the surface. The conclusions from these experiments can lead to a better understanding of the degradation of the aluminum current collector, thus leading to higher lifetimes of LIBs.
The unique optoelectronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals, also termed quantum dots (QDs), have led to many advances in optoelectronic devices, bioimaging, and biosensing. This strong potential in a wide range of applications sparked the interest for a better understanding of the QD formation mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that atomically defined, zero-dimensional magic-size clusters (MSCs) play a crucial role during the nucleation and growth of QDs. Thereby MSCs consist of discrete numbers of ions leading to narrow size distributions and thus narrow absorption peaks, which evolve in discrete steps from one stable size to the next. The formation of MSCs was found in the synthesis of II-VI and III-V QDs but only limited synthesis approaches are available for the synthesis of MSCs in single-ensemble form without coexistence of other-size QDs. These MSCs can further self-assemble into two- and three-dimensional hybrid structures using organic ligands like diamines, leading to enhanced photoluminescence properties and catalytic activities.
In this contribution, we present a synthesis strategy for the preparation of single-sized ZnSe MSCs. With a band gap of 2.7 eV and being an earth-abundant material, ZnSe QDs are interesting for light-emitting devices, blue-green lasers, photocatalysis, and fluorescence probes. In contrast to other studies, our approach is based on a one-pot heat-up synthesis and uses less toxic and dangerous zinc precursors (e.g. zinc stearate). Knowing that thiol-based ligands can alter the formation process of ZnSe QDs, we investigated the influence of 1-dodecanethiol on the ZnSe MSC formation using absorption spectroscopy, TEM, XPS, and XRD. By variation of the thiol ligand concentration and reaction temperature, we were able to synthesize two new ZnSe MSC sizes, the largest so far, by using easy-to-handle precursors.
Nonporous corundum powder was functionalized covalently with protein binders to isolate and enrich specific proteins from complex matrices.The common crosslinker glutaraldehyde was compared with a hyperbranched polyglycerol (PG) of around 10 kDa. The latter was oxidized with periodate to generate aldehyde groups that can covalently react with the amines of the surface and the amino groups from the protein via a reductive amination process. The amount of bound protein was quantified via aromatic amino acid analysis (AAAA). As a proof of concept, IgG was extracted with protein A from crude human plasma. The advantages of corundum include the very low price, extremely high physical and chemical stability, pressure resistance, favorable binding kinetics, convenient handling, and flexible application.
Luminescent lanthanides(III) offer exceptional optical properties that can overcome issues often encountered with other fluorophores (e.g. organic dyes). Their long lifetimes up to milliseconds, low photobleaching and sharp and characteristic emission peaks make the lanthanides extremely valuable for the development of advanced luminescent materials. Previous work on Ru(II) and Ir(III) gold surfaces further highlights the potential of employing the luminescence of metal complexes for the fabrication of sensing platforms and devices.
Here, we incorporate visible and NIR-emitting lanthanide(III) complexes Ln2L3 (Ln = Eu(III), Nd(III), Yb(III)) to gold and plasmonic surfaces, translating the unique optical properties of the lanthanides(III) to practical devices. The Ln2L3 complexes are deposited on the surfaces with different methods, ranging from polymer aided physisorption to the covalent attachment on the gold surface. Furthermore, we exploit the high sensitivity to the coordination environment of lanthanides(III) to design and prepare a sensing platform.
The availability of high-performance Al alloys in AM is limited due to difficulties in printability, requiring both the development of synergetic material and AM process to mitigate problems such as solidification cracking during laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The goal of this work was to investigate the failure mechanism in a LPBF 7017 Aluminium alloy + 3 wt% Zr + 0.5 wt% TiC. The processing leads to different categories of Zr-rich inclusions, precipitates and defects.
Up to now, oriented surface crystallization phenomena are discussed controversially, and related studies are restricted to few glasses. For silicate glasses we found a good correlation between the calculated surface energy of crystal faces and oriented surface nucleation. Surface energies were estimated assuming that crystal surfaces resemble minimum energy crack paths along the given crystal plane. This concept was successfully applied by Rouxel in calculating fracture surface energies of glasses. Several oriented nucleation phenomena can be herby explained assuming that high energy crystal surfaces tend to be wetted by the melt. This would minimize the total interfacial energy of the nucleus. Furthermore, we will discuss the evolution of the microstructure and its effect on the preferred crystal orientation.
The degradation effect of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of steels is well known, but still not sufficiently understood. The fast and safe market ramp up of hydrogen technologies makes it evident to evaluate a wider understanding of this topic. In general it is often described as hydrogen embrittlement. Therefore it is desirable to achieve a test method which is able to provide material properties under hydrogen atmosphere in an easy way. Currently mechanical tests under hydrogen atmosphere are executed in autoclaves. For this technique complex hardware is needed, therefore tests are expensive and test capacities are only available in a small scale. The shown test method promises a trendsetting approach for reducing costs and machine time by using hollow specimen.
Aqueous dispersions of polypropylene: towards referencematerials for nanoplastics characterization
(2022)
Plastic pollution in the environment is a rising concern for the health of our planet. The plastic litter that pollutes our environment leads to microplastic particles. They can be found (nearly) everywhere. The processes that lead to microplastic can also form nanoplastic particles, which have a size below 1 µm. Because of the small size they can penetrate tissue more easily. Only few risk assessment studies of nanoplastics were carried out so far.
Using polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles to test effects on organisms is easy because it is commercially available. However, this falls a little short, as the polyolefins i.e., polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), are produced in a larger proportion than PS. Moreover, these plastics are mainly used for disposable products, which means that they also account for a large proportion of plastic waste. Therefore, the percentage of polyolefins in environmental nanoplastic is presumably high. It is important to test the toxicological effects also with nanoplastics made of PP and PE to have more realistic results.
Herein, we present an easy and repeatable method to prepare an aqueous dispersion of polypropylene nanoplastics (nano-PP). They are stabilized electrostatically, resulting in a strongly negative zeta potential of -43 mV (± 2 mV) and making no surfactant necessary to keep the dispersion stable.
The size and the size distribution were determined via Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and gives a hydrodynamic diameter of 180.5 nm (± 5.8 nm) and a PDI of 0.084 (± 0.023).
Finally, ca. 480 bottles of the dispersion with a volume of 10 mL each were prepared to serve as a potential reference material for further testing of detection methods or risk assessments.
Plastic debris in micron and nanometer scale pollutes the nature all over the world. The potential dangers of these pollutants remain unpredictable. While risk assessment studies on microplastic are already popular, nanoplastic has not yet reached the same focus of investigation. The reason for this difference is simple: There is a “methodological gap” in the analytics of plastic particles with a diameter smaller than 1 µm. Submicron and nano plastic particles are currently not detectable in environmental matrices. Therefore, it is important for researchers to have a well-characterized nanoplastic material, that serves as a reference for nanoplastic found in nature.
Our aim was to synthesize nanoplastics made from the most common used plastics, starting with polypropylene (PP). We found an easy way to form nanoparticles consisting of PP (nano-PP), adapting and improving the method presented for polystyrene (PS). PP was dispersed to acetone and then transferred to water. No additional surfactant is needed to obtain a dispersion which is stable for more than 35 weeks. The
The success of forming nanoplastics and their size was detected via scattering methods, predominantly dynamic light scattering (DLS). To examine the good stability of the nanoparticles, zeta potential measurements were performed, which revealed zeta potentials of -30 to -40 mV.
This method is repeatable and well suited to produce reference material, as which we propose our prepared particles, based on a homogeneity study, that we performed, following the ISO Guide 35 for reference materials.
Mechanical properties of metals and their alloys are strongly governed by their microstructure. The nanometer-sized precipitates in hardenable wrought aluminium alloys, which can be controlled by heat treatment, act as obstacles to dislocation movement within the material and are critical to the mechanical performance of the component, in this case a radial compressor wheel of a ships’ engine. TEM-based image analysis is essential for the study to investigate the microstructural changes (precipitation coarsening) that occur as a result of ageing at elevated temperatures.
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in the life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity and non-destructive and multiparametric character. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization-, and time-dependent instrument specific effect and the compound-specific photoluminescence quantum yield. The former hamper the comparability of fluorescence measurements, while the relative determination of the latter requires suitable quantum yield standards with well-known photoluminescence quantum yields (QY). For the simple correction of instrument specific effects in the wavelength region of 300 nm to 950 nm, the set of the five certified spectral fluorescence standards BAM-F001 – BAM-F005, has been extended to the NIR range by including two new fluorescence standards currently under certification. For the reliable and accurate determination of QY which is the key performance parameter for the comparison of different luminophores, we certified a set of 12 quantum yield standards, which absorb and emit in the wavelength range from 300 nm to 1000 nm.
Evolution of mesoporous frameworks from precipitated struvite-structured metal phosphate materialsls
(2022)
Mesoporous transition metal phosphates (TMPs) have attracted major interest due to their high (electro-)catalytic activity suitable for H2 generation, supercapacitors or batteries. Typically, mesoporous materials are synthesized via a template-based route. This way is in the case of TMP because the surfactants used are difficult to remove due to the sensitivity of the mesoporous framework. We present a template-free method including the formation of a precursor phase called M-struvite (NH4MPO4•6H2O, M = Mg2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Ni2+xCo2+1-x) to synthesize mesoporous and amorphous metal phosphates. This method relies on the thermal decomposition of crystalline M-struvite precursors to an amorphous and simultaneous mesoporous phase associated with the degassing of NH3 and H2O. The temporal evolution of mesoporous frameworks and the response of the coordination metal coordination environment was followed with diffraction and spectroscopy based in-situ and ex-situ methods. We highlight the systematic differences in absolute surface area, pore shape, pore size, and phase transitions between the chemical systems. In a complex amorphous structure, thermal decomposed Mg-, Ni- and NixCo1-x-struvites exhibit high surface areas and pore volumes for phosphate materials with a spherical to channel-like pore geometry (240 m²g-1 and 0.32 cm-3 g-1 for Mg and 90 m²g-1 and 0.13 cm-3 g-1 for Ni). In addition to this low-cost, environmentally friendly and simple synthesis, M-struvites could grow as a recycling product from industrial and agricultural wastewaters. These waste products could be upcycled through a simple thermal treatment for further applications.
Liquid crystalline mesophases in nanoconfinement exhibit intriguing phase transition behaviors and relaxation dynamics. Here in, we investigate the molecular dynamics and electrical conductivity of a linear shaped guanidinium based ILC confined in self-ordered nano porous alumina oxide membranes of pore size ranging from 180nm down to 25nm by employing broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and calorimetry. Calorimetric investigation reveals a complete suppression of the columnar – isotropic transition, while the plastic crystalline – columnar transition temperature decreases with inverse pore size and deviates from the Gibbs – Thomson equation.
For the bulk case, BDS detects two relaxation modes in the crystalline phase, the relaxation and the α1 relaxation, and two relaxation modes in the columnar phase, the α2 and α3 relaxation. For the confined case, all relaxation modes slow down compared to the bulk. However, for the least pore size (25 nm), the α2 relaxation is absent. We discuss the possible molecular origins of the different relaxation modes observed. For the bulk ILC, a clear jump of 4 orders of magnitude in the absolute values of DC conductivity occurs at the transition from the plastic crystalline to hexagonal columnar phase, for the confined ILC, this transition is smooth. DC conductivity is reduced for the confined case, except for the 25nm, where the values is similar to the bulk.
Industrial and agricultural waste streams (waste waters, sludges, tailings etc.) which contain high concentrations of NH4+, PO43- and transition metals are environmentally harmful and toxic pollutants . Typically, separate pathways have been considered to extract hazardous and transition metals or phosphate as critical raw materials, independently from each other. Here, we report the synthesis routes for transition metal phosphate (TMP) compounds (M3(PO4)2∙8H2O, NH4MPO4∙6H2O, M = Ni2+, Co2+, M-struvite and M-phosphate octahydrate), which allow for P, ammonia and metal co-precipitation. The precipitation of these compounds from industrial and agricultural waste waters could be a promising P-recovery route. Through adjusting the reaction conditions, the stability, crystallite size and morphology of the as-obtained TMP could be controlled. Detailed investigations of the precipitation process using ex- and in-situ techniques provided new insights into their non-classical crystallization mechanism/crystal engineering of these materials. These TMPs involve transitional colloidal nanophases which subsequently aggregate and condense to final crystals after extended reaction times. However, the reaction kinetics of the formation of a final crystalline product vary significantly depending on the metal cation(s) involved in the precipitation process. The occurring amorphous nanophases seem to majorly influence the outcome of crystallization. Ni-struvite is stable in a wide reactant concentration range and at different metal/phosphorus (M/P)-ratios, whereas Co tends to form Co-struvite and/or Co-phosphate octahydrate depending on the (M/P)-ratio. The observed various degree of stability could be linked to the octahedral metal coordination environment. The achieved level of control over the precipitates, is highly desirable for 3d- and P-recovery methods. Under this paradigm, the crystals can be potentially upcycled as precursor materials for (electro)catalytical applications 4.
Soil acts as a final sink for pollutants. Microplastics from different sources such as plastic mulching, littering, compost, sewage sludge, sedimentary deposition, and tyre abrasion are expected to be found in soil. However, representative and comprehensive information is missing on the sources, transport, and fate. Therefore, a reliable analysis method for microplastics in soils needs to be developed.
The presented work describes the development of a procedure for microplastics analysis in soils. A representative sampling based on the on-site conditions and a sample preparation method was established and comprised of a drying step, the separation of microplastic particles > 1 mm, and a density separation for particles < 1 mm. The detection of the large microplastic particles (> 1 mm) was conducted with Attenuated Total Reflection - Fourier Transform infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) , while Thermal Extraction Desorption - Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) was applied for particles < 1 mm, gaining information on the type of polymer and mass fraction. Based on the established method, 14 environmental soil samples ? with different exposure of microplastics from agriculture, industrial sites, roads, and floods were investigated.
Due to the arbitrary microplastic particle distribution among the samples for large microplastics, it was reasoned that the found particles were unrepresentative. In contrast, microplastic particles < 1 mm were discovered in a high mass in soil samples exposed to plastic mulching or fertilization with sewage sludge or compost (0 – 115 mg/kg). On average, microplastic contents detected in soil samples taken from a construction site and an inner-city lake were higher (13 – 238 mg/kg). As expected, microplastic content in soil sampled in proximity to roads was more pronounced in the upper soil layers. In contrast, very remote sampling sites, expectably uncontaminated, did not lead to the detection of microplastic regarding to thermoanalytical detection method.
In a proof of concept experiment several in vivo and in vitro ecotoxicological tests were applied to evaluate the effect of microplastics (tyre abrasion, polystyrene containing hexabromocyclododecane) in natural soils. In summary, while no effects of the examined probes could be detected on higher levels of biological organization after exposures to earthworm E. andrei, significant changes in several oxidative stress related biomarkers were observed.
Al-Si alloys produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB/M) techniques allow the fabrication of lightweight free-shape components. Due to the extremely heterogeneous cooling and heating, PBF-LB/M induces high magnitude residual stress (RS) and a fine Si microstructure. As the RS can be deleterious to the fatigue resistance of engineering components, great efforts are focused on understanding their evolution before and after post-process heat treatments (HT).
Multilayer thermoelectric generators are a promising perspective to the conventional π-type generators. Ceramic multilayer technology is well established for production of microelectronics and piezo-stacks. Key features of ceramic multilayer technology are full-automation, cost-effectiveness, and the co-firing of all materials in one single step. This requires similar sintering temperatures of all used materials. The development of multilayer thermoelectric generators is a subject of current research due to the advantages of this technology. One of the challenges is the compatibility of the different materials with respect to the specific design.
The presented study compares three different designs of multilayer generators based on a given set of material properties. Dualleg, unileg and transverse multilayer generators are compared to conventional π-type generators., the designs are evaluated regarding the expected maximum output power and power density using analytical calculations and FEM simulations. Additionally, the complexity of the production process and material requirements are assessed and design optimizations to simplify production are discussed.
Besides the theoretical aspects, unileg multilayer generator prototypes were produced by tape-casting and pressure-assisted sintering. These prototypes are compared to other multilayer generators from literature regarding the power factors of the used material system and the power density. Improvements of the power output by design optimizations are discussed
The interest to additively manufacture Nickel-based superalloys has substantially grown within the past decade both academically and industrially. More specifically, additive manufacturing processes such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) offer the ability to produce dense parts within a single manufacturing step. In fact, the exceptional freedom in design associated with the layer-based nature of the processes is of particular interest for the complex shapes typically required in turbine applications. In certain cases, the overall part performance can be achieved by tailoring the microstructure and the crystallographic texture to the specific application. However, these advantages must be paid at a price: the large local temperature gradients associated with the rapid melting and solidification produce parts that inherently contain large residual stress in the as-manufactured state. In addition, the presence of pores in the final part may further affect the in-service part failure. As among Nickel-based alloys Inconel 718 exhibits excellent weldability, this alloy has been widely studied in open research in the domain of LPBF. However, significant microsegregation of the heavier alloying elements such as Niobium and Molybdenum accompanied by dislocation entanglements may preclude the application of conventional heat treatment schedules. Therefore, different post processing heat treatments are required for laser powder bed fused Inconel 718 as compared to conventional variants of the same alloy.
In this study, we investigated two different heat treatment routes for LPBF Inconel 718. In a first routine, the samples were stress relieved and subsequently subjected to hot isostatic pressing (HIP) followed by a solution heat treatment and a two-step age (referred to as FHT). In a second routine, the samples were subjected to a single-step direct age post stress relieving heat treatment (referred to DA). We investigated the consequences of such heat treatment schedules on the microstructure, texture, and mechanical behavior. We show that by applying a DA heat treatment the typical columnar microstructure possessing a crystallographic texture is retained, while an equiaxed untextured microstructure prevails in case of an FHT heat treatment. We further evaluate how these heat treatments affect the mechanical behaviour on the macroscopic and microscopic scale.
The European Metrology Network (EMN) for Advanced Manufacturing has been established in June 2021. Currently nine EMNs focussing on different important topics of strategic importance for Europe exist and form an integral part of EURAMET, the European Association of National Metrology Institutes (NMI). EMNs are tasked to ▪ develop a high-level coordination of the metrology community in Europe in a close dialogue with the respective stakeholders (SH)
▪ develop a strategic research agenda (SRA) within their thematic areas
▪ provide contributions to the European Partnership on Metrology research programme Based on the analysis of existing metrology infrastructures and capabilities of NMIs, the metrology research needs for advanced manufacturing are identified in close cooperation with academic, governmental and industrial stakeholders.
Here, we report on the progress of the EMN for Advanced Manufacturing.
In Hinblick auf den austenitischen Stahl AISI 316L erzeugt das pulverbettbasierte selektive Laserstrahlschmelzen, als ein additives Fertigungsverfahren, kristallographisch texturierte und Multiskalige Mikrostruktur. Einerseits können diese Mikrostrukturen zu einer Verbesserung der statischen mechanischen Eigenschaften führen (z. B. zu einer höheren Streckgrenze). Andererseits stehen diesen Verbesserungen der mechanischen Eigenschaften hohe Eigenspannungen gegenüber, die sich nachteilig auf das Ermüdungsverhalten auswirken können. Zur Reduzierung der Eigenspannungen und der daraus resultierenden negativen Auswirkungen auf die Ermüdungseigenschaften, werden Bauteile nach der Herstellung typischerweise wärmebehandelt. In dieser Studie wurde eine niedrige Wärmebehandlungstemperatur von 450°C höher temperierten Behandlungen bei 800 °C und 900 °C gegenübergestellt. Diese Wärmebehandlungstemperaturen bilden die oberen und die untere Grenze ein Spannungsarmglühendes Materials, ohne die prozessinduzierte Mikrostruktur signifikant zu verändern. Zusätzlich bieten diese Temperaturen den Vorteil, dass sie eine übermäßige intergranulare Ausscheidung von Karbiden und TCP-Phasen vermeiden, die zu einer Sensibilisierung des Werkstoffes gegen korrosive Umgebungen führen würden. Die Auswirkungen der Wärmebehandlung auf das Gefüge wurden mittels Rasterelektronenmikroskopie (BSE und EBSD) untersucht. Die Relaxation der Eigenspannungen wurde vor und nach den jeweiligen Wärmebehandlungen bei 800°C und 900°C mittels Neutronenbeugung charakterisiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Proben nach der Wärmebehandlung bei 900 °C nahezu spannungsfrei sind, was mit der Auflösung der zellularen Substruktur korreliert.
The complexity of any microstructural characterization significantly increases when there is a need to evaluate the microstructural evolution as a function of temperature. To date, this characterization is primarily performed by undertaking elaborative ex-situ experiments where the material’s heating procedure is interrupted at different temperatures or times. Moreover, these studies are often limited to a region smaller than the representative elementary volume, which can lead to partial or even biased interpretations of the collected data. This limitation can be greatly overcome by using in-situ synchrotron X-ray refraction (SXRR). In this study, SXRR has been combined with in-situ heat treatment to monitor the porosity evolution as a function of temperature. This technique is a robust and straightforward method for time-resolved (3-5 min required per scan) evaluation of thermally induced microstructural changes over macroscopically relevant volumes.
The complexity of any microstructural characterization significantly increases when there is a need to evaluate the microstructural evolution as a function of temperature. To date, this characterization is primarily performed by undertaking elaborative ex-situ experiments where the material’s heating procedure is interrupted at different temperatures or times. Moreover, these studies are often limited to a region smaller than the representative elementary volume, which can lead to partial or even biased interpretations of the collected data. This limitation can be greatly overcome by using in-situ synchrotron X-ray refraction (SXRR). In this study, SXRR has been combined with in-situ heat treatment to monitor the porosity evolution as a function of temperature. It is shown that SXRR is a robust and straightforward method for time-resolved (3-5 min required per scan) evaluation of thermally induced microstructural changes over macroscopically relevant volumes.
Currently, calcium manganate CaMnO3 and calcium cobaltite Ca3Co4O9 are being investigated as n-type resp. p-type semiconducting materials as oxidation- and temperature-resistant thermoelectric materials for oxide multilayer thermoelectric generators (TEGs). In order to manufacture multilayer TEGs, pressure-assisted sintering processes at high temperatures are necessary to achieve optimal thermoelectric material properties. To realize TEGs in planar film technology, another method to obtain dense ceramic layers directly from the synthesized starting powders without a subsequent high temperature step is emerging recently: the powder aerosol deposition (PAD) method. In the present work, it is investigated whether PAD is suitable to produce dense ceramic films from Sm-doped CaMnO3 and Ca3Co4O9 powders. The resulting thermoelectric properties are characterized as a function of temperature.
CaMnO3 powder could successfully be processed by PAD with resulting layer thicknesses of 5- 6 µm without any high-temperature sintering steps of the films. The electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient of the films were determined in-plane from room temperature to 600 °C in air. The results show a Seebeck coefficient of around -200 µV/K, which is comparable to results of pressed and sintered bars. At 400 °C, the electrical conductivity corresponds to the conductivity of the bar. At higher temperatures the conductivity is better than with the reference. Below 400°C, the electrical conductivity is somewhat lower than that of the reference sample, a mild thermal treatment of the PAD layer improves it. It is expected that the thermal conductivity of the PAD film will be lower compared to the bars due to the nano-crystalline film morphology. This should result in a significantly increased ZT value for the PAD layers and a higher efficiency of the TEG.
The work shows that both CaMnO3 and Ca3Co4O9 can be successfully processed by PAD, and the PAD films show comparable thermoelectric properties.
Determination of the corrosion product layer resistance on zinc samples by using gel electrolytes
(2022)
Crash barriers, railings, lamp posts, waste glass containers - these are just a few of the many examples of galvanized surfaces. They withstand wind and weather for decades, which is possible thanks to a protective layer made of corrosion products. When designing the atmospheric durability of galvanized components, a linear corrosion loss is assumed. In the past 30 years, however, the surrounding atmosphere has changed a lot. Due to the restriction of sulfur exhaust air, acid rain completely disappeared in Europe and Germany, which has a direct influence on the type and protective effect of the corrosion products. Under the influence of current atmospheric conditions, zinc layers are significantly more resistant and no longer show any linear corrosion loss. The established test methods cannot correctly map this change in neither short-term nor long-term tests and thus provide incorrect results. In order to solve this problem, a new measurement method was developed at BAM that can assess the protective effect of the formed surface layers in a minimally invasive manner without damaging the sample and in short test times. For this new method, gel electrolytes are used and the so-called corrosion product layer resistance RL, which is made up of various surface resistances, is measured electrochemically. As a single measurement, the surface layer resistance can provide information about the existing corrosion protection, while time-dependent measurements assess the stability of the layer. Thus, it is possible again to evaluate the corrosion protection layer. Furthermore, this method can also be used for field measurements on real components.
pH presents one of the most important analytes in the life and material sciences, indicating, e.g., diseases and corrosion processes. This includes the optical monitoring of pH in living cells for studying cellular internalization pathways, such as phagocytosis, endocytosis, and receptor mediated internalization with the aid of molecular and nanoscale fluorescent sensors. Nanoparticle (NP)-based sensors, that are labelled or stained with a multitude of sensor dyes, have several advantages as compared to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, i.e., amplified signals, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte-sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, this can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. Versatile templates and carriers for the fabrication of nanosensors by staining and/or labelling with different fluorophores and sensor molecules are surface-functionalized particles like silica (SiO2) and polystyrene (PS) particles. Here we present a platform of blue-red-green fluorescent pH nanosensors for the measurement of acidic, neutral, and basic pH utilizing both types of matrices and two spectrally distinguishable sensor dyes with an integrated reference dye and demonstrate its applicability for cellular studies.
Water splitting using semiconductor photo-catalysts is considered a sustainable method to produce clean hydrogen fuel. Nevertheless, H2 photo-production efficiency remains still low, although extensive research works to understand better the mechanisms of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) are being carried out. In this respect, TiO2 is a key photoactive material, usually employed with a co-catalyst deposited onto the surface to enhance charge carriers’ separation and catalyze surface charge transfer reactions. The deposition of a co-catalyst on the TiO2 nanoparticle surface represents one successful way to enhance the activity of the photocatalyst through a modification of its surface and redox properties. In this context, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with elemental analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is fundamental for studying and understanding the effect of the nanoparticle morphology on the functional properties of shape-controlled TiO2 crystals (bipyramides, platelets, and elongated particles). Different types of metal-semiconductor combinations, TiO2 shapes and dopant metals (Ag, Pt, Au, Rh, Pd) and metal concentrations are discussed.
Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) provides a non-destructive approach in the dedicated thin film analysis mode with the commercial StrataGem software. Recently, the open-source programme BadgerFilm by Moy and Fournelle became available. Similarly to StrataGem, it is based on the algorithm of Pouchou and Pichoir and needs intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-values). We have evaluated the k-values measured for the FeNi and SiGe film systems using the BadgerFilm software package and compared the thickness and composition with the results obtained with the established StrataGem software and other reference methods. The thicknesses of the SiGe films obtained by the BadgerFilm software agree within 20% with the StrataGem and TEM results; the elemental compositions BadgerFilm-StrataGEM agree within 2% with one exception (9%).
Mapping the Hydrophobic Composition of Lignosulfonates with 2D HIC-SEC aq. Liquid Chromatography
(2022)
2D-LC provides in-depth information on the complex composition of lignosulfonates – information hitherto inaccessible by state-of-the-art lignin analytics. Analysis of 12 industrial lignosulfonates revealed considerable differences in their composition and functional dispersity - properties that are crucial for lignosulfonate usage
Evolution of mesoporous frameworks from precipitated struvite-structured metal phosphate materials
(2022)
Mesoporous transition metal phosphates (TMPs) have attracted major interest due to their high (electro-)catalytic activity suitable for H2 generation, supercapacitors or batteries. Typically, mesoporous materials are synthesized via a template-based route. This way is in the case of TMP because the surfactants used are difficult to remove due to the sensitivity of the mesoporous framework. We present a template-free method including the formation of a precursor phase called M-struvite (NH4MPO4•6H2O, M = Mg2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Ni2+xCo2+1-x) to synthesize mesoporous and amorphous metal phosphates. This method relies on the thermal decomposition of crystalline M-struvite precursors to an amorphous and simultaneous mesoporous phase associated with the degassing of NH3 and H2O. The temporal evolution of mesoporous frameworks and the response of the coordination metal coordination environment was followed with diffraction and spectroscopy based in-situ and ex-situ methods. We highlight the systematic differences in absolute surface area, pore shape, pore size, and phase transitions between the chemical systems. In a complex amorphous structure, thermal decomposed Mg-, Ni- and NixCo1-x-struvites exhibit high surface areas and pore volumes for phosphate materials with a spherical to channel-like pore geometry (240 m²g-1 and 0.32 cm-3 g-1 for Mg and 90 m²g-1 and 0.13 cm-3 g-1 for Ni). In addition to this low-cost, environmentally friendly and simple synthesis, M-struvites could grow as a recycling product from industrial and agricultural wastewaters. These waste products could be upcycled through a simple thermal treatment for further applications.
We created a workflow that fully automates bonding analysis using Crystal Orbital Hamilton Populations, which are bond-weighted densities of states. This enables understanding of crystalline material properties based on chemical bonding information. To facilitate data analysis and machine-learning research, our tools include automatic plots, automated text output, and output in machine-readable format.
Early Material Damage in Equimolar CrMnFeCoNi in Mixed Oxidizing/Sulfiding Hot Gas Atmosphere
(2022)
The use of more and more varied fuels implies an increased list of criteria that need to be addressed when choosing a material for a combustion chamber and its supply pipes. The materials must be very resistant against corrosion, especially when the process takes place at temperatures above 500°C. In this work the influence of SO2 on the surface of the “Cantor alloy” is investigated.
Trash to treasure: recovery of transition metal phosphates for (electro-)catalytical applications
(2022)
Wastewaters containing high concentrations of NH4+, PO43- and transition metals are environmentally harmful and toxic pollutants. At the same time phosphorous and transition metals constitute valuable resources. Here, we report the synthesis routes for Co- and Ni-struvites (NH4MPO4∙6H2O, M = Ni2+, Co2+) out of aqueous solutions resembling synthetic/industrial waste water compositions, and allowing for P, ammonia and metal co-precipitation. Furthermore, the as-obtained struvites were further up-cycled. When heated, these transition metal phosphates (TMPs) demonstrate significant changes in the degree of crystallinity/coordination environment involving a high amount of amorphous phases and importantly develop mesoporosity (Figure 1). In this regard, amorphous and mesoporous TMPs are known to be highly promising (electro-)catalysts.
Amorphous phases do not represent a simple “disordered” crystal but more a complex system with a broad range of compositions and physicochemical properties, which remain mostly unknown. Consequently, we investigated the recrystallization and amorphization process during thermal treatment and a resolved the complex amorphous/crystalline structures (Figure 2). As a proof-of-principle for their applicational use, the as-obtained TMPs demonstrate significant proton conductivity properties similar to apatite-like structures from room to high temperatures (>800°C).
Hence, we have developed a promising recycling route in which environmental harmful contaminants like PO43-, NH4+ and 3d metals would be extracted out of waste waters in the form of precursor raw materials. These raw materials can be then further up-cycled through a simple thermal treatment for their specific application in electrocatalysis.
Additively manufactured (AM) metallic sheet-based Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Structures (TPMSS) meet several requirements in both bio-medical and engineering fields: Tunable mechanical properties, low sensitivity to manufacturing defects, mechanical stability, and high energy absorption. However, they also present some challenges related to quality control. In fact, the optimization of both the AM process and the properties of TPMSS is impossible without considering structural characteristics as manufacturing accuracy, internal defects, and as well as surface topography and roughness. In this study, the quantitative non-destructive analysis of TPMSS manufactured from Ti-6Al-4V alloy by electron beam melting was performed by means of laboratory X-ray computed tomography (XCT).
Most of the Al alloys used in additive manufacturing (AM), in particular Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), do not exceed a strength of 200 MPa, whereas conventionally high-performance alloys exhibit strengths exceeding 400 MPa. The availability of such Al alloys in AM is limited due to difficulties in printability, requiring synergetic material and AM process development to satisfy harsh processing conditions during LPBF [1]. One approach is the addition of reinforcement to the based powder, allowing tailoring composition and properties of a Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) by AM. Still, the effect of the reinforcement on the resulting mechanical properties must be studied to understand the performance and limits of the newly developed material. The goal of this work was to investigate the failure mechanism of LPBF Al-based MMC material using in-situ Synchrotron X-ray Computed Tomography (SXCT) during mechanical testing.
Inspired by the chemistry of mussel adhesive proteins, polydopamine (PDA) exhibits strong adhesion to nearly any kind of organic or inorganic surface and shows high ability for surface post-modification and secondary reactions. As a result, PDA has been widely used as a base adlayer to enable versatile surface chemistry and functionalization. It has shown great potential in wide range of applications including biomedical field (e.g., drug delivery, adhesives, photothermal therapy, bone and tissue engineering, cell adhesion, biosensing). However, implementation of PDA in microdevices is still hindered by insufficient spatial and temporal control of excited deposition methods.
In this work we present a novel approach to fabricate tunable micropatterned substrates where mussel-inspired chemistry provides base for various surface modification [2]. Current approach applies Multiphoton Lithography (MPL) to initiate local PDA formation, and, therefore, does not require use of microstamp or photomask. As a result, the microstructures of complex designs can be produced with the spatial resolution down to 0.8 μm (Figure 1). The desired design can be easily altered by adjusting the stl model or the fabrication code. Unlike the conventional deposition of PDA based on dopamine auto-oxidation, our method does not require presence of strong oxidants, metal ions or alkaline pH. Herein-demonstrated deposition approach will significantly facilitate applications of polydopamine and other mussel-inspired materials in microdevices and high-resolution active microcomponents (e.g., in MEMS and microfluidics).
Adjustment of MPL parameters revealed that the morphology and thickness of resulted PDA microstructures can be controlled by altering the laser power and its scanning velocity. As a result, it also enables the production of micropatterns with structural gradient. Apart from the glass substrate, we performed PDA patterning at surfaces of different nature such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene terephthalate, silicon wafers, and fluorinated glass coverslips. We tested different composition of dopamine solution for its ability of PDA buildup. Solutions containing Tris buffer, phosphate buffer or DI water only as well as different pH (6.0, 7.0 and 8.5) could be successfully applied for high-precision PDA micropatterning. Moreover, the effect of antioxidants and purging of the solution with oxygen and nitrogen was investigated. In all cases, no decrease of deposition efficiency was observed. The chemical nature of PDA was confirmed by locally recorded vibrational and x-ray photoelectron spectra. To ensure post-modification potential of MPL deposited PDA we demonstrated one-step deposition of micropatterns with trypsin. Obtained bio-functionalised surface can be further applied as a protein sensing active microelement.
Functionalized nanomaterials (NM) with their unique size-dependent properties are of increasing relevance for current and future developments in various fields such as medical and pharmaceutical industry, computing, electronics or food and consumer products. The performance and safety of NM are determined by the sum of their intrinsic physicochemical properties.1 Besides other key parameters, the particle surface chemistry, which is largely controlled by the chemical nature and density of functional groups and ligands, must be considered for a better performance, stability, and processibility of NM, as well as their interaction with the environment. Thus, particle standards with well-designed surfaces and methods for functional group quantification can foster the sustainable development of functional and safe(r) NM.2 Here we provide a brief overview of the ongoing research in division Biophotonics to design tailored amorphous silica reference particles with bioanalytically relevant functional groups and ligands, for the development of standardized and validated surface functional group quantification methods.
Morpho-Chemical Characterisation of Me-TiO2 Nanoparticles for Enhanced Photocatalytical Activity
(2022)
The conversion of solar energy into electricity and solar fuels is of crucial importance for a green and sustainable future. Water splitting using semiconductor photo-catalysts is considered a sustainable method to produce clean hydrogen (H2) fuel. Nevertheless, H2 photo-production efficiency remains still low, although extensive research works to understand better the mechanisms of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) are being carried out. In this respect, TiO2 is a key photoactive material, usually employed with a co-catalyst deposited onto the surface to enhance charge carriers’ separation and catalyze surface charge transfer reactions. The deposition of a co-catalyst on the TiO2 nanoparticle surface represents one successful way to enhance the activity of the photocatalyst through a modification of its surface and redox properties. In this context, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy coupled with elemental analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is fundamental for studying and understanding the effect of the nanoparticle morphology on the functional properties of shape-controlled TiO2 crystals (bipyramides, platelets, and elongated particles). Different types of metal-semiconductor combinations, TiO2 shapes and dopant metals (Ag, Pt, etc) and metal concentrations will be discussed.
In this work, we present the recent in-situ imaging developments at the BAMline (of synchrotron BESSY II, HZB), focused on the in-situ characterization and understanding of microstructural evolution of additively manufactured materials subjected to different environments. Two show cases are presented. In the first, X-ray refraction radiography (SXRR) was combined with in-situ heat treatment to monitor the microstructural evolution as a function of temperature in a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) manufactured AlSi10Mg alloy. We show that SXRR allows detecting the changes in the Si-phase morphology upon heating using statistically relevant volumes. SXRR also allows observing the growth of pores (i.e., thermally induced porosity), usually studied via X-ray computed tomography (XCT), but using much smaller fields-of-view. In the second case study, XCT was combined with in-situ tensile test to investigate the damage mechanism in a LPBF Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite (MMC). In-situ SXCT test disclosed the critical role of the defects in the failure mechanism along with pre-cracks in the reinforcement phase of MMC. We found that cracks were initiated from lack-of-fusion defects and propagated through coalescence with other defects.
Dose enhancement by gold nanoparticles (AuNP) increases the biological effectiveness of radiation damage in biomolecules and tissue. To apply them effectively during cancer therapy their influence on the locally delivered dose has to be determined.[1] Hereby, the AuNP locations strongly influence the energy deposit in the nucleus, mitochondria, membrane and the cytosol of the targeted cells. To estimate these effects, particle scattering simulations are applied. In general, different approaches for modeling the AuNP and their distribution within the cell are possible. In this work, two newly developed continuous and discrete-geometric models for simulations of AuNP in cells are presented. [2] These models are applicable to simulations of internal emitters and external radiation sources. Most of the current studies on AuNP focus on external beam therapy. In contrast, we apply the presented models in Monte-Carlo particle scattering simulations to characterize the energy deposit in cell organelles by radioactive 198AuNP. They emit beta and gamma rays and are therefore considered for applications with solid tumors. Differences in local dose enhancement between randomly distributed and nucleus targeted nanoparticles are compared. Hereby nucleus targeted nanoparticels showed a strong local dose enhancement in the radio sensitive nucleus. These results are the foundation for ongoing experimental work which aims to obtain a mechanistic understanding of cell death induced by radioactive 198Au.
The subsurface residual stress in laser powder bed fused 316L structures was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and layer removal. The influence of varying structure thicknesses was investigated. In this study the importance of combining surface roughness measurements with XRD was shown. Moreover, a clear relation between the structure thickness and the subsurface residual stress profiles was observed.
Molecular crystalline materials are usually brittle and are prone to breaking when mechanically stressed. This fragility greatly limits they application in next the generation of adaptable, functional materials. The recent discovery of mechanical compliancy in molecular crystals has solved this problem.1 Based on the nature of the deformation, molecular crystals can be divided into being plastically (irreversibly) or elastically (reversibly) bendable. The plastic deformation is generally associated with anisotropic molecular arrangements and the existence of low energy slip planes which allow a permanent motion within the lattice. Here we report 4-bromo-6-[(6-chloropyridin-2-ylimino)methyl]phenol (CPMBP) as a promising candidate for future waveguide technologies.2 CPMBP has been found to have two different polymorphs with distinct optical and mechanical properties. The brittle crystals of Form I exhibits very weak emission at 605 nm (λex = 425 nm; photoluminescence quantum yield Φ = 0.4 %). In contrast, Form II has a large plastic regime together with a bright emission at 585 nm (λex = 425 nm; Φ = 8.7 %). Taking advantage of the favorable mechanical flexibility and optical properties, Form II was used as a shapeable optical waveguide. By changing the wavelength of the light source, active or passive waveguiding can be realized. CPMBP could thus be used as a flexible wavelength filter.
Additive manufacturing (AM) processes are opening new design possibilities for large scale electrical devices such as power generators. Conventional manufacturing methods use copper rods which are wrapped, vacuum impregnated, bend and welded. These processes are labor-intensive and time-consuming. The introduction of AM methods for manufacturing the copper conductor and electrical insulation can reduce the size of the generator head, the most complex part of the generator.
In this study, the electrical and dielectrical properties of additively deposited ceramic layers are investigated and compared with the properties of conventionally fabricated bulk ceramics. The ceramic layers are thermally deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying of a commercially available alumina powder. Bulk ceramics are fabricated by dry pressing and sintering of the same powder. Microstructure and porosity were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrical and dielectrical properties such as DC resistance, dielectric strength, dielectric loss, and relative permittivity were determined according to the standards.
The microstructures of sprayed and sintered alumina show significant differences with respect to grain form and porosity. The density of the bulk ceramic is lower than the density of the sprayed layer due to the coarse particle size (d50 = 33 μm). Therefore, data from dense samples of the same chemical composition but lower particle size alumina powder were used for comparison.
The insulation system of high voltage electrical devices like generators and electrical motors has to withstand thermal, electrical, ambient and mechanical influences (TEAM) during operation. Especially the dielectric properties have to satisfy the requirements also under elevated temperatures and extreme environments. To provide this high quality, the conventional fabrication process uses partly manually applied insulation tapes combined with a cost-intensive and under safety concerns at least problematic vacuum pressure impregnation step (VPI). In order to reduce process costs by increasing the degree of automation and avoiding the VPI process, additively manufactured (AM) insulations were studied. This study focuses on the fabrication of ceramic/polymer compounds via AM technique. The AM technology used a rotating screw extrusion print head with air pressure to supply the paste. Plate-like samples with dimensions of 55 mm x 55 mm x1mm thickness were produced. This work focuses on the homogeneously high viscous paste with 12.5 to 50 volume % ratio of filler particles. Three types of mica powders as ceramic filler materials with different particle sizes from micro to mm scale were evaluated. The controlled volume % ratio of particles affects the paste viscosity which enables stacking of paste layers with a viscosity close to clay pastes. The mixed pastes were cured by heating and UV light to increase mechanical properties. A TG/DTA was performed, and electrical properties were investigated. First experiments with respect to the dielectric properties such as volume resistance, permittivity and dielectric strength revealed promising results and the possibility to use AM techniques for the fabrication of high voltage insulations for electrical machines.
The manufacturing of metal parts for the use in safety-relevant applications by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) demands a quality assurance of both part and process. Thermography is a nondestructive testing method that allows the in-situ determination of the thermal history of the produced part which is connected to the mechanical properties and the formation of defects [1]. A wide range of commercial thermographic camera systems working in different spectral ranges is available on the market. The understanding of the applicability of these cameras for qualitative and quantitative in-situ measurements in L-PBF is of vital importance [2]. In this study, the building process of a cylindrical specimen (Inconel 718) is monitored by three camera systems simultaniously. These camera systems are sensitive in various spectral bandwidths providing information in different temperature ranges. The performance of each camera system is explored in the context of the extraction of image features for the detection of defects. It is shown that the high temporal and thermal process dynamics are limiting factors on this matter. The combination of different spectral camera systems promises the potential of an improved defect detection by data fusion.
Environmentally friendly alternatives to cement are created through the synthesis of numerous base materials. The variation of their proportions alone leads to millions of materials candidates. Identifying suitable materials is very laborious; traditional systematic research in the laboratory consumes a lot of time and effort.
Sequential learning (SL) potentially speeds up the materials research process despite limited but highly complex available information. SL does not make direct predictions of material properties but ranks possible experiments according to their utility. The most promising experiments are prioritized over dead-end experiments and experiments whose outcome is already known.
Our work has shown that SL seems to be promising for cement research. So far, research has mainly focused on materials whose synthesis is faster and whose material properties require less time for development or characterization (allowing many successive experiments). Contrarily, in the case of binders, SL is only useful if few experiments lead to the desired goal, as for example, the determination of the compressive strength alone typically requires 28 days.
In research practice, experimental designs and the availability of resources often determine which data can be used - for example, when some laboratory resources are not available or deemed irrelevant to a task. As a result, new research scenarios are constantly emerging, each of which requires to demonstrate SL’s performance.
We are presenting the SLAMD app to facilitate the exploration of SL methods in numerous research scenarios. The app provides flexible and low-threshold access to AI methods via intuitive and interactive user interfaces. We deliberately pursue a software-based research approach (as opposed to code-, or script-based). On the one hand, the results are more comprehensible since we refer to a common (code) basis (’reproducible science’). On the other hand, the methods are easily accessible to all which accelerates the knowledge transfer into laboratory practice.
Nowadays, teeth are not directly extracted when tooth decay occurs. Whenever treatment of the affected tooth is possible, the carious region is replaced with a suitable filling. The filling material differs according to the position and size of the cavity. Since the restoration will remain in the tooth for many years, a well adhering and sealing interface between filling and healthy tooth tissue is needed. There is continuous development of new materials, but intensive studies of this complex interface between filling and healthy tooth are still lacking. Little is known about possible diffusion of elements from dental materials into healthy tooth tissue forming a socalled interzone with specific chemical and structural properties.
The combination of different analytical X-ray methods at synchrotron radiation facilities and in the laboratory enables an extensive structural and elemental investigation of such interzones. While X-ray fluorescence techniques and X-ray absorption spectroscopy yield elemental distributions and localized chemical speciation, X-ray diffraction, refraction and computed tomography add structural information to the full 3D analysis of model and real life tooth
samples. Within two DFG funded projects, we develop adapted methodologies and investigate
micro-chemical changes in interzones which we hypothesize may lead to sclerotic dentine.
Within the DFG project ‘IXdent’, first results have been achieved on 2D µXRF and X-ray refraction radiography measurements as well as combined 3D confocal µXRF and µXCT investigations at the interface between filling and bovine tooth tissue. The benefit of multiple analytical techniques and the combination of structural and elemental analysis will be demonstrated.
Fibre-Matrix-Debonding in glass fibre reinforced dental posts can play an important role for their mechanical performance and long term stability… We show that synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography (SXRR) allows analysis of large samples (up to several millimetres) without compromising the detectability of sub micrometer defects.
Ziel des Forschungsprojekts ist es, eine Korrelation zwischen Gleeble-Heißzug-Prüfverfahren und Widerstandspunktschweiß-basierten Prüfverfahren herzustellen. Es soll die Effektivität von Methoden zu Vermeidung von Liquid Metal Embrittlement an realitätsnahen Prinzipbauteilen bewertet werden. Weiterhin soll Kenntnis über Auswirkungen von LME Rissen auf das Tragverhalten von realitätsnahen Prinzipbauteilen gewonnen werden.
High entropy alloys (HEAs) are considered as a new class of alloys containing at least 5 elements with concentrations between 5 and 35 atomic percent. There has been a growing interest in HEAs in the material research field in recent years. Due to their adjustable composition, which enables the modifications of mechanical properties (such as hardness, strength and ductility etc) and their stability at high temperatures, HEAs have been the focus of various studies.
Especially the corrosion behavior of HEAs has been a wide research interest. Since the grazing exit X-ray fluorescence (GEXRF) offers a non-destructive way to collect notable information regarding the high temperature oxidation, we consider it as a useful method to investigate how HEAs behave in corrosive environments.
The main idea of grazing geometry is to enhance the fluorescence signal of the surface. This enables highly sensitive surface analyses of thin protective film on surface in sub-micrometer scale. Position-sensitive area detectors provide information regarding the signal emitted from the sample as a function of emission angle and thus allow depth-sensitive analysis. Furthermore, the data collected from samples of an incidence energy which lays within a specific energy range provides XANES data to determine oxidation states. Moreover, since GEXRF profiles can also be simulated through physical models (Urbach 1999), they enable us to determine the layer thickness of a given sample in a non-destructive way.
In this contribution, we present the preliminary results of a conceptual study regarding layer properties of CrCoNi medium entropy alloy. The successful implementation of such methodological concept will pave the way for the investigation of more complex alloys with multiple layers, which is planned for the later phases of the project.
Based on the nature of the deformation, molecular crystals can be defined as being plastically (irreversible) or elastically (reversible)bendable. The mechanical response of crystals is thereby directly related to they structure.The structural elements required for a specific mechanical behavior are known, so that compounds with these properties can be synthesized by applying the rules of crystal engineering.
Crystalline molecular materials are usually brittle and are prone to break upon external mechanical force. This fragility poses challenges for their application in next-generation technologies, including sensors, synthetic tissues, and advanced opto-electronics. The recent discovery of mechanical flexibility in single crystals of molecular materials has solved this problem and enable the design of smart flexible device technologies. Mechanical flexibility of organic crystals can be tuned by altering the weak interactions in the crystal structure, for examples through polymorphism. Here we report 4-bromo-6-[(6-chlorolpyridin-2-ylimino)methyl]phenol (BCMPMP) as a promising candidate for future waveguide technologies. It turns out that BCMPMP has two different polymorphs with distinct optical and mechanical properties. Form I shows brittle behavior under mechanical stress and exhibits very weak emission at 605 nm (λex = 425 nm) together with a low fluorescence quantum yield (Φ = 0.4 %).In contrast, Form II has a large plastic (irreversible bending) regime and a bright emission at 585 nm (λex = 425 nm; Φ = 8.7 %). Making use of favorable mechanical fexiblity and optical properties, form II was explored as a bendable optical waveguide. Light was successfully propagated through a straight-shaped and mechanically deformed BCMPMP crystal. Depending on the light source, active or passive waveguiding could be achieved. So BCMPMP can also be used as a flexible wavelength filter.
Crystalline molecular materials are usually brittle and are prone to break into pieces upon external mechanical force. This fragility poses challenges for their application in next-generation technologies, including sensors, synthetic tissues, and advanced opto-electronics. The recent discovery of mechanical flexibility in single crystals of molecular materials has solved this issue and enable the design of smart flexible device technologies. Plastic crystals can be deformed permanently. This behavior is based on anisotropic molecular arrangements and the existence of facile slip planes which allow a permanent motion within the lattice. In contrast, elastic crystals can be deformed, but regain the original structure when the force is removed. This phenomenon is related to energetically isotropic molecular packing. Here we report 4-bromo-6-[(6-chlorolpyridin-2-ylimino)methyl]phenol (BCMPMP) as a promising candidate for future waveguide technologies. It turns out that BCMPMP has two different polymorphs with distinct optical and mechanical properties. Form I crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pca21 and shows brittle behavior. This structure exhibit very weak emission at 605 nm (λex = 425 nm) together with a low fluorescence quantum yield (Φ = 0.4 %). On the other hand, form II (monoclinic space group P21/c) has a large plastic regime and a bright emission at 585 nm (λex = 425 nm; Φ = 8.7 %). Based on its improved mechanical and optical properties, form II was explored as a bendable optical waveguide. Light was successfully propagated through a straight-shaped and mechanically deformed BCMPMP crystal. Depending on the light source, active or passive waveguiding could be achieved. So BCMPMP can also be used as a flexible wavelength filter.
Laser implantation aims at reducing friction and wear on highly stressed surfaces in forming processes. Especially the hot stamping process that is used as a resource efficient process for manufacturing geometrical complex and high-strength structures, exhibits severe wear and high friction during the forming operation. The laser implantation process addresses this problem by combining two different approaches (surface modification and surface structuring) in surface technology by creating elevated, highly wear-resistant micro-features to influence the tribological performance. Pure TiB2 implants have shown to reduce tool-sided wear significally and improve the part formability by reducing local necking in deep drawing tests. Within the scope of this work, TiB2-TiC and TiB2-TaC hard material mixtures are implanted on X38CrMoV5-3 hot work tool steel. The aim is to investigate how the implant material properties can be influenced by the application of different mixing ratios of hard material mixtures under the specific variation of the process parameters. Distinct implant formations are tested on a novel test apparatus to examine the influence on the tribological properties.
From the analyses of the implant properties by hardness measurements, light microscopic images, EDX and XRD analyses process parameter ranges are identified to produce defect-free dome- and ring-shaped implants. The specific process parameters (pulse power, pulse duration, mixing ratio and coating thickness) can be used for the determination of the implant geometry (height, width and depth). The tribological tests exhibit improved friction and wear properties. Based on these results, a tribosystem manufactured by this additive surface treatment technology shows great potential to enhance the effectiveness of the hot stamping process.
Al-Si alloys produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) techniques allow the fabrication of lightweight free-shape components. Due to the high cooling rates occurring during the building process, L-PBF AlSi10Mg alloys exhibit an ultra-fine microstructure that leads to superior mechanical properties in the as-built condition compared to conventional cast Al-Si materials. Nevertheless, L-PBF processing induces high thermal gradients, leading to deleterious residual stress. In order to relax detrimental residual stress and to increase the ductility, post-processing stress relief treatments are performed. The objective of the contribution is to investigate, under different heat treatment condition, the evolution of microstructure and residual stresses in view of optimizing the fatigue performance of the alloy. To this purpose various heat treatments in a range of temperatures between 265°C and 300°C for a duration between 15 minutes and 2 hours are performed.
Additively Manufactured (AM) parts are still far from being used in safety-relevant applications, mainly due to a lack of understanding of the feedstock-process-propertiesperformance relationship. This work aims at providing a characterization of the fatigue behavior of the additively manufactured AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel and a direct comparison with the fatigue performance of the wrought steel. A set of specimens has been produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) and a second set of specimens has been machined out of hot-rolled plates. The L-PBF material shows a higher fatigue limit and better finite life performance compared to the wrought material, accompanied by an extensive amount of cyclic softening.
Considering the huge amount of plastics, that is produced and thrown away all over the world every day, an increasing part of the society became aware of microplastic and its possible impact on the environment. Polymer particles smaller than 1 µm are called nanoplastic. Due to their small size they form a special group within particulate waste. Their high specific surface makes it easier for them to penetrate tissue and pose potential harm. On the other hand, the size and the chemical structure make it difficult to detect and analyze nanoplastics in nature. Furthermore, the concentrations in environmental samples are very low. Therefore, there is a need for a well-characterized nanoplastic material, that serves as a reference for nanoplastic found in nature.
Considering the huge amount of plastics, that is produced and thrown away all over the world every day, an increasing part of the society became aware of microplastic and its possible impact on the environment. Polymer particles smaller than 1 µm are called nanoplastic. Due to their small size they form a special group within particulate waste. Their high specific surface makes it easier for them to penetrate tissue and pose potential harm. On the other hand, the size and the chemical structure make it difficult to detect and analyze nanoplastics in nature. Furthermore, the concentrations in environmental samples are very low. Therefore, there is a need for a well-characterized nanoplastic material, that serves as a reference for nanoplastic found in nature.
This work aims to investigate the role of F-F and F-π interactions in dictating structural and mechanical properties, through a combination of X-ray powder diffraction and dispersion-corrected density functional. As no benchmarking data exist for F-dominating organic system, we first assess how different functionals affect the mechanical properties of the material.
Oberflächenmodifizierte Grundwerkstoffe, insbesondere solche mit funktionellen Schichten, sind in unterschiedlichsten Branchen und Anwendungen anzutreffen. Es werden Quer- und Kalottenschliffe von Einfach- und Mehrschichtsystemen mit Beispielen aus dem Bereich des Korrosions- und Verschleißschutzes sowie dekorativer Anwendungen auf unterschiedlichsten Grundwerkstoffen (X5CrNi1810 Stahl, 100Cr6 Stahl, Hartmetall, ABS und Pappe) vorgestellt. Ebenso vielfältig wie die Grundwerkstoffe sind die Oberflächenmodifizierungen mit Funktionsschichten auf Basis von Nitrierungen, Hartstoffen, diamantähnlichem Kohlenstoff, Metallisierungen und Lackschichten mit Interferenzpigmenten. Neben der Identifikation von Schichtdefekten gilt das Hauptaugenmerk der materialographischen Analyse der Erfüllung der Schichtdickenspezifikation und der Bewertung der Homogenität der Schichtdicke auch bei kritischen Geometrien. Zur Validierung der Schichtdicken- bzw. Längenbestimmung im Querschliff wurde ein Laborvergleichsversuch mit einem Nickel-beschichteten Kupferdraht durchgeführt, den alle der 10 Teilnehmer bestanden.
Eine Grundanforderung an Bauteile ist deren mechanische Integrität, die als Festigkeit (globale Bauteilbeanspruchung) bzw. Tragfestigkeit (lokale Beanspruchung) zu verstehen ist. Die Bauteilfestigkeit wird wesentlich durch das Materialgefüge bestimmt und kann über die Prüfung der Härte des Grundwerkstoffes lokal erfasst werden. Bei Bauteilverbindungen (z.B. Schweißnähte) ist zudem der Übergangsbereich zwischen den Fügeteilen von besonderem Interesse, bei Passungen oder Gleitlagern sind zudem geringe Rauheiten erforderlich, die oft durch mechanische Oberflächen-bearbeitung realisiert werden. Leichtbauweisen können sowohl über hochfeste Stahllegierungen bei geringem Materialeinsatz als auch über Aluminiumlegierungen realisiert werden. Für unterschied-liche Grundwerkstoffe (X2CrNiMo18-14-3, Co-Cr-W-Ni, AlSi10Mg, X5CrNi1810, ferritische Schweiß-nähte) werden an Quer- und Oberflächenschliffen Änderungen im Gefüge, morphologische Besonderheiten, Härteverläufe sowie Änderungen in den Rauheitskennwerten betrachtet, wie sie im Ergebnis mechanischer Oberflächenbearbeitung, bedingt durch den Herstellungsprozess, die Beanspruchung oder den Fügeprozess auftreten. Zur Validierung der Härtebestimmung wurde ein Laborvergleichsversuch an einer MPA-zertifizierten Härtevergleichsplatte und einer 100Cr6 Referenzprobe durchgeführt, den drei bzw. fünf der insgesamt fünf Teilnehmer bestanden.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a common process in a variety of electrochemical devices, like fuel cells
and metal air batteries. The sluggish kinetics of the ORR require an electrocatalyst to pass this bottleneck.[1]
Currently, the most used catalytical systems are platinum-based, with several drawbacks, such as the high cost,
low availability, and deactivation by CO poisoning.[2] Efforts are made to develop efficient, durable and low cost
catalysts to promote the commercialization of fuel cells.
Non-precious metal catalysts are promising candidates for efficient ORR catalysis. It has been shown that
pyrolyzing metal organic frameworks (MOFs) under inert conditions yields carbon-rich materials, with evenly
distributed metal sites, which possess promising electrocatalytic activity.[3] One widely used type of MOF as ORR
catalyst precursors is the zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF) where metal cations are linked through imidazolebased ligands.
Herein we report the mechanochemical synthesis, structural analysis and of Co-doped ZIF-8 (Zn), as well as its
fluorinated counterpart Co-doped CF3
-ZIF-8 (Zn). The samples showed electrochemical performance comparable
to platinum after carbonization for 1h at temperatures ranging between 850 – 1000°C.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a common process in a variety of electrochemical devices, like fuel cells and metal air batteries. The sluggish kinetics of the ORR require an electrocatalyst to pass this bottleneck.[1] Currently, the most used catalytical systems are platinum-based, with several drawbacks, such as the high cost, low availability, and deactivation by CO poisoning.[2] Efforts are made to develop efficient, durable and low cost catalysts to promote the commercialization of fuel cells.
Non-precious metal catalysts are promising candidates for efficient ORR catalysis. It has been shown that pyrolyzing metal organic frameworks (MOFs) under inert conditions yields carbon-rich materials, with evenly distributed metal sites, which possess promising electrocatalytic activity.[3] One widely used type of MOF as ORR catalyst precursors is the zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF) where metal cations are linked through imidazole-based ligands. Their porous nature is partially retained after carbonization, making MOFs very suitable precursor materials.
Herein we report the mechanochemical synthesis and structural analysis of Co-doped ZIF-8 (Zn), as well as two polymorphs (dense and prorous) of fluorinated Co-doped CF3-ZIF-8 (Zn). The samples showed electrochemical performance comparable to platinum after carbonization for 1 h at temperatures ranging between 850 – 1000°C.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) – an important reaction in electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells - is characterized by its sluggish kinetics and therefore requires catalysis. The industry currently relies on platinum as a catalyst, although it is scarce and expensive, hindering the commercial breakthrough of fuel cells in automotive applications. Platinum-free catalysts on basis of nitrogen- and metal doped carbons (NMCs) and fluorinated carbons are promising materials to replace platinum-based catalysts for the ORR. In this work we prepared six metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by mechanical ball mill grinding and studied their formation by in-situ powder X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the samples were carbonized under controlled conditions (900°C, 1h, N2-atmosphere) to yield carbon materials, that were employed in ORR-electrocatalysis. The effect of Co-doping and fluorination was systematically studied and outstanding ORR activity was found for the catalyst prepared from the Co-doped fluorinated ZIF-8.
In Germany, the reuse of asphalt has a long tradition. Since the 1980s, the reclaimed
asphalt has been recycled achieving a reuse rate of around 90% and thus a very high
value in the last years. In the future, instead of the amount, the quality of the
reclaimed asphalt will be more important because the recycled asphalt will be reused
again and again. Thus, these asphalt mixes are in the second or even third cycle of
reuse. Concerning this situation, the question arises if asphalt can be reused several
times without any loss in quality. An important factor affecting the asphalt quality is the
binder bitumen. During the production, construction and service life, the ageing of this
binder occurs causing a hardening of the bitumen. To compensate this hardening,
additives for the reclaimed asphalt in terms of rejuvenation agents (rejuvenators) gain
in importance. With these rejuvenators, the physical properties of bitumen can be
modified e.g. the hardness and the stiffness reduced. However, the mechanism of the
rejuvenation agents and the effects of the bitumen chemistry are largely unknown
because the composition of the products varies very strongly. But with growing
knowledge about these mechanisms and effects of the rejuvenation agents, the
chemical composition and thus the physical and ageing behavior of bitumen can be
targeted modified by the use of suitable rejuvenators. In this work, the actual results of
the project Postcarbone road should be presented including investigations about the
chemical and physical mechanisms as well as the efficiency of different rejuvenators.
Further, a model for the cyclic reuse of bitumen should be developed. Based on this
model, the choice of a suitable rejuvenation agent for the considered bitumen or rather
asphalt should be possible. The project Postcarbone road (392670763) is funded by the
German Research Foundation (DFG).
The scientific and technological interest in graphene has been growing more and more in the late years due to its outstanding properties and diverse promising applications. However, graphene implementation into the industrial market is still limited and many challenges are yet to be addressed before this material can become suitable for the large-scale production. One of the most crucial challenge to overcome is to develop reliable and reproducible ways to characterize the material properties which can heavily affect the product performance. In our study the chemical composition of nine different samples of industrial graphene, graphene oxide and functionalized graphene were investigated. The samples were analysed both in form of powder and pellets. A comparative characterisation of the chemical composition was performed through X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). XPS depth resolution is in the order of 10 nm, while for EDX the analysis was performed at two different energy levels, i.e. 5 keV and 15 keV, and thus varying the analysis depth from 200 nm to 2000 nm. The XPS measurement area is 300x700 µm² while the EDX measurement was performed by analysing a grid of 25 locations (5x5) of 150 x 150 ?m2 area, covering the whole pellet surface of 5 mm diameter and then calculating the mean of the elemental concentration. The results of the elemental concentration values from XPS and EDX analyses show a good agreement for all the elements presents in the samples, despite the different spatial resolutions of the two techniques. Therefore, the samples appear homogeneous both in the lateral and vertical directions. The results relative to powder and pellets samples do not differ in a significant way except for a slight increase in the carbon content regarding the pellet samples, probably due to a minor contamination effect introduced through pressing. Nevertheless, pellets samples appear to be quite representative for the material while being much more convenient in terms of handling and safety compared to nano-powders and providing a regular flat surface for EDX analysis. Finally, this approach correlating XPS and EDS represents a simple, fast and reliable way for characterizing the chemical composition and the homogeneity of industrial graphene. This study is part of the project Standardisation of structural and chemical properties of graphene (ISO-G-SCoPe) which has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant agreement No. 19NRM04.
The scientific and technological interest in graphene has been growing more and more in the late years due to its outstanding properties and diverse promising applications. However, graphene implementation into the industrial market is still limited and many challenges are yet to be addressed before this material can become suitable for the large-scale production. One of the most crucial challenge to overcome is to develop reliable and reproducible ways to characterize the material properties which can heavily affect the product performance. In our study the chemical composition of nine different samples of industrial graphene, graphene oxide and functionalized graphene were investigated. The samples were analysed both in form of powder and pellets. A comparative characterisation of the chemical composition was performed through X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). XPS depth resolution is in the order of 10 nm, while for EDX the analysis was performed at two different energy levels, i.e. 5 keV and 15 keV, and thus varying the analysis depth from 200 nm to 2000 nm. The XPS measurement area is 300x700 µm² while the EDX measurement was performed by analysing a grid of 25 locations (5x5) of 150 x 150 ?m2 area, covering the whole pellet surface of 5 mm diameter and then calculating the mean of the elemental concentration. The results of the elemental concentration values from XPS and EDX analyses show a good agreement for all the elements presents in the samples, despite the different spatial resolutions of the two techniques. Therefore, the samples appear homogeneous both in the lateral and vertical directions. The results relative to powder and pellets samples do not differ in a significant way except for a slight increase in the carbon content regarding the pellet samples, probably due to a minor contamination effect introduced through pressing. Nevertheless, pellets samples appear to be quite representative for the material while being much more convenient in terms of handling and safety compared to nano-powders and providing a regular flat surface for EDX analysis. Finally, this approach correlating XPS and EDS represents a simple, fast and reliable way for characterizing the chemical composition and the homogeneity of industrial graphene. This study is part of the project ?Standardisation of structural and chemical properties of graphene? (ISO-G-SCoPe) which has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant agreement No. 19NRM04.
Molecular orientation has a significant effect on the material properties of polymers. Preferential orientation of the microstructure (polymer chains or crystallites) in a specific direction or plane often enhances the material properties, especially if the high-strength covalent bonds are primarily exposed to loads instead of the weaker van der Waals bonds. However, the orientation-dependent microstructure and its mechanical behavior is in general already well understood by many scientific studies [1-3]. Isotropic materials are frequently required for an intrinsic material characterization without prevailing processing-induced properties, as is the case for Full Notch Creep Test (FNCT) [4] addressing environmental stress cracking (ESC) in high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) [5, 6]. Since ESC is one of the major limiting issues for long-term performance of PE-HD pipes and containers [7], which in contrast have a production-related preferential orientated microstructure due to extrusion or extrusion blow molding, it is important to additionally investigate the ESC resistance of such anisotropic microstructure.
Investigations of the slow crack growth (SCG) with respect to the molecular orientation generally obtain a factor of 1.2 up to 4.7 between crack growth perpendicular to the extrusion direction and crack growth parallel to the extrusion direction 8. Based on FNCT investigations with an aqueous detergent solution as environmental medium, hot pressed sheets with isotropic morphology are compared with extruded sheets from which specimens with different orientation angles are taken. However, the time to failure obtained by FNCT is also significantly influenced by the different cooling conditions under which the final morphology is formed. The tendency of the specimen to fail due to ESC is investigated as a function of environmental medium temperature. For a more detailed analysis of the affecting parameters in the manufacturing process, the ESC resistance is discussed considering the differences in crystallinity as revealed by thermal analysis.
ICP-ToF (time of flight) MS enables the analysis of the multi-element fingerprint of single cells. The single cell ICP-ToF-MS is used in the presented poster for the analysis of archaea involved in microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of steel. By means of sc-ICP-ToF-MS, the possible uptake of individual elements from the respective steel is investigated - the information obtained will be used in the future to elucidate underlying mechanisms and develop possible material protection concepts. The work combines modern methods of analytical sciences with materials.
Control of ball milling conversions is required before the full potential of mechanochemical processing can be realized. It is well known that many parameters affect the outcome of mechanochemical polymorphism, but the energy of ball milling itself is often overlooked. We show here how this parameter alone can exert a significant influence on the polymorphic outcome of ball mill grinding by allowing the selective isolation of two polymorphic forms in their pure form under the same grinding conditions. Furthermore, we show how apparent mechanochemical equilibria can be deceptive. Our results clearly demonstrate the need for careful design and interpretation of ball milling experiments beyond current thinking.
Multifunctional Graphene in Flame Retarded Polybutadiene/ Chloroprene/ Carbon Black Composites
(2021)
Multilayer graphene is investigated as a multifunctional nanofiller to polybutadiene/ chloroprene rubbers (BR/CR) that partially substitutes carbon black (CB) and aluminum trihydroxide (ATH). Loadings of only 3 parts per hundred rubber (phr) MLG replaced 15 phr of CB and/or 3 phr of ATH in BR/CR nanocomposites. Mechanical and fire behavior were investigated, and results point to improved rheological, curing and mechanical properties of MLG-containing rubber composites.
Self-reactive substances are unstable chemical substances which can easily decompose and may lead to explosion. For this reason, their thermal stability properties are required within regulatory frameworks related to chemicals in order to assess their hazardous properties. Due to the fast development and availability of computers, predictive approaches like QSPR models are increasingly used in the evaluation process of hazardous substances complementary to experiments.
In that context, the HAZPRED project (2015-2018) aimed to develop QSPR models to predict physical hazards of substances to fill the lack of knowledge on these hazardous substances quickly.
An experimental campaign, based on 50 samples provided by Industrial producers, was carried out on potential self-reactive substances, for which no QSPR model already existed. Their heats of decomposition were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry in homogeneous experimental conditions.
QSPR models were derived using the GA-MLR method (using a genetic algorithm and multi-linear regressions) using molecular descriptors calculated by Dragon software based on both 3D molecular structures from density functional theory (DFT) optimizations, to access three-dimensional descriptors, and SMILES codes, favoring the access to simpler models, requiring no preliminary quantum chemical calculations. All models respected the OECD validation guidelines for regulatory acceptability of QSPR models. They were tested by internal and external validation tests and their applicability domains were defined and analyzed.
If improved models should be expected with larger database (and a better ratio between size and chemical diversity), these first models already represent a screening tool capable to access early reactive hazards.
High- and medium-entropy alloys (HEAs and MEAs) constitute a new class of materials. Those with a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure from the Cr-Mn-Fe-Co-Ni system have excellent mechanical properties and are considered for high-temperature applications since diffusion in these alloys was reported to be sluggish. However, their corrosion resistance at high temperatures must still be evaluated to further qualify them for such kinds of applications. Various groups studied the oxidation behavior of HEAs and MEAs under (dry) laboratory and artificial air as well as CO2/CO mixtures in different temperature ranges. Adomako et al. carried out oxidation tests in dry air between 800 °C and 1000 °C for 24 h in equiatomic CrCoNi, CrMnCoNi, and CrMnFeCoNi alloys. The authors showed that CrCoNi exhibits the best corrosion resistance at 800 °C due to the formation of a protective Cr2O3 layer. The matrix below the oxide scale was reported to be correspondingly depleted in Cr. It was further shown that the addition of Mn and Fe to CrCoNi changes the phase composition of the oxide scale at 800 °C. A Mn2O3 layer was grown during oxidation on CrMnCoNi and CrMnFeCoNi and a Cr2O3 scale was formed at the matrix/oxide scale interface. Beneath these oxide layers, Mn- and Cr-depleted zones were detected. These phase morphologies demonstrate the inward diffusion of oxygen and outward diffusion of Cr and Mn resulting in the formation of Cr2O3 and Mn2O3. In the present study, the corrosion resistance of CrMnFeCoNi and CrCoNi were confirmed and additionally characterized under further oxidizing atmospheres at 800 °C including Ar-2 Vol.% O2, Ar-2 Vol.% H20, and Ar-2 Vol.% SO2 mixtures.
Natural Rubber Nanocomposites via Optimized Latex Premixing and Conventional Technical Processing
(2021)
Creation of highly functional materials and replacement of high amounts of conventional fillers are driving forces for the development of nanocomposites. Besides the type and properties of nanoparticles, their dispersing in the elastomeric matrix and the stability of this dispersion through all processing steps are the
main factors for the resulting performance of the produced material. Therefore, a preparation chain via latex premixing to a highly filled masterbatch, followed by conventional technical processing is to be developed.
Three types of carbon-based particles are characterized as such (SEM, Raman Spectroscopy, BET specific surface area) and in combination with natural rubber, as nanocomposites (TEM. Hardness, Abrasion resistance, Compression set, Cone calorimetry).
All of the studied particles lead to an improvement in the investigated mechanical properties, the extent of reinforcement depends strongly on the specific surface of the particle interacting with the elastomeric matrix in combination with their shape.
Inter-pulse accumulation of heat could affect the chemical and morphological properties of the laser processed material surface. Hence, the laser pulse repetition rate may restrict the processing parameters for specific laser-induced surface structures. In this study, the evolution of various types of laser-induced micro- and nanostructures at various laser fluence levels, effective number of pulses and at different pulse repetition rates (1 – 400 kHz) are studied for common metals/alloys (e.g. steel or titanium alloy) irradiated by near-infrared ultrashort laser pulses (925 fs, 1030 nm) in air environment. The processed surfaces were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy (OM, SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) as well as time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The results show that not only the surface morphology could change at different laser pulse repetition rates and comparable laser fluence levels and effective number of pulses, but also the surface chemistry is altered. Consequences for medical applications are outlined.
Bacterial biofilms are multicellular communities adhering to surfaces and embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix. Due to physiological adaptations and the protective biofilm matrix itself, biofilm cells show enhanced resistance towards antimicrobial treatment. In medical and industrial settings, biofilms on e.g. for implants or for surfaces in food-processing industry can be a fertile source of bacterial pathogens and are repeatedly associated with persisting, nosocomial and foodborne infections. As extensive usage of antibiotics and biocides can lead to the emergence of resistances, various strategies are currently developed, tested and improved to realize anti-bacterial surface properties through surface functionalization steps avoiding antibiotics. In this study, contact-less and aseptic large-area ultrashort laser scan processing is employed to generate different surface structures in the nanometer- to micrometer-scale on technical materials, i.e. titanium-alloy, steel, and polymer. The processed surfaces were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy and subjected to bacterial colonization studies with Escherichia coli test strains. For each material, biofilm results of the fs-laser treated surfaces are compared to that obtained on polished (non-irradiated) surfaces as a reference. Depending on the investigated surfaces, different bacterial adhesion patterns were found, suggesting an influence of geometrical size, shape and cell appendages of the bacteria and – above all – the laser-processed nanostructure of the surface itself.
Limits of computer tomography aided characterization of different types of porous ceramic materials
(2021)
Ceramics with open porosity are attractive materials in many fields of applications covering medicine, catalysis, and filtration. Manifold technologies to produce porous ceramics are available, e.g. foaming and replica processes, resulting in various microstructures. Development and manufacturing of new materials is accelerating, while crucial characterization is becoming increasingly difficult and conventional measurements lack the desired speed. Computed tomography (CT) offers the possibility to three-dimensionally characterize entire samples with minimal sample preparation, while its main advantage is that it is non-destructive. Still, the assessment of quantitative results from CT measurements is not trivial.
The poster presents CT characterizations of newly developed as well as commercially available openly porous ceramic samples. Properties such as porosity, permeability or pore characteristics were measured conventionally and compared to results calculated from CT-measurements using the commercial software VG StudioMax.
The determined differences between measured and calculated values are presented and application areas as well as limits of the CT characterization are evaluated.
Um das Material- und Schädigungsverhalten von additiv gefertigtem Polyamid 12 (PA12) unter quasistatischer Belastung zu charakterisieren, wurden mechanische Tests und Röntgenverfahren zur Bestimmung der Mikrostruktur eingesetzt. Die Proben wurden nach dem Prinzip des Selektiven Lasersinterns (SLS) hergestellt. Unter quasistatischer Belastung mit Haltezeiten ergab sich ein visko¬plastisches Materialverhalten. Im Zugversuch wurde eine maximale Zugfestigkeit von 40.6 MPa und eine Bruchdehnung von 7.4% beobachtet. Mittels Röntgenrefraktion wurde eine Erhöhung von inneren Oberflächen beobachtet, die senkrecht zur Zugrichtung orientiert sind. Die Analyse der Gesamtporosität aus Computertomographie-Messungen ergab keine Änderung infolge der Zugbelastung. Jedoch wurde eine bimodale Porengrößenverteilung und eine steigende Sphärizität festgestellt. Das Materialverhalten wurde mit dem Chaboche-Modell simuliert und ergab eine sehr gute Übereinstimmung mit den experimentellen Ergebnissen. Allerdings gestattet dieses Modell nicht, das Schädigungsverhalten abzubilden. Daher wurde zur Simulation des Schädigungsverhaltens das Modell gemäß dem Ansatz von Gurson, Tvergaard und Needleman unter Berücksichtigung der mikrostrukturellen Parameter erweitert. Der Schwerpunkt des Beitrags liegt auf den Röntgenverfahren zur experimentellen Bestimmung der Mikrostruktur.