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85
The present thesis provides a contribution to the solution of the inverse heat conduction problem in welding simulation. The solution strategy is governed by the need that the phenomenological simulation model utilised for the direct solution has to provide calculation results within short computational time. This is a fundamental criterion in order to apply optimisation algorithms for the detection of optimal model parameter sets. The direct simulation model focuses on the application of functional-analytical methods for solving the corresponding partial differential equation of heat conduction. In particular, volume heat sources with a bounding of the domain of action are applied. Besides the known normal and exponential distribution, the models are extended by the introduction of parabolically distributed heat sources. Furthermore, the movement on finite specimens under consideration of curved trajectories has been introduced and solved analytically. The calibration of heat source models against experimental reference data involves the simultaneous adaptation of model parameters. Here, the global parameter space is searched in a randomised manner. However, an optimisation pre-processing is needed to get information about the sensitivity of the weld characteristics like weld pool dimension or objective function due to a change of the model parameters. Because of their low computational cost functional-analytical models are well suited to allow extensive sensitivity studies which is demonstrated in this thesis. For real welding experiments the applicability of the simulation framework to reconstruct the temperature field is shown. In addition, computational experiments are performed that allow to evaluate which experimental reference data is needed to represent the temperature field uniquely. Moreover, the influence of the reference data like fusion line in the cross section or temperature measurements are examined concerning the response behaviour of the objective function and the uniqueness of the optimisation problem. The efficient solution of the inverse problem requires two aspects, namely fast solutions of the direct problem but also a reasonable number of degrees of freedom of the optimization problem. Hence, a method was developed that allows the direct derivation of the energy distribution by means of the fusion line in the cross section, which allows reducing the dimension of the optimisation problem significantly. All conclusions regarding the sensitivity studies and optimisation behaviour are also valid for numerical models for which reason the investigations can be treated as generic.
21
This thesis presents a new strategy and a spatial method for the geometric calibration of 3D measurement devices at the micro-range, based on spatial reference structures with nanometer-sized landmarks (nanomarkers). The new method was successfully applied for the 3D calibration of scanning probe microscopes (SPM) and confocal laser scanning microscopes (CLSM). Moreover, the spatial method was also used for the photogrammetric self-calibration of scanning electron microscopes (SEM). In order to implement the calibration strategy to all scanning microscopes used, the landmark-based principle of reference points often applied at land survey or at close-range applications has been transferred to the nano- and micro-range in the form of nanomarker. In order to function as a support to the nanomarkers, slopeshaped step pyramids have been developed and fabricated by focused ion beam (FIB) induced metal deposition. These FIB produced 3D microstructures have been sized to embrace most of the measurement volume of the scanning microscopes. Additionally, their special design allows the homogenous distribution of the nanomarkers. The nanomarkers were applied onto the support and the plateaus of the slope-step pyramids by FIB etching (milling) as landmarks with as little as several hundreds of nanometers in diameter. The nanomarkers are either of point-, or ring-shaped design. They are optimized so that they can be spatially measured by SPM and CLSM, and, imaged and photogrammetrically analyzed on the basis of SEM data. The centre of the each nanomarker serves as reference point in the measurement data or images. By applying image processing routines, the image (2D) or object (3D) coordinates of each nanomarker has been determined with subpixel accuracy. In contrast to the spatial reference structures applied for the spatial calibration method introduced here, present calibration methods for scanning microscopes use sequential measurements of 2D lattice and height step structures. This means that the determination of the scale factor for the height measurement yields an average value for the full scan area. Thus, the height scale factor remains independent of the lateral scanning position, and, therefore, it will be impossible to determine the coupling of the lateral coordinate axes and the z-axis as a shear factor with the sequential calibration method. On this account, an affine geometrical model has been used here, that allows for scale factors in all space directions, and, for coupling between all coordinate axes. With the help of the correlative analysis of the measurement data of all measurement methods applied (SPM, CLSM and photogrammetric SEM), for the first time, all scale factors, as well as the linear coupling of the probes used for the height measurement could be determined dependent on the lateral scanning position. It could be shown that the scanning movement of the SPM and the CLSM is erroneous. Due to hysteresis effects and guidance errors of the scanning generators, due to errors and peculiarities of the control cycle, and because of misaligned attachment of the probe with respect to the scanning plane, the measurement coordinate system is not identical to the ideal reference coordinate system. Scale and orthogonality of the measurement coordinate system have to be calibrated and corrected, in order to maintain the traceability to the SI-unit meter, and, therefore, to allow for quantitative dimensional 3D measurements. However, the correlative analysis of the SPM, CLSM and photogrammetric SEM measurement data after 3D calibration resulted in mean residues in the measured coordinates of as little as 13 nm. Without the coupling factors the mean residues are up to 6 times higher. By taking into account the orthogonality of the measurement coordinate axes when performing a 3D calibration, a comparative and quantitative analysis of 3D scanning microscopy has been made possible.
144
This thesis addresses numerical simulations of self-compacting concrete (SCC) castings and suggests a novel modelling approach that treats reinforcement zones in a formwork as porous media.
As a relatively new field in concrete technology, numerical simulations of fresh concrete flow can be a promising aid to optimise casting processes and to avoid on-site casting incidents by predicting the flow behaviour of concrete during the casting process. The simulations of fresh concrete flow generally involve complex mathematical modelling and time-consuming computations. In case of a casting prediction, the simulation time is additionally significantly increased because each reinforcement bar occurring in succession has to be considered one by one. This is particularly problematic when simulating SCC casting, since this type of concrete is typically used for heavily reinforced structural members. However, the wide use of numerical tools for casting prediction in practice is possible only if the tools are user-friendly and simulations are time-saving.
In order to shorten simulation time and to come closer to a practical tool for casting prediction, instead to model steel bars one by one, this thesis suggests to model zones with arrays of steel bars as porous media. Consequently, one models the flow of SCC through a reinforcement zone as a free-surface flow of a non-Newtonian fluid, propagating through the medium. By defining characteristic parameters of the porous medium, the influence on the flow and the changed (apparent) behaviour of concrete in the porous matrix can be predicted. This enables modelling of any reinforcement network as a porous zone and thus significantly simplifies and fastens simulations of reinforced components’ castings.
Within the thesis, a computational model for SCC flow through reinforced sections was developed. This model couples a fluid dynamics model for fresh concrete and the macroscopic approach for the influence of the porous medium (formed by the rebars) on the flow. The model is implemented into a Computational Fluid Dynamics software and validated on numerical and experimental studies, among which is a large-scale laboratory casting of a highly reinforced beam. The apparent rheology of concrete within the arrays of steel bars is studied and a methodology to determine unknown input parameters for the porous medium is suggested. Normative tables defining characteristic porous medium parameters as a function of the topology of the rebar zone for different reinforcement cases are generated. Finally, the major contribution of this work is the resulting numerical package, consisting of the numerical solver and the parameter library. The thesis concludes on the ability of the porous medium analogy technique to reliably predict the concrete casting behaviour, while being significantly easier to use and far less time consuming than existing tools.
40
The objective of the present thesis is to make advancements in understanding solidification crack formation in aluminum welds, by investigating in particular the aluminium 6060/4043 system. Alloy 6060 is typical of a family of Al-Mg-Si extrusion alloys, which are considered weldable only when using an appropriate filler alloy such as 4043 (Al-5Si). The effect of 4043 filler dilution (i.e. weld metal silicon content) on cracking sensitivity and solidification path of Alloy 6060 welds are investigated. Afterwards, cracking models are developed to propose mechanisms for solidification crack initiation and growth. Cracking Sensitivity. Building upon the concept that silicon improves weldability and that weldability can be defined by a critical strain rate, strain rate-composition combinations required for solidification crack formation in the Al- 6060/4043 system were determined using the newly developed Controlled Tensile Weldability (CTW) test utilizing local strain extensometer measurements. Results, presented in a critical strain rate – dilution map, show a crack – no crack boundary which reveals that higher local strain rates require higher 4043 filler dilution to avoid solidification cracking when arc welding Alloy 6060. Using the established crack - no crack boundary as a line of reference, additional parameters were examined and their influence on cracking characterized. These parameter influences have included studies of weld travel speed, weld pool contaminants (Fe, O, and H), and grain refiner additions (TiAl3 + Boron). Each parameter has been independently varied and its effect on cracking susceptibility quantified in terms of strain rate – composition combinations. Solidification Path. Solidification path of the Al-6060/4043 system was characterized using thermal analysis and phase identification. Increasing 4043 filler dilution from 0 to 16% in Alloy 6060 arc welds resulted in little effect on thermal arrests and microstructure, no effect on solidification range, refinement in grain size from 63 to 51 μm, centerline columnar grains disappearance, and decreased cooling rate from 113 to 89 °C/s. Moreover, in order to make direct comparison with literature, castings of controlled mixtures of alloys 6060 and 4043 were also investigated, thereby simulating weld metal composition under controlled cooling conditions. Castings showed a different trend than welds with small increases in silicon content (i.e. increase in 4043 filler dilution) resulting in huge effect on microstructure, no effect on liquidus temperature, drop in solidus temperature from 577°C to 509°C, increase in quantity of interdendritic constituent from 2% to 14%, and different phase formation. Binary β-Al5FeSi, Mg2Si, and Si phases are replaced with ternary β-Al5FeSi, π−Al8FeMg3Si6, and a low melting quaternary eutectic involving Mg2Si, π, and Si. Also, variation of the cooling conditions in castings revealed the existence of a critical cooling rate, above which the solidification path and microstructure undergo a major change. Cracking Model. Implementing the critical conditions for cracking into the Rappaz-Drezet-Gremaud (RDG) model revealed a pressure drop in the interdendritic liquid on the order of 10-1 atm, originating primarily from straining conditions. Since, according to literature, a minimum of 1,760 atm is required to fracture pure aluminum liquid (theoretical), this demonstrates that cavitation as a liquid fracture mechanism is not likely to occur, even when accounting for dissolved hydrogen gas. Instead, a porosity-based crack initiation model has been developed based upon pore stability criteria, assuming that gas pores expand from pre-existing nuclei. Crack initiation is taken to occur when stable pores form within the coherent dendrite region, critical to crack initiation being weld metal hydrogen content. Following initiation, a mass-balance approach developed by Braccini et al. (2000) revealed that crack growth is controlled by local strain rate conditions. Finally, a simplified strain partition model provides a link between critical strain rates measured across the weld and predicted at grain boundaries within the mushy zone. Although based on simplified assumptions, predicted and measured critical strain rate values are of the same order of magnitude. However, because of a longer mushy zone experienced at higher 4043 filler dilution related to a reduction in cooling rate, these models predict a lower weldability with increasing filler dilution, in contradiction with experimental observations. Combining the crack initiation and growth models suggests that hydrogen and strain rate, respectively, determine crack formation. An hypothetical hydrogen – strain rate map defines conceptually the conditions for cracking, suggesting better weldability at low weld metal hydrogen content. With the aid of the modified varestraint test (MVT) and a controlled hydrogen contamination system, results, presented in the form of ram speed – hydrogen map, revealed that hydrogen has little effect on crack growth, providing support to the proposed cracking models. However, a drop in weldability corresponding to the peak in weld metal hydrogen supersaturation suggests a different solidification cracking mechanism, where cavitation supports crack growth.
30
The ability to reliably predict the amount and type of salts within a wet masonry is one of the most important and challenging subjects in the field of non-destructive combat of salt attack and preserving buildings and monuments of historical or archaeological value. To investigate the potential value of complex resistivity (CR) measurements for the early detection of salt and moisture related stone altering, a controlled salt type and concentration experiment series has been performed and a new procedure of an image based effective impedance modelling developed. Complex resistivity magnitude and phase measurements in the frequency range of 1 mHz to 100 Hz were acquired on a wide variety of wholly and partially brine saturated building stone samples. Deteriorating agents NaCl, Na2SO4, CaCl2 and MgSO4 were used. Since water and salt are not measured directly, the method is incapable of deducing possible building damages lacking a priori information. In the case of saturated materials, and provided thorough calibration data are available, a reliable estimate of salt concentration is possible from the measured resistivity magnitude. Additional indication on the dominant cation in the solution can be obtained from the measured resistivity phase, which is significantly higher the lower its valency. Furthermore, the measurements reported in this study give an important guide to the limitations of CR in obtaining pore surface area and pore throat estimates. For wet porous materials, in which polarization occurs due to complex surface conduction, the dominant pore throat and amount of specific surface affect its polarizability. Sandstones, sand-limestones and aerated concretes are more qualified observation objects (pore throats between 20 and 100 μm), whereas for bricks (pore sizes often < 5 μm) the method seems far less favorable. For those materials, which exhibit a Cole-Cole (C-C) type of relaxation, the phase peak is observed to decrease significantly with pore throat size and to occur at higher frequencies. The predicted power-law correlation between the C-C relaxation time and characteristic length scale (pore throat size for consolidated materials) is supported by the presented data. The experimental salinity study reveals how responsive polarization (in terms of imaginary conductivity) is to changing the ionic concentration or composition of the pore fluid. The properties of the electrical double layer and particularly its chemical composition are most likely the crucial controlling factors. The imaginary conductivity is observed to increase for most materials up to fluid salinities of about 1 S/m - a fact, that may be attributed to a mechanism of ion saturation within the electrical double layer; further ion supply seems to counteract this leading to ion-ion interactions, which decrease ionic mobility. CR measurements on partially saturated samples demonstrate the method’s sensitivity to water content. For most materials the imaginary conductivity component decreased significantly faster than the real component. Independent of the pore fluid and even though its salinity naturally increased during the evaporative drying procedure, the normalized saturation exponent of the quadrature component was about twice as high as the real one especially for clay-rich sandstones. The results revealed diverse behavior such as decreases and increases in relaxation time with saturation. In some cases a suppression of a distinctive relaxation curve at low saturations was observed. The results indicate, that contrary to conclusions from recent related studies, the correlation between a C-C relaxation time and hydraulic properties may be limited. In order to infer information on the charge distributions within the EDL, zeta-potentials and surface charge densities were obtained from electroacoustic measurements on particle suspension containing the same amounts and types of salt like used in the brine saturation CR study. The results add weight to the assumption that there is some universal positive relationship between zeta-potential and imaginary conductivity. A notable dependence of imaginary conductivity on diffuse layer surface charge was only observed in case of one sandstone (Cottaer), this being the material with the most abundant clay content. An image based effective impedance modelling approach revealed the fact that, even though it is not able to factor scale effects in, it is helpful to study general microstructural implications on CR responses. It was observed, that an increasing salt concentration (that creates a shrinking electrical double layer) reduces the peak phase and moves it towards higher frequency. The same effect would have an increasing fluid conductivity for a otherwise fixed microstructure. For some combinations of material and salt, however, in the experimental work the peak phase was observed to shift towards lower frequency: a phenomenon that could not be explained with the modelling. Therefore, it is assumed that chemical properties, like ion mobilities or other surface chemistry properties (ionexchange processes) must be regarded to conclusively explain surface conductivity mechanisms. Other experimental observations like the alteration of CR spectra at desaturation could likewise be modelled. If these models truly mimic the effective electrical properties, the results give new implications on the effective medium behavior. Concluding, the author values the complex resistivity method as a possible effective non-destructive testing (NDT) tool for a wide range of building stones. Depending on pore size and saturation important additional information can be obtained. In all cases, a priori information and calibration data are essential, that is, CR should not be treated as a stand-alone method. Further measurements are needed to develop a more complete model of the electrical double layer and its alteration with changing salinity and ion types.
98
Characterization of Polymer Nanocomposites based on Layered Double Hydroxide and Carbon Nanotubes
(2013)
Polymer based nanocomposites by melt blending of synthesized ZnAl-Layered Double Hydroxide (ZnAl-LDH) and Polyolefines [Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE)] and also Polylactide (PLA) with MgAl-LDH and multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) were investigated. The LDH was organically modified by using a surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) to increase the interlayer spacing of the LDH, so that polymer chains can intercalate the inter layer galleries. Some amount of maleic anhydride grafted PP and PE were incorporated in the nanocomposites based on PP and PE respectively to enable the interaction of the non-polar polymers (PP and PE) with the LDH. The resulting morphology was investigated by a combination of Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Small and Wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) and broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (BDS). In case of LDH based nanocomposites (PP, PE and PLA), the homogeneity of the nanocomposites and the average number of stack size (4 – 7 layers) were determined using scanning micro focus SAXS (BESSY II). DSC investigations of PP and PE based LDH nanocomposites showed a linear decrease in crystallinity as a function of filler concentration. The extrapolation of this decreasing dependence to zero estimates a limiting concentration of 40 wt% and 45 wt% respectively. Above this amount of LDH the crystallinity of the polymers is completely suppressed. This finding is in agreement with WAXS investigations where the area below the crystalline reflections and amorphous halo were calculated and used to estimate the degree of crystallinity. PLA/LDH nanocomposites presented a little different behavior, the crystallinity of the polymer at first increases and then decreases as a function of LDH concentration. In this case the crystallinity will be suppressed at around 15 wt%. The dielectric spectra of the nanocomposites based on PP/LDH and PE/LDH show several relaxation processes which are discussed in detail. The intensity of the dynamic glass transition increases with the concentration of LDH. This is attributed to the increasing concentration of the exchanged anion dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) which is adsorbed at the LDH layers. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the β-relaxation provides information about the structure and the molecular dynamics in the interfacial region between the LDH layers and the polymer matrix which is otherwise dielectrically invisible (low dipole moment, non-polar). In case of PLA/LDH, three relaxation processes related to dynamic glass transition and one localized fluctuations were identified and analyzed in detail to understand the morphology. For this system, one dynamic glass transition process originates from the fluctuations of the interfacial molecules, second from the PLA matrix (polar polymer, C=O in the main chain) and the third from segments confined between the intercalated LDH sheets. Additional thermal investigations were carried out for PP/LDH and PLA/LDH samples. The increase in the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) was observed in both the cases. This is attributed to the polymer molecules which are in close proximity to LDH sheets, as they hinder their mobility. This is analyzed in detail and related to the BDS results. PLA based MWCNT nanocomposites were investigated by BDS as initial result. The findings showed that between 0.5 and 1 wt% of CNT, a percolating network of the nanotubes is formed which leads to DC conductivity. This is due to the high aspect ratio of the CNTs and also the van der Waals interaction between the nanotubes which forms a network leading to conductivity.
71
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of ubiquitously occurring moulds. Through the consumption of contaminated foods, they can cause acute or chronic intoxications in humans. Here, it is demonstrated how covalent hydrazine chemistry can be used to improve the performance of instrumental methods for the quantification of trace level food mycotoxins. In the case of the Alternaria mycotoxin tenuazonic acid, pre-column derivatisation with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine resolved chromatographic issues due to the chemical properties of the analyte and allowed for its rapid, sensitive and selective quantification in cereals and beer by high performance liquid chromatography- ion-trap two stage mass spectrometry (HPLC-IT-MS2). Tenuazonic acid could be detected for the first time in beer and buckwheat flour. Although the encountered levels were too low to cause acute intoxications, the frequency of contamination indicated possible health risks due to chronic exposure. In a second scenario, dynamic covalent hydrazine chemistry (DCHC) was exploited for a novel extraction and cleanup method applicable to the Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone occurring in edible oils. Zearalenone was extracted by hydrazone formation on a hydrazinefunctionalised polymer resin and subsequently released hydrolytically for quantification by HPLC-fluorescence detection (HPLC- FLD). The high selectivity of the approach allowed for the omission of MS detection and immunoaffinity cleanup. The DCHC method was superior to previously published methods in terms of handling efforts, cost, precision and selectivity and is well suited for the monitoring of the current European maximum level for zearalenone in refined maize oil. In the second part of the dissertation, possible degradation routes of Alternaria mycotoxins upon storage and bread baking are discussed. In the frame of a kinetic study, it was shown that tenuazonic acid is degraded by two parallel processes, deacetylation and epimerisation, when stored in aqueous solution (half-life at 25 °C ~ 74 days). The primary degradation product deacetyl tenuazonic acid was less stable than its parent compound and degraded rapidly in beverage matrices. In model baking experiments it was furthermore revealed that alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and altenuene are stable under typical baking conditions. A newly identified degradation route, which is based on a sequence of hydrolysis and decarboxylation, caused only minor substance losses (< 1 %). Still, the degradation products could be detected in commercial rusk and crispbread by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).
9
18
A new algorithm for detection of longitudinal crack-like indications in radiographic images is developed in this work. Conventional local detection techniques give unsatisfactory results for this task due to the low signal to noise ratio (SNR ~ 1) of crack-like indications in radiographic images. The usage of global features of crack-like indications provides the necessary noise resistance, but this is connected with prohibitive computational complexities of detection and difficulties in a formal description of the indication shape. Conventionally, the excessive computational complexity of the solution is reduced by usage of heuristics. The heuristics to be used, are selected on a trial and error basis, are problem dependent and do not guarantee the optimal solution. Not following this way is a distinctive feature of the algorithm developed here. Instead, a global characteristic of crack-like indication (the estimation function) is used, whose maximum in the space of all possible positions, lengths and shapes can be found exactly, i.e. without any heuristics. The proposed estimation function is defined as a sum of a posteriori information gains about hypothesis of indication presence in each point along the whole hypothetical indication. The gain in the information about hypothesis of indication presence results from the analysis of the underlying image in the local area. Such an estimation function is theoretically justified and exhibits a desirable behaviour on changing signals. The developed algorithm is implemented in the C++ programming language and testet on synthetic as well as on real images. It delivers good results (high correct detection rate by given false alarm rate) which are comparable to the performance of trained human inspectors.
132
The aim of this thesis was the development of switchable information carriers based on shape memory polymers (SMPs) and the investigation of their durability. Deployed as a new kind of security label, such technology may be an effective tool to prevent counterfeiting and product piracy.
Thermoplastic as well as thermoset SMPs turned out to be applicable as a specific substrate for the fabrication of switchable information carriers. In particular, a physically cross-linked and semi-crystalline poly(ester urethane) (PEU), and a chemically cross-linked epoxy-based polymer were investigated. Both SMPs were able to undergo distinct changes in shape upon triggering, which is commonly known as the shape memory effect (SME).
A key step for the fabrication of switchable information carriers was the development of a suitable technique for a surface-specific coloring of the polymeric base material. In particular, it was necessary to have a thin coat of paint in order to assure sufficient surface contrasts within the subsequently laser-engraved barcodes (e.g. quick response (QR) codes). In detail, coloring was conducted by diffusion of staining solutions, based on organic dyes, into the polymeric matrix. As a result of properly selected exposure times, homogenous layers of paint having thicknesses of about 100 μm, could be produced.
In order to obtain room temperature stable, temporary shapes with non-decipherable code information, various programming procedures were applied to the information carriers. These were either based on tensile or on compressive deformation. For instance, when using plane steel plates in the course of compressive deformation, code areas were randomly distorted. By contrast, selective distortions could be achieved using a steel ball type indenter. However, the triggering of the SME resulted in almost complete shape recoveries. As a result, the information carriers could reliably be switched back to readable states.
Before the developed information carriers can be brought onto the market, it is important to evaluate their durability against various environmental impacts. Artificial weathering was conducted exemplarily on blue and black colored QR code carriers based on PEU. Various scenarios were selected: exposure to UVA irradiation and aging in aqueous solution. In both cases, the durability was investigated at temperatures below and above the switching temperature of the employed SMP. It turned out, that the limiting factor for the usage of switchable information carriers was a lack of contrast and thus was dye-related. In the case of UV irradiation, the color of the dyes started fading, culminating in unreadable QR codes. For hydrolytic degradation, the non-colored code regions were stained in the course of aging. This originates from the fact that the organic dyes used for coloring were soluble in water. As a consequence, they were able to diffuse easily in and out of the swollen polymeric matrix. For both scenarios, aging at elevated temperature caused acceleration of the observed effects. However, the shape memory properties of the PEU were only slightly influenced by the applied aging scenarios.
Next, an additional thermo-responsive security feature was added to the information carriers. Therefore, thermochromic pigments (T-PIGs) were embedded into a PEU matrix. However, in contrast to the organic dyes, the size of the thermochromics microcapsules was too large to diffuse into the polymeric matrix. Thus, another procedure for a surface-specific coloring of the PEU was developed. This mainly included the preparation of a PEU-paste doped with T-PIG by solution mixing. The thermochromic paste was deposited by means of a solvent casting technique as thin layer atop the PEU plaque. After solvent evaporation, tightly connected PEU/PEU-T-PIG laminates were obtained. Beyond that, the layer thickness was adjustable by using a doctor blade for the paste deposition. Subsequent laser ablation finalized the QR code carriers. These were readable at room temperature, but unreadable above the color switching temperature of the employed T-PIGs due to a lack of contrast. Hence, the obtained multifunctional information carriers were characterized by distinct shape memory properties and tunable color switching performances. Furthermore, the combination of several T-PIGs having different colors and switching temperatures resulted in surfaces with multiple and unique temperature-dependent changes in color. Besides that, information carriers with temporarily concealed information could be obtained by covering the QR code with an additional layer doped with T-PIG.