Large-scale equipment for materials research

Materials-related research topics are firmly established across a wide range of faculties at HTWK Leipzig; these include, for example, the development of sustainable, multifunctional high-performance materials. The two major research instruments proposed – a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a computed tomography (CT) scanner – will complement the existing range of methods, thereby enabling cross-scale, multi-dimensional material characterisation for numerous classes of materials.

The SEM will be used to investigate the interactions between microstructure, microstructure and the technically relevant properties of building materials, metals and fibre composites. The CT enables three-dimensional microstructural analyses with resolutions down to the sub-micrometre range and will be equipped with two in-situ testing fixtures. In the field of construction, projects on mineral-bound building materials, carbon concrete and sandwich materials for Nearly Zero Emission Buildings are supported by SEM and CT analyses. The large-scale instruments are used to investigate microstructure-based material properties such as durability. In the field of metallic materials, research is being conducted on stainless steels to investigate the interaction between microstructure, heat treatment, processing and corrosion resistance. High-resolution SEM-based microstructural characterisation is carried out to describe the distribution of alloying elements within the microstructure and their influence on corrosion resistance. In lightweight construction, the process-structure-property relationships of multifunctional lightweight materials, such as load-bearing energy storage materials, are analysed using CT, in-situ CT and SEM. To ensure continuity, the HTWK will support the research-oriented expansion of the equipment portfolio through additional staff and further funding, as well as by providing the necessary premises and carrying out refurbishment work.