Profile

The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS is an application-focused, methodically oriented Fraunhofer Institute in the specialist disciplines of materials science and materials engineering. The Fraunhofer IMWS is the point of contact for industry and public clients for all issues relating to the microstructure of materials and systems - with the aim of increasing material efficiency and cost-effectiveness and conserving resources. The microstructure is regarded as a decisive factor for the performance of materials, components and complex systems: New material systems with property profiles for new functionalities are only possible through the understanding and targeted influencing of microstructures.

The work of the Fraunhofer IMWS aims to identify defects and weak points in materials, components and systems on the micro and nano scale, to clarify their causes and, based on this, to offer solutions for customers. The Institute's industrial clients come from the fields of microelectronics, photovoltaics, plastics processing, the chemical industry, medical technology, the optical industry, cosmetics, automotive engineering and the hydrogen economy, among others. This work is accompanied by the further development of microstructure elucidation methods. Customized device configurations can be developed together with analytical device manufacturers.

As an institute of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Fraunhofer IMWS promotes and conducts internationally networked application-oriented research for the direct benefit of the economy and for the benefit of society. It makes important contributions to material efficiency, resource conservation and cost-effectiveness and thus faces up to the central challenge of the 21st century, the sustainability of all areas of life and in particular the efficient use of limited raw materials. At the same time, it contributes to the competitiveness of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany and Europe.

We place the highest demands on ourselves in terms of technical expertise and customer orientation. In its core competencies of microstructure diagnostics and microstructure design, the Fraunhofer IMWS is a leader within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and is internationally recognized. The Fraunhofer IMWS offers its employees opportunities for personal development and supports them in their scientific and entrepreneurial qualification. Transparency, responsibility and collective commitment are essential for our daily cooperation and our success as an institute.

Excellent microstructure characterization has been carried out at the Halle site in the predecessor facilities of the Fraunhofer IMWS since the 1960s. Today, the institute has the most comprehensive equipment for microstructure diagnostics within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

The scientists use this to determine microstructural material and component characteristics down to the atomic level and the resulting properties in the application. This enables statements to be made about material compositions, microstructures and crystal structures, fault and defect formation as well as reaction and wear processes. In addition to microstructure-based technology development, the focus is on the development of new high-throughput screening methods.

The Fraunhofer experts correlate the microstructure with local mechanical, electrical and thermophysical properties and thus make power reservoirs usable.

Understanding and mastering the microstructure makes it possible to intervene in fundamental material properties. With the help of microstructure design, the experts at the Fraunhofer IMWS contribute their material know-how as early as the development phase and support customers at the beginning of the value chain with precisely tailored materials, components and systems for the respective application. The institute thus makes a decisive contribution to resource efficiency and the competitiveness of its customers.

Successful microstructure analysis is only possible through the use of top-class instruments. Complex issues require tailor-made equipment and so the competent teams at the Fraunhofer IMWS are increasingly involved in the development of new devices, building on their many years of experience with existing techniques. Long-term cooperation with industrial partners is indispensable for this.