Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWSNowadays, polymers have established their position as a construction material, among other things in combination with conventional material systems in high-quality hybrid systems. In this environment our polymer applications field of excellence deals on the one hand with issues of virtual process chains in material design, process technology and component properties, and on the other hand with prototypical validation of the results. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between processing / structure and structure / characteristics relationship – the performance characteristics are produced quasi in situ. Our material and technology expertise lies in the area of elastomer compounds, thermoplastic polymers and high-performance fiber reinforced composite materials. We offer research work and cooperations along the entire development chain, from material design through to the tested prototypical component. The field of business services clients in the environment of mobility applications – automotive, aircraft, rail vehicles – with solutions for increasing energy and resource efficiency.
Polymer processing
- Mini compounder with conical twin screws
- Mini injection molding system
- UD tape plant (melt impregnation) with 500 mm working width
- Twin belt press for producing laminate
- Laminate press (400 x 400 mm), 400 °C, maximum pressure 10 N/mm2
- Parallel, synchronous, freely configurable twin screw extruder from the laboratory through to pilot scale (5-400 kg/h), equipped on the discharge side with strand, underwater pelletizing and hot cut
- Single-screw extruder
- Profile extrusion
- Fiber cutter, staple lengths 1.5-98 mm
- Polymer powder mill, shredder plant, roller mill
- Injection molding compounder KM 1300-14 000 IMC, closing force 1300 tonnes, max. shot weight 5300 gram (PS)
- Injection molding compounder KM 3200-24 500 MX IMC, closing force 3200 tonnes, max. shot weight 20000 gram (PS)
- Injection molding machine KM 200-1000 C2, closing force 200 tonnes, max. shot weight 476 gram (PS), mold temperature control up to 140 °C, separate 2nd injection unit SP 160, vertical, max. shot weight 68 gram (PS)
- Drying oven (2x2x2 m³) and vacuum infusion process
Mechanical testing
- Servohydraulic, electrodynamic and electromechanical test machines (10 mN to 450 kN) with temperature control chambers from -85 to 250 °C
- Hydraulic test panel for component testing (static, cyclical, and multi-axial)
- Torsion testing system up to ±100 Nm and ±135 degrees
- Creep test benches
- Pendulum impact machine and instrumented drop weight plant up to 1800 J; 24 m/s
- Extension measurement: Extensometer, ARAMIS® systems
- In-situ deformation equipment for scanning, transmission electron microscopes and X-ray CT
- Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)
- Rheometer
Evaluation of performance under temperature and media loading
- Climate and temperature test chambers
- Thermal shock chamber -80 to 220°C
- Corrosion test benches for aqueous and gaseous media
Non-destructive testing (NDT) and microstructure analysis
- 3D X-ray CT inspection system with in-situ deformation equipment
- Air-coupled ultrasound (scanning area 1500 x 1000 mm²)
- Acoustic scanning microscopy (MHz to GHz)
- Active thermography methods (PPT, Lock-in, TSA)
- X-ray diffractometry
- Electron microscopy (ESEM,REM,TEM)
Thermal analysis
- Thermomechanical and thermogravimetric analysis (TMA, TGA)
- Rotational rheometer
- High-pressure capillary viscosimeter
- HDT temperature of deflection under load and Vicat softening point measurement
- „„Dielectric analysis (DEA)
- Dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
- Push-rod dilatometer
Simulation / CAE
- FEM (Ansys, Abaqus, LS-Dyna)
- CATIA, Inventor
