Hannover Messe 2019 - Fraunhofer IGB

Hannover / April 01, 2019 - April 05, 2019

Hannover Messe | Fair

Hall 6, Booth A30

Fraunhofer IGB will be represented at the Fraunhofer booth Digital Solutions and New Materials in hall 6, booth A30, at the Hannover Messe in 2019. Among other things, we will show you functionalized affine sensor coatings to detect environmental gases such as NO_x or SO₂ or other molecules that are difficult to measure, a new rapid test method for investigating the weather resistance of paints and a self-adhesive anti-ice film made of impact and shock-resistant polyurethane.

Our topics

Affine sensor surfaces for measurement of environmental gases and VOCs

Sensors are indispensable for the control and optimal operation of processes, also in the context of industry 4.0 and increasing digitalization. The Fraunhofer IGB functionalizes surfaces for gas and liquid sensors to detect environmental gases (NO_x, SO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other molecules that are difficult to measure and are produced in production or combustion processes. To this end, polymers, ionic liquids or organometallic framework structures are equipped with specific functions for binding the molecules in demand, integrated into existing sensor platforms and tested in gas measuring stations under controllable conditions.

Download info sheet "Sensitive and selective coatings for gas sensors (PDF)

Plasma weathering: rapid testing method for material characterization

The product development cycles for new paints, coatings and other polymeric materials are complex, expensive and time-consuming, above all because of the testing methods used. The weather resistance of material surfaces have to be tested for months or even years on outdoor weathering stands. Plasma-based processes can imitate outdoor weathering. Here, the plasma serves as a source of radiation and particles. The effects of radiation, temperature, erosion and moisture, as well as the changes induced by them on the surfaces of polymers, can be obtained in a single process step with plasma processes.

Download info sheet "Plasma weathering of surfaces" (PDF)

Anti-ice coatings

The function of technical installations such as rotor blades of wind turbines, aircraft wings, solar panels, or overhead lines but also of outdoor and sports equipment, can be affected severely by ice adhesion. With plasma coatings, embossed or printed structures developed at Fraunhofer IGB surfaces and textiles can be effectively protected against icing. Water-repellent micro- and nanostructured layers for example reduce ice formation by more than 90 percent. Surfaces can either be coated directly in the plasma chamber or pasted with a self-adhesive anti-icing foil from shock and impact resistant polyurethane (PU).

more info about Anti-ice coatings

Plasma-functionalized and coated materials

To provide surfaces with new properties, Fraunhofer IGB especially applies plasma treatment technology. This way, we are able to etch surfaces, e.g. to clean them, or to graft chemical functionalities onto the surface, i.e. to alter wetting characteristics, or to polymerize thin films onto the surface, providing functions such as scratch-resistance, dirt-repellency, or corrosion protection. Further applications include inorganic oxygen or water vapor barrier layers for packaging materials that can be combined with another layer so that liquid and paste-like contents drain off completely from their containers. We offer the development of a complete process – from layer and process development to scale-up and production of sample coatings.

more info about plasma technology

Surface analysis

To an increasing extent innovative products are finished with a tailor-made surface design, for which the processes and surface composition have to be controlled down into the submicroscopic or atomic range. This is because adhesion, wettability, wear and corrosion are affected even by the smallest contaminations. Surface analysis at Fraunhofer IGB provides a wide range of highly specialized methods, procedures and types of equipment. We characterize the following properties of surfaces and interfaces, e.g. ultra-thin layers, powders, particles and membranes:

• chemical characteristics (e.g. elemental surface composition)
• physical characteristics (specific surface, film/layer thickness, wettability)
• morphological characteristics (e.g. roughness and topography) and
• the antibacterial effect of surfaces.
• biological properties such as biocompatibility, cell adhesion or the antimicrobial finishing

more info about surface analysis

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