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Institute of Materials Research
At the Institute of Materials Research at the GKSS Research Centre in Geesthacht more than 160 employees work in the 4 divisions of "Material Mechanics", "Materials Physics", "Materials Technology" and "Magnesium Innovation Center MagIC".
Embedded in the Helmholtz Research Fields "Key Technologies" and "Structure of Matter" the Geesthacht scientists develop among other ultralight materials based on magnesium for transportation technology, high temperature materials on the basis of Titanium Aluminides e.g. for aviation turbines, and innovative welding processes for air and road transport.
With biodegradable magnesium alloys and metal powder injection processes new ways to manufacture medical devices such as vertebrae screws are followed.
With respect to a future hydrogen economy, polymer-based membranes for hydrogen separation and purification and for advanced fuel cells are developed. A particular focus is lead on the development of light metal hydrides with especially high storage capacity for storing hydrogen produced by regenerative sources and for the supply of fuel cells for mobile and stationary applications.
The characterisation of the properties of new materials is only possible performing interdisciplinary research. The Geesthacht Neutron Facility (GenF) offers the opportunity to study nano- and microstructures in engineering materials and biomaterials. Further neutron scattering experiments are operated or currently constructed at the GKSS outstation at the FRM II in Garching near Munich. Complementary investigations using very intense X-rays, the so-called “synchrotron radiation”, are performed at the high energy materials science beamline HARWI II at the GKSS outstation at DESY in Hamburg and at further synchrotron beamlines at the new synchrotron ring Petra III.
Embedded in the Helmholtz Research Fields "Key Technologies" and "Structure of Matter" the Geesthacht scientists develop among other ultralight materials based on magnesium for transportation technology, high temperature materials on the basis of Titanium Aluminides e.g. for aviation turbines, and innovative welding processes for air and road transport.
With biodegradable magnesium alloys and metal powder injection processes new ways to manufacture medical devices such as vertebrae screws are followed.
With respect to a future hydrogen economy, polymer-based membranes for hydrogen separation and purification and for advanced fuel cells are developed. A particular focus is lead on the development of light metal hydrides with especially high storage capacity for storing hydrogen produced by regenerative sources and for the supply of fuel cells for mobile and stationary applications.
The characterisation of the properties of new materials is only possible performing interdisciplinary research. The Geesthacht Neutron Facility (GenF) offers the opportunity to study nano- and microstructures in engineering materials and biomaterials. Further neutron scattering experiments are operated or currently constructed at the GKSS outstation at the FRM II in Garching near Munich. Complementary investigations using very intense X-rays, the so-called “synchrotron radiation”, are performed at the high energy materials science beamline HARWI II at the GKSS outstation at DESY in Hamburg and at further synchrotron beamlines at the new synchrotron ring Petra III.
News from the Institute of Materials Research
New Laser Hall Opened – Welding for Research
2010-04-15 Press Release - A new hall with a semi-industrial laser system has been built at the GKSS Research Centre, Geesthacht, in collaboration with Airbus Deutschland GmbH. GKSS put in an investment of around a million Euros and the hall was officially opened on 19th April by representatives of GKSS and Airbus. The new system will be used to research laser beam welding of new lightweight construction alloys, among other areas. The material researchers from Geesthacht are taking over the system from the Airbus location in Nordenham.
