Functional surfaces and materials

A large part of product innovations is based on the development of new materials or new material properties. For the surfaces of many materials, e.g. industrial components or technical textiles, however, different properties are often desired than those of the material in volume.  At Fraunhofer IGB we develop functional surfaces and materials with regard to concrete applications. For this purpose, we decouple the properties of the material in volume from those of its surface – by means of interfacial engineering or nanotechnology. We impart new properties to surfaces of plastics, ceramics or metals by applying tailor-made thin layers or creating defined functions on surfaces.

Coating, functionalization, structuring

Some important properties of materials depend only on the chemistry and topography of their surface. These include wettability, bondability, adhesion properties or tribological properties. By suitable surface modifications it is possible to obtain materials with new property profiles and thus open up new applications. Protective layers, e.g. against corrosion or scratching, and barrier layers, e.g. as a barrier layer for oxygen or water vapor, extend the shelf life of materials or sensitive package contents.  

We give new properties to surfaces of plastics, ceramics or metals by applying thin layers or creating defined functions on surfaces. For this purpose we use gas phase processes (CVD, PVD, PECVD), wet chemical processes or combined processes. We have developed a single-stage synthesis strategy for open-pored polymer foams with functional groups.

Our focus themes

 

The problem of PFAS

Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, PFAS for short, play a key role in numerous industries. As many are non-degradable, they accumulate in the environment, animals and humans. The IGB offers solutions.

  • Substitution: Harmless alternatives to PFAS
  • Removal of PFAS from water

Bioprinting – Optimized bioinks for additive manufacturing

The aim of bioprinting is to produce biological or biologically functional tissue in the laboratory. The IGB optimizes biological materials for processing using 3D printing processes. The printed in-vitro tissues are used as test systems to answer questions about the efficacy of drug candidates or (in future) as biological implants to stimulate or replace damaged tissue for regeneration.

 

Further applications

Coatings for medical engineering

Information on coatings that play a role in contact with biological cells in medical technology can be found in the "Health" business area.