What tiny structures reveal about material properties

From atom to finished component


Alexander Hartmaier prepares a sample for electron backscatter diffraction measurements. This method enables the engineers to identify the microstructure of a sample. © Damian Gorczany

Processes in the micrometre range play a crucial role when it comes to forming large sheets of metal into a car roof.

Sheet steel is rarely utilised in the form of a flat plate. After all, the convenient aspect about the material is its flexibility. This is why it is processed by the industry to produce a wide range of different shapes. Engineers collaborating in the Materials Chain network at University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) explore what happens during the forming process in the size range smaller than one millimetre. More specifically, they develop models based on the microstructure of a material that are capable of predicting the respective material’s behaviour during forming. Will the material be particularly flexible? How exactly can it be formed? Can it be formed evenly, or does its thickness vary in different spots?

The UA-Ruhr flagship program Materials Chain specialises in multiscale modelling. Researchers from Bochum, Dortmund and Duisburg-Essen study the entire process, from the development of new materials in the nano range to manufacturing technology and application. To this end, they combine experimental methods with computer simulations.

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http://news.rub.de/english/2017-10-19-materials-what-tiny-structures-reveal-about-material-properties