Fraunhofer IFAM
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, based in Germany, is the world’s leading applied research organization. By prioritizing key technologies for the future and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process. A trailblazer and trendsetter in innovative developments and research excellence, it is helping shape our society and our future. Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Around 30,800 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, work with an annual research budget of roughly €3.0 billion, €2.6 billion of which is designated as contract research.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Dresden, one of the leading institutes in powder metallurgy, conducts fundamental and applied research for solution-oriented material and technology development for innovative sintered and composite materials, functional materials as well as cellular metallic materials for energy technology, mobility and medical technology. Hydrogen technology plays a key role in the field of energy technology.
The range of services comprises the industrial implementation of the research results through to the manufacture of prototypical components and their transfer to industrial application. The developments are carried out along the entire process chain. One technological focus lies on powder-based additive manufacturing (e.g. Selective Electron Beam Melting, 3D screen printing, Fused Filament Fabrication, Gel Casting, MoldJet and LMM) as well as further special technologies like melt spinning, melt extraction, spark plasma sintering and moulding processes which support the material and component development.
In the accredited testing laboratory, powder characterisations and tests of sintered materials are carried out according to DIN/ISO standards.
The institute is distinguished by its strong interdisciplinary team in the fields of materials and production engineering, process engineering, mechatronics, chemistry and physics, which develops the right solution for customer challenges.
Competence relevant to SUNFLOWER
Development of high-temperature alloys
Additive processing of metallic materials
Website
https://www.ifam-dd.fraunhofer.de
Contact person
Alexander Kirchner
alexander.kirchner(at)ifam-dd.fraunhofer.de
Role in the project
IFAM leads the WP 4. Furthermore, it will be responsible for FeCrAl alloy selection, powder analysis, powder mixing, compaction via SPS and HIP, additive manufacturing of receiver components by PBF-EB, and post-mortem analysis. The objectives are improvement of the FeCrAl-based absorber material and the additive manufacturing of geometrically complex absorber structures with emphasis on sustainability.