Tailor-made material properties and miniaturization through size effects

Many materials exhibit unexpected properties in the (sub)micrometer range - so-called size effects. When used correctly, these can increase the performance and durability of materials. For example, nanostructured metals and thin-film structures are extremely strong and resistant to fatigue. The aim of Prof. Dr. Katrin Schulz's project at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences is to link the microstructural mechanisms on different length scales, something that has not yet been achieved. This is to be achieved with the help of a physically based modeling approach and a digital material twin. The digital twin virtually models the physical system with its properties. This allows the material properties to be predicted under different framework conditions and manufacturing processes. This means that customized materials for new coatings, micro- and nanosystems can be developed more quickly. This leads to resource savings, as the same or even better properties can be achieved with less material input.