Sponsor: DFG
Contact person: Lisa Windisch
Summary of the overall project
Due to the functional principle of layer-by-layer material application, additive manufacturing expands the design freedom of established, conventional tool-based or machining manufacturing processes. The combination of different materials to realise discrete material transitions without the need for additional joining processes offers great potential. This opens up possibilities for integrating material-specific properties. For example, heat-generating structures can be generated by introducing (nano) particles with electrically conductive properties. These properties can be customised locally based on factors such as the mass content, distribution or orientation of the particles. Areas of application for heat-generating functional structures include near-contour heating of component areas to increase climate comfort (e.g. electromobility) or local activation of shape memory polymers to realise actuators (4D printing).
Two key challenges are currently limiting their use. Firstly, the properties of the available thermoplastic particle composite materials are limited, particularly in terms of electrical conductivity. Secondly, there are hardly any methods to support product developers with regard to the systematic component conception, design and layout of additively manufactured heat-generating structures, especially taking into account the disperse and material-specific properties of the fillers.
Fig.: Project overview and interaction points with the project partners
Goals and tasks of iPAT
Project partner
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Vietor, Institut für Konstruktionstechnik (IK), TU Braunschweig