Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Commercially available alloys for additive manufacturing via PBF-LB/M have limited suitability for applications involving extreme short-term loads, such as impact, explosion, or other high-velocity mechanical stress. To address this challenge, high-strength steels, recent projects have focused on advancing high-strength steels, heavy metals (e.g., tungsten, tantalum, copper), and metal matrix composites (MMCs). By systematically adjusting process parameters, functionally graded materials (FGMs) with locally defined properties—such as hardness or strength gradients—can be produced. These tailored materials enable energy-absorbing structures, armor components, or dynamically highly stressed lightweight components that exceed the performance limits of conventional alloys.Application examples include crash absorbers in mobility, armor for military vehicles, and personal protection systems.
Manufacturing is carried out on industrial and research-grade PBF systems, ensuring full process control and compliance with confidentiality requirements (VS-NfD). Microstructural and mechanical characterization includes advanced methods such as EBSD and EDX, as well as dynamic and quasi-static testing, to evaluate material behavior across the entire strain rate range. The development scope covers the entire chain: from material design and simulation to manufacturing and mechanical validation.
