The Frauhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung (Fraunhofer-ISC) belongs to the Fraunhofer Society, the largest organisation of applied research in Germany. The Institute has nearly 200 employees and is active in the development of innovative materials and their associated technologies. Scientists, engineers and technicians co-operate in contract research projects with industrial partners. The institute has a long-term experience from many national and European R&D projects.
A focus of the work in the Institute concerns smart materials for actuatoric and sensoric applications. The materials comprise smart fluids (electrorheological and magnetorheological fluids), piezoelectric fibres and films as well as corresponding devices and systems. The activities in the field of smart fluids started in 1994 and have strongly increased in recent years. The work follows an interdisciplinary approach including chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering and information technology. Present research projects with industrial and scientific partners include the development of magnetorheological fluids for engine mounts, smart soft material based systems for haptic sensor-actuator systems in virtual reality and electrorheological fluids for automotive applications, which has attracted much attention in the media. The main research task is the development of application-adapted smart soft materials based on a profound understanding of the underlying working mechanisms of the materials. Furthermore, various demonstrators for hepatic devices, clutches and vibration damping have been built at the Institute.
Piezoelectric fibre composites based on our own developments are built up on tiny fibres with diameters of about 20 microns. The fibre fabrication technology can deliver up to 50kg fibres/a allowing a full scale development of application sensors and actuators as well. The group working on it is experienced in design, built on and testing of smart structures driven by the requirements of the applications in mind.
In the HYMM project, Fraunhofer-ISC's role is research on smart materials (piezoelectric fibre composites and magnetorheological fluids).
For more information about Fraunhofer-ISC visit www.isc.fhg.de
