Materials Lab FHNW, FHNW School of Engineering and Environment

We are passionate about materials – from production, manufacturing and heat treatment through to stress-appropriate use. In addition to student training, we work closely with industrial and/or research partners in application-oriented R&D projects or realise industrial enquiries in the field of failure analysis and material characterisation/testing.

Our research focuses on heat treatment and surface layer technology, brazing and the thermal analysis of materials. With the help of simulations, experimental approaches and kinetic analyses (e.g. sintering, debinding), an understanding of processes is built up or material developments (e.g. brazing alloys) are carried out.

Our modern laboratory equipment and in-depth expertise in the field of metals and ceramics make us the ideal partner for your technological and materials engineering challenges.

For more information or to discuss a collaboration, please contact Anja Buchwalder.

• Sample preparation (cutting, mounting, polishing, and etching)  
• Sample coating instruments (C, Ag) 
• Light and scanning electron microscopy incl. EDX analysis 
• Laser scanning microscope for 3D surface measurements 
• Optical emission spectrometer for the chemical analysis of Fe-, Al-, Cu-, Ni- based alloys 
• Simultaneous thermal analysis using DTA/DSC/TG signals under inert gas, vacuum, or air up to 1600 °C 
• Macro, micro and nano hardness measurements 
• Universal tensile testing machine 
• Various laboratory furnaces in different temperature ranges up to 1100°C or 1600°C without/with inert gas 
• Vacuum SiC tube furnace up to 1600°C  
• Melting crucible for casting tests with accompanying thermal analysis 
• Thermodynamic simulations using Calphad method and Thermocalc databases 
• 3D scan (GOM) of components to determine dimensional, shape and position deviations as well as the target-actual comparison for initial design, trend analyses and reverse engineering 
• 3D printing of ceramics