Fraunhofer ISC Works on Economic Processing on Lot Size One

Cost pressures on the one hand and demand for individualized products on the other require new flexible production processes and materials with individual functionality.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC is working on sustainable material concepts and processing technologies that are scalable, variable and efficient – in order to meet “mass production with lot size one” and to enable small, variable and efficient manufacturing units. At this year’s NANOTECH in Tokyo, examples from three different work areas of the Fraunhofer ISC will be shown.
 
Stretchable Sensors and Actuators
Integrating sensoric functions into textiles or elastomers is difficult because it requires elastic sensors. The Center Smart Materials and Adaptive Systems CeSMA of the Fraunhofer ISC has developed highly elastic sensors and actuators based on silicone. They provide a wide range of sensoric and active functions for smart electronic textiles (e-textiles) with a broad application potential in medical technology, sports, furniture or vehicles.
 
By adding electrically conductive components like silver nanowires, carbon black or metallic particles, silicone can be produced as a stretchable conductive foil, usable e.g. as flexible heating element. If alternating layers of conductive and insulating silicone are coated in a roll-to-roll process, stretchable capacitors are created that can be used to measure strain and pressure. 
 
For functional components like stretchable electrodes or heating foils the silicone matrix is filled by conductive particles. Depending on the application, the design and softness of the sensors can be adjusted. This allows tailor-made sensitivity and characteristics of the sensors according to the requirements. The stretchable sensors and actuators can be applied to textiles by printing techniques or simply by ironing. The material and processing concept offers high customizing potential concerning functional properties, shape and application techniques.
 
Functionalized Silica Particles 
 With its concept of an open access infrastructure for (nano)particle development and upscaled processing on a pilot line level, Fraunhofer ISC offers know-how in particle synthesis and manufacture. The approach enables the pilot production of various particle systems and composites. Essential elements of the pilot line in Wuerzburg are the particle synthesis in batches up to 100 liters, modification and separation methods such as semi-continuous operating centrifuge and in-line analyses and techniques for the uniform and agglomeration free incorporation of nanoparticles into composites. Customized particle design and scalable production can provide a new approach to individualized functionalization, adding particles with the required functionalities.

Magnetic (nano)particles are one of the core topics of particle technology in Wuerzburg. Usable as markers as well as smart switching additives or for the waste water treatment, magnetic (nano)particles have high application potential. One of the latest developments is the precise, fast and efficient heating, achieved by magnetic particles (MAGSILICA) exposed in an oscillating magnetic field. This allows simple, cost-effective and automatable industrial processes. For example, very fast curing of resins and silicones or local heating of catalysts or adhesives can be realized. 
 
3D Printed Optical Components 
In the field of illumination optics, the two Fraunhofer Institutes for Silicate Research ISC and for Optics and Precision Engineering IOF developed new material concepts and processing technology for multifunctional and individualized optical components for “lot size one.” 
 
High demands are placed on optical systems in the field of lighting. The materials used should be as glass-like as possible, with no yellowing during long term operation and a high transparency in the visible part of the spectrum. Artifacts or inhomogeneities in the printed volume caused by the layer-by-layer processing and not very smooth surfaces due to printing structures on the micrometer scale are unacceptable for use in optical systems.
 
However, with ORMOCERs – glass-like inorganic-organic hybrid polymers – from the Fraunhofer ISC and an improved printing technology from the Fraunhofer IOF, the optical quality could be accomplished. Specially adjusted optical ORMOCERs have already been used in the area of optical assembly and connection technology by the Fraunhofer ISC scientists. Due to further development, the initial material was refined for the enhanced 3D printing process, as provided by the Fraunhofer IOF.