The AMARETO research activities at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg are located in the field of material design and constitute the beginning of the value chain. The corresponding project is entitled Smart Material. The aim of this project is an optimized material design with regard to its application based on the knowledge of the relationship between production technology, microstructure and material properties. Smart Material is directly linked with the AMARETO groups Smart Design and Smart Production, which are located in Dresden and Chemnitz, in order to exchange samples and information.
In the classical material development the relationship between production technology and material properties is usually determined empirically. However, the classical route is too costly and too time consuming for small series and a broad material selection since many iterations are necessary. The modern approach of material design is based on the material research which describes the causal connection between production technology, material properties and microstructure.
The key objective is the creation of relevant material models which describe the relation between properties and microstructure and that can be used for the simulation of material properties. Two material groups are in the focus of Smart Material: a special alloyed ductile magnesium alloy and hard coatings with optimized hardness and special tribological properties.
