Interview Christan Haase:

1. What specific challenges do you see in the development or research of materials for additive manufacturing compared to conventional manufacturing technology?

We mainly deal with the additive manufacturing of metallic materials. Compared to conventional manufacturing (e.g. casting, thermomechanical treatment), the conditions in additive manufacturing, e.g. short-term interactions between the laser/electron beam and the material, lead to highly dynamic processes within the materials. These processes are fundamentally decisive for the formation of material structures on different length scales, which in turn determine the component properties. Understanding the complex laser/electron beam-material interactions and their precise description is still a major challenge in the field of additive manufacturing. If we are successful in overcoming these challenges, we can develop materials that are specially adapted to the manufacturing and application conditions.

2. What role do sustainability aspects play in your research into materials for additive manufacturing?

Sustainability aspects are currently one of the most pressing issues in the entire field of materials research. The production of input materials (e.g. metal powder) on the basis of recycled materials and the successful and efficient reuse over several process cycles are certainly important issues for our research in this area. In terms of sustainability, however, the entire system must be considered, including component design, component life cycles and supply chains. I hope that the existing WvSC network will enable us to tackle this interdisciplinary task together.

3. What new findings or innovations do you expect from your research area in the next few years?

I see our main task as understanding and describing the fundamental laser/electron beam material interactions. To this end, we rely on a close interlocking and effective combination of experiment, simulation and machine learning. On the basis of this understanding and using the methods mentioned above, problems that occur in additive manufacturing are to be avoided and new, AM-compatible materials developed. In this way, the performance and service life of additively manufactured components can be increased in the future.

4. How do you plan to use your experience to enrich the research landscape at TU Berlin and the WvSC?

In additive manufacturing, the material structure and component are usually created in a single production step. Material behavior is therefore of particular importance. I hope that I can contribute to the initiation of collaborative projects, the expansion of AM expertise and the teaching and training opportunities in the Berlin research environment with both a basic understanding of materials and the digital description of materials.

5. In your opinion, what role does cooperation between industry and science play in the further development of materials for additive manufacturing?

The targeted development of materials for additive manufacturing and their further development to market maturity can only be achieved by integrating and taking into account the expertise of our industrial partners. Specifically, this can be, for example, process windows within which economically successful processing is possible or the identification of relevant fields of application. On the other hand, our detailed material analysis and interpretation is often required to solve current challenges in the additive manufacturing of metallic components. These can include strategies for avoiding cracks in alloys that are difficult to process, for reproducible property adjustment and for identifying innovative process control.