• We achieve innovations in joining technologies & corrosion management

• by microstructural and interfacial design

• of nano-structured materials and their assemblies

• in close-collaboration with academia and industry.

We develop scientific knowledge and engineering know-how for tailoring reactions and microstructural evolutions at solid-solid, solid-liquid and solid-gas interfaces. The lab possesses strong competencies in the fields of joining (e.g. brazing, soldering, diffusion bonding, alloy design), corrosion, (local) electrochemistry, and engineering of surfaces and interfaces. Smart experiments are combined with model descriptions to disclose the kinetics and thermodynamics of reactions and phase formations at surfaces and buried interfaces under varying operating conditions (e.g. at elevated temperatures, in complex physiological media or reactive gas atmospheres, under mechanical loading conditions).

We are a national competence centre for the investigation of corrosion failures and the development of corrosion prevention strategies. Especially renowned are our practical expertise in joining of complex components for extreme operating conditions (e.g. space technologies, power generation) and our pioneering activities in monitoring electrochemical reactions down to the nano-scale by in-house developed capillary techniques. As a matter of course, we offer high-end services and scientific know-how to exigent industrial needs in the fields of joining, corrosion, local electrochemistry and surface analysis.

Technology transfer of our R&D into innovative processes and sustainable products necessitates model predictions and experimental verifications of the performance and service lifetime of materials and their assemblies under varying operation conditions. Hence multi-scale modelling approaches (combining e.g. density functional theory, molecular dynamics, Monte-Carlo, finite elements and CALPHAD methods) are indispensable research tools targeting at: 

• The development of thermodynamic and kinetic databases of alloying systems with relevance to joining and corrosion technologies.

• Model predictions of melting behaviors and interfacial reactions in nano-structured fillers for low-temperature joining applications.

• Life-time predictions of material joints and medical implants in extreme environments (e.g. at high-temperatures, in complex physiological media, under mechanical load).

• Knowledge to tailor reactions at solid-solid, solid-liquid, solid-gas interfaces.

• Development of functional materials and their assemblies for industrial needs.

• Lifetime predictions of material (assemblies) under varying operation conditions.

• Technology transfer into innovative processes and sustainable products.

Advanced Joining Technologies

• Model simulations of advanced joining processes
• Material joints for extreme operating condition
• Integrity and durability of joined assemblies

Corrosion and Local Electrochemistry

• Corrosion management
• Local electrochemical reaction mechanisms

Functional Surfaces in Reactive Environments

• Passivation of reactive metal surfaces
• Environmental sustainability of nanomaterials
• Biocompatibility of functional metallic surfaces

Interfacial Design of Nanostructured Materials

• Size-effects in nano-structured joining materials
• Joining of nanomaterials
• Interface-controlled reactions

Introduction to the UserLab

The metallography UserLab of the Empa provides know-how and facilities for surface finishing and cross-sectional sample preparation using conventional metallographic methods (e.g. cutting, grinding, polishing and cutting). Access to the user lab and its facilities is granted to all registered Empa employees.

Our services

As a matter of course, we offer several high-end services and know-how to your specialized needs. Please consult our expert colleagues for further information.

News from our lab 

Enjoy reading the latest news from our laboratory.