Metallic Materials
Innovative material development for the energy of the future.
Head of Deparment: Dr. Michael Rieth
Our research and development work is part of large-scale research and makes an important contribution to energy research at national and European level. As a partner in the Helmholtz Association's energy program and a member of the EUROfusion large-scale research project, we are actively shaping the future of nuclear fusion.
Focus
We develop structural and functional materials that can withstand extreme conditions. These include high temperatures and heat fluxes, as well as high-energy neutron radiation in combination with mechanical, chemical, or time-critical loads. The material properties are tailored by us for each specific application case. In this way, we open up new applications and areas of use in the field of energy conversion. Typical examples include components of a fusion power plant, such as plasma-facing components (divertor), heat exchangers (blanket), and neutron multipliers (tritium breeding elements).
Competence
Our research is application-oriented and, above all, takes place under the aspects of large-scale research. Therefore, alongside sustainability and cost-effectiveness, the focus is particularly on the use of industrial production, forming, joining, and manufacturing technologies. Starting from an idea, our materials development encompasses theoretical modelling, thermodynamic and thermo-mechanical simulations, production in the laboratory and on an industrial scale, experimental characterization of all relevant properties, microstructural and chemical analyses, the manufacturing of prototypes (semi-finished products and mockups), as well as component testing under the respective operating conditions. Our goal is to provide novel materials, including the materials technology process parameters and key characteristics required for production and component manufacturing.
Network
Despite our focus on materials for very specific applications, the boundary conditions, requirements, and properties to be considered are very complex and diverse. So not all necessary investigations and experiments can be carried out within our department. Therefore, we collaborate closely with a variety of partners from KIT, industry, and other research institutions both domestically and internationally. In particular, the characterization and testing of prototypes requires access to large-scale facilities, such as test reactors for neutron irradiation: : HFIR, BR2, or experimental setups for the investigation of plasma-material interactions: HELOKA, ASDEX, GLADIS, JUDITH & JULE-PSI.
Automated modeling and validation
Group
Publicationslist
Mohacsi, J.; Ly, K.; Scharfer, P.; Schabel, W.
2025. 2nd International Conference on Production Technologies and Systems for E-Mobility (EPTS), 1–5, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi:10.1109/EPTS67931.2025.11547658
Dähms, A. S.; Nierling, L.; Bach, F.; Bonatto Minella, C.; Idelberger, F.; Singson, L. S.
2026. BIT online, 29 (4), 329–340
Signer, T.; Kleinebrahm, M.; Weiskopf, T.; Weinand, J.; Raab, M.; Regener, V.; Fichtner, W.
2026. Advances in Applied Energy, 100306. doi:10.1016/j.adapen.2026.100306
Brezovsky, M.; Günthner, A.; Schulte, F.; Winiwarter, L.; Jutzi, B.; Mandlburger, G.
2026. ISPRS Open Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Art.-Nr.: 100158. doi:10.1016/j.ophoto.2026.100158
Zielke, P.
2026. Y. Saemann, I. Alhamdani & H. C. Jünger (Eds.), Tagungsband 35. BBB-Assistent*innen-Treffen : 8. bis 10. Juli 2026 : Fachkongress der wissenschaftlichen Assistent*innen der Bereiche Baubetrieb, Bauwirtschaft und Baumanagement. Ed.: Saemann, Y., Alhamdani, I., Jünger, H. J., 317–328, Universität Stuttgart. doi:10.18419/opus-18843
König, L.; Kosiol, J.
2026. MODELS Companion ’26: Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE 29th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems, 889–899, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). doi:10.1145/3837062.3839053
Stengel, A.; Nippert, K.
2026. doi:10.5445/IR/1000197633
Benhadjira, A.; Detlefs, C.; Favre-Nicolin, V.; Dresselhaus-Marais, L.; Kabukcuoglu, M. P.; Yildirim, C.
2026. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1350, Article no: 012020. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1350/1/012020
La Bella, M.; Poulsen, H. F.; Staeck, S.; Henningsson, N. A.; Kabukcuoglu, M. P.; Detlefs, C.; Yildirim, C.
2026. Journal of Applied Crystallography, 59 (4), 1139–1152. doi:10.1107/S1600576726005200
Becker, M.; Kappler, T.; Schofer, F.; Stefanski, L.; Munzke, N.; Hiller, M.
2026. Technische Informationsbibliothek Hannover. doi:10.34657/38331
Pauer, C.; Woll, A.; Deml, B.
2026. Journal of Public Health. doi:10.1007/s10389-026-02903-z
Nick, A.; Haug, R.; Deml, B.
2026, October 1. 8th German Human Factors Summer School (2026), Wuppertal, Germany, October 1–2, 2026
Klassen, A. R.
2025. Workshop: "Truth Politics between Science and Society. Political Epistemologies of the 1990s Science Wars" (2026), Universität Erfurt, July 8–9, 2026
Schmidt, A.
2026. INSIGHT Forum 2026 – Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven auf disruptive Innovationen (2026), Berlin, Germany, September 29–30, 2026
Tang, C.; Radi, A.; Schliephake, D.; Kauffmann, A.; Heilmaier, M.; Schroer, C.; Gorr, B.
2026, September 30. Materials Science and Engineering Congress (MSE 2026), Darmstadt, Germany, September 29–October 1, 2026
Haase, M.; Mesa Estrada, L.; Müller, T.; Heymann, M.; Selzer, M.; Baumann, M.
2026. 102nd Meeting of the EURO Working Group in Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding (EWG-MCDA 2026), Zurich, Switzerland, September 17–19, 2026
González Fernández, G.
2026, October 6. Shaker Verlag. doi:10.5445/IR/1000197619
Wolbring, L.; Schmidt, S. C. E.; Woll, A.; Wäsche, H.
2026. Smart Health und Sportwissenschaft. Hrsg.: B.K. Labott, 76, Feldhaus Edition Czwalina
Maas, E.; Hermeling, E.; Bergmans, L.; Quadt, J.; Kaisti, M.; Panula, T.; Mustajoki, I.; Maia, M.; Baumann, M.; Bruno, R. M.; Badhwar, S.
2026. ARTERY26 Conference (2026), Split, Croatia, September 24–25, 2026
Thron, M.; Kuhnert, R.; Altmann, S.; Barsch, F.; Härtel, S.; Richter, A.; Schlenker, L.; Bös, K.; Woll, A.
2026. Smart Health und Sportwissenschaft. Hrsg.: B.K. Labott, S. 117, Feldhaus Edition Czwalina