As announced last Tuesday (02 July), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is setting up ten new research groups in its new funding period. In addition, support for three existing groups will be extended. By working together in research groups, scientists have the opportunity to address pressing issues in their disciplines and establish new fields of research. The groups have a total budget of 41.3 million euros at their disposal - including a program allowance of 22 percent for indirect project expenses.

Sustainability Through Knowledge of Material Fatigue

With regard to materials science and engineering, two research groups have been awarded DFG funding: the group "Identifikation der Entstehungsmechanismen weiß anätzender Rissflanken und feinkörniger dunkler Zonen bei Ermüdungsbeanspruchung – Parallelen und Unterschiede (White and Dark)" is looking at issues surrounding the premature failure of components. In order to be able to use cyclically stressed components, such as ball bearings in e-scooters or gearboxes in wind turbines, sustainably, more knowledge is needed about wear during use. Forces acting on the material cause changes underneath the running surfaces of bearings in high-strength steels. These can lead to premature failure of the components. This research group would like to tackle this challenge in the coming funding period. The spokesperson for the research group is Professor Dr. Eberhard Kerscher from RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau.

Better Dental Treatments Through Stable Boundary Zones

Another project relevant to materials science and engineering can look forward to an extension of the funding period: the research group "Werkstoffkunde von Zähnen in Funktion: Prinzipien widerstandsfähiger, dynamischer Grenzzonen" continues to be supported by the DFG. Under the leadership of spokesperson Professor Dr. Paul Zaslansky of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the group members are pursuing the goal of improving dental treatment by gaining more knowledge about the material properties of boundary zones. Border zones are three-dimensional, two-dimensional structures that contain intermediate layers with a defined micromorphology and graded composition and properties. They are used to achieve contact between dental fillings or crowns and healthy tissue.

The research groups are supported in their work for up to eight years.