DGM-Tag 2024: The award winners introduce themselves - DGM Prize – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Niendorf

The DGM Day with the DGM award ceremonies is the centerpiece of the annual event for the members and young scientists of our professional association, the German Society for Materials Science. On 23 September 2024, the General Assembly invites you to a personal reunion in Darmstadt. The DGM Prize is a special recognition for outstanding research achievements in the fields of materials science and materials engineering.

The DGM Prize is awarded to outstanding scientists who have either achieved impressive breakthroughs in their field or have opened up new areas of research. This year, the DGM is awarding the DGM Prize 2024 to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Niendorf, Professor of Materials Engineering at the University of Kassel, for his unprecedented contributions to additive manufacturing.
 

1) Your research in the field of additive manufacturing has gained worldwide recognition. What sparked your interest in this particular research topic and what key challenges have you overcome?

I was fascinated by additive manufacturing right from the start: the ability to create extremely delicate and complex structures is simply unique. The very first samples I was able to hold in my hands in 2010 were lattice structures. In a joint project with the Direct Manufacturing Research Center (DMRC) at the University of Paderborn, we asked ourselves how such structures could be mechanically tested in a meaningful way. At the same time, the question arose as to what the microstructure of such manufactured metals looked like and how this, in turn, related to failure behavior. I quickly realized that there were no easy answers to these questions, nor were there any satisfactory answers in the literature at the time. The door was wide open to fill the many scientific research gaps by using and developing advanced characterization methods. I quickly realized that additive manufacturing was more than just a tool for creating geometrically complex structures. Rather, it can be used to create entirely new materials that can only be produced using additive manufacturing processes. This in turn led to the idea of a new type of large-scale research facility that would allow us to observe the changes in the material live during the manufacturing process. The system now installed at the university is unique in the world and I am delighted that we have already received numerous requests for collaboration from leading national and international research groups.

2) Your work on shape memory alloys, material fatigue, microstructure analysis, and surface and residual stress analysis has great potential for industrial applications. What are your long-term goals in these research areas and what impact do you expect your results to have?

Assessing the safety and reliability of materials has always been a central part of my research. The current changes in our world show us every day how important these aspects are. Sustainable solutions to our current engineering challenges, whether in mechanical, civil or electrical engineering, require the use of resource-efficient material solutions, including the increased use of recycled or substitute materials. This means that the traditional approach of "always using the perfect material" is no longer viable. In addition, a given task must be solved with the minimum use of materials. All of these requirements mean that we must understand the components we use down to the smallest detail. We can no longer follow the design principle of "more is better". Nevertheless, components and structures must continue to perform their daily tasks safely and reliably. This is where my research comes in: it is important to evaluate and understand the material behavior, taking into account the relationships between the manufacturing process, the microstructure development and the final performance characteristics, up to the definition of the final service life. This is where my work on material fatigue, microstructure analysis, and surface and residual stress analysis comes in. My vision is to create damage tolerant materials. These materials should perform two tasks simultaneously. On the one hand, they should give an early indication that they have been used in critical load situations and that the component in question may therefore need to be replaced. On the other hand, activated mechanisms in the material should prevent premature and unexpected failure. Shape memory materials play a role in this context, but we also want to use them to create completely new material solutions in civil engineering.

3) How do you manage to transfer your passion for materials science to your colleagues and team members and motivate them for joint projects?

Research in materials science and materials engineering has always been incredibly fun for me, and I have been able to maintain my playfulness here. Materials are incredibly versatile and allow you to create completely new things with new and sometimes crazy ideas. My experience over the past few years has shown me that the spark of enthusiasm can ignite incredibly quickly. And this is true regardless of generation. The only important thing is to present things in an "unscientific" way. In my working group in Kassel, I encourage the implementation of all ideas. Unusual paths should be taken; proving that an idea may not work after all is also a scientific success. But one thing is always important to me: I want to know "WHY" the plan worked or didn't work. Of course, it is also important for me to celebrate successes. Whether it is a successful experiment, a publication, a new research project or an award, it is crucial that it is communicated and celebrated within the group. It is only through this constant exchange, the ability to look beyond our daily work and the recognition of such achievements that we are able to look further ahead in the often bureaucratic and tough daily routine.

4) How important is the organization of conferences like MSE in Darmstadt and Additive Manufacturing for your scientific work and networking in the community?

Our scientific discipline thrives on constant exchange; many issues are so complex that they can only be successfully addressed together. In order to promote this exchange beyond existing collaborations, conferences such as the MSE, which bring together scientists from a wide range of disciplines, as well as topic-specific conferences such as "Additive Manufacturing" are extremely important. This is why I am always passionately involved in the planning of such key topics and symposia. It is very rewarding to see how jointly initiated symposia have developed over the years. In this context, I would also like to mention the successful special issues in renowned journals, which summarize the results of successful events and symposia and make them permanently available to all interested researchers in the respective fields. I will therefore continue to be strongly involved in the organization of such formats in the future, with a special focus on the aspect of internationalization. As I have already emphasized, we will only succeed in solving the pressing challenges of our time if we work together on these solutions. We will not be able to do this at the national level alone; in our interconnected world, international cooperation is of the utmost importance. To strengthen this beyond existing relationships, it is important to offer and expand appropriate exchange formats, such as the MSE. In my opinion, scientists of all generations benefit from this, especially those in the early stages of their careers.  

5) You have chaired the Young DGM Committee for two full terms and are active in the DGM's continuing education program. What experiences and insights have you gained from these activities? 

Young talent is the key to our discipline. It must be the goal and task of the DGM, in cooperation with all universities, industrial companies, schools, politics, etc., to ensure that a large number of young people are found, inspired and supported in materials science and materials engineering. Current figures show that we have to do much better in this area; the number of students in engineering sciences in general can be significantly increased. This requires ideas and a network that implements these ideas locally and thus actively promotes our scientific discipline. The Young Scientists Committee of DGM plays a key role in this respect. The work of the Young Scientists Committee has always been very enriching. Great ideas have been implemented by the members of the committee and the national team, thus ensuring a high level of visibility. However, it should not be hidden that the burden has usually been distributed on only a few shoulders. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that not only the current members of the Young Talent Committee, but all of us in the DGM are committed to attracting more young talent to our discipline. In doing so, we can simply use and share our own enthusiasm for materials. It is important that society is aware of how fascinating the world of materials is. I have been able to gather experience in many places, from school visits to open days and DGM training courses. A program based on current developments in the world of materials inspires participants, whether they have a basic knowledge of the subject or not. If we succeed in presenting our scientific content in a well-founded and entertaining way, adapted to the relevant target groups, we will be able to inspire others with the enthusiasm that drives us all in DGM.

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