Fraunhofer Institute for Electron BeamWe use electrons as a versatile tool. The thermal effect of electrons is used for welding or evaporating metals, and for modifying the surface layer of metals. The chemical-biological effect of electrons is used to cure organic materials, change their surface properties, and sterilize materials.
Thermal electron beam processes, based on the local heating of metals from energy input via electrons, can be used for welding, curing, microstructuring and joining processes, and for evaporating materials. The electron beam welding process is the welding process with the lowest heat input for a given welding depth and is hence ideal for processing thermally sensitive components. The ability to weld at large depths and the ability to process combinations of materials often make it the process of choice when conventional lasers cannot be used.
Non-thermal electron beam processes are used to achieve controlled chemical and biological effects on material surfaces. Polymers and coatings can be cured, and materials can be functionalized with chemical groups giving them completely new surface properties. Some key applications of low energy electrons are based on their germ-killing effect. An application that is already established in the marketplace is the treatment of seeds. However, the surfaces of medical products (implants, instruments), packaging, and foods and animal feed can also be sterilized or disinfected using low energy electrons. Even sensitive materials and products can be effectively sterilized and disinfected within a short time (from milliseconds up to seconds) using this environmentally friendly and gentle technology.
Our work includes the development of electron beam sources for different tasks and the qualification of electron beam processes for specific applications.
Using electrons we improve your materials and products!