Department of Physical Metallurgy

New pulication in Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance

This study investigates the deformation mechanisms governing nanoimprinting of cold-worked and nanocrystalline CuZn30. High-resolution TEM and ACOM are used to reveal the microstructural processes controlling plastic flow and the replication of tool topography. The results demonstrate that accurate topography transfer is primarily governed by the ratio between cavity width and (sub)grain size rather than requiring a nanocrystalline microstructure.

Syposium co-organization at 2026 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit

The 2026 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, from November 29 – December 4, 2026. We are very much looking forward to your contribution to our symposium (co-organized with Sung-Gyu Kang, Xufei Fang, Yan LI): “SF05: Plasticity in Solids under External Stimuli: From Atomic Mechanisms to Macroscale Behavior.”

… and a happy new year, sends the PhM department from its Christmas hike through Darmstadt's forrest.

Advanced Nanoindentation Testing: Beyond the Oliver–Pharr Method

This year's group retreat took us to Weilburg. In the historic setting of the castle hotel, we discussed current issues and made groundbreaking decisions for the coming months. The program was rounded off with a canoe trip on the Lahn, where we enjoyed the great weather and beautiful surroundings.

Exciting exchange on the effects of electron irradiation on mechanical properties

Prof. In-Suk Choi from Seoul National University in South Korea visited our group this monday. We were pleased about the great scientific exchange on electron beam effects in oxidic materials and thankful for the his presentation on “Electron-beam induced athermal deformation: a novel understanding for viscoplastic deformation and mechanical amorphization of amorphous and crystalline silica” within the Materials Science Colloquium.

The 20th International Conference on Strength of Materials

This year's ICSMA took place in Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan. Prof. Karsten Durst represented the Department of Physical Metallurgy with an invited talk on “Grain boundary induced hardening vs. softening in nanostructured Cu-X solid solutions”, Leonie Frohnapfel with a talk on “Multi-Scale Insights into Surface Patterning of CuZn30 via Nanoimprinting”. In addition to a lively scientific exchange and successful networking, the conference offered the opportunity to enjoy Japanese delicacies and explore the variety of temples and cultural features of the city.

PhM group congratulates Franziska Staab on passing her PhD.

Franziska Staab defended her thesis entitled “Severe plastic deformation towards magnetic hardening in SmCo based alloys” with a confident performance in her disputation on 27.05.2025. Her former colleagues at PhM congratulate Dr. Staab and wish her all the best for the future!

International Conference on Ceramic and Glass in Vancouver

The 16th Pacific Rim Conference on Ceramic and Glass Technology (PACRIM 16) took place in Vancouver, Canada in early May, including the Glass and Optical Division Meeting (GOMD 2025). Dr. Sebastian Bruns contributed to the conference with a talk about his most recent findings on the Local brittle-ductile-transition and activation of viscous flow via electron irradiation in oxide glasses. Furthermore, he demonstrated the potential of the High Temperature Scanning Indentation approach to study transitions in silica glass within the poster session.