Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOFEnergy efficiency and conservation of resources are increasingly important topics, in particular in mechanical engineering. In automotive and powertrain engineering, surfaces are required that transfer energy with low losses and, at the same time, tolerate high mechanical loads.
One key element for this purpose are microstructured functional surfaces. Current activities at Fraunhofer IOF comprise the development of modeling tools as well as the investigation of correlations between roughness and wetting properties with respect to oil and fuel that ultimately lead to conclusions for the design of promising structures.
The structures are characterized through a combination of various roughness measurement techniques. The wetting properties are investigated using static and dynamic contact angle analysis. The data are used to establish structure property relationships.