Research facility for µ-imaging of chemical and mechanical properties of polymers.

Goal

Recognising the overlap in research objectives and complementarity in expertise and infrastructure, a new research focus group, entitled "MACHER Material Analysis for Cultural Heritage, Environment and Resources" was established in 2022. One of the expressed goals of the research focus group is to bring new perpective into own disciplines and sustainably develop the field of polymer research in the fields of cultural heritage  technological and conservation,  the conservation of natural resources and environment and the promotion of circular economy. The shared facility is located in two sites of TH Köln namely at the Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences in the Campus Südstadt and at the Institute of General Mechanical Engineering, Campus Gummersbach.

LPN Nanoindenter (Bild: TH Koeln CICS)

LNP Microindenter

LPN 2 Nanotouch. • High-precision, motorized Z-column with camera for precise vertical positioning of the measuring tip and for measuring layer thicknesses
• High-precision, motorized X-Y cross-stage for precise horizontal positioning and automatic mapping
• High-resolution, high-speed sensor control for high measurement resolution and to reduce the measurement time for mapping
• Video camera for precise positioning and documentation of the measurement points
• Heating stage with temperature measurement of the sample for investigating rheological properties, crosslinking, and aging depending on temperature, especially for polymeric materials and adhesives, with temperatures up to 180 °C
• Force sensor/ Scratch unit for measuring friction force (tribological properties) and adhesion strength of coatings
• Set of various measuring tips for different measurement methods/materials to be measured

Application: Particularly suited for the analysis of elastomers and plasticizer thermoplastics LNP nano touch is suitable for a number of standard and analytical mechanical tests such as shore hardness, adhesion, bending modulus, Young´s modulus, static and dynamic rheological analysis as well as topography. With a lateral resolution of 10 nm and a measuring force range between 600µN to 10N with a  resolution of 600 µN is ideally suitable to measure subtle alteration in mechanical properties related to formulation or ageing. The xy table enables spatially resolved information. 

Argon Ion Polisher

FTIR µ-Imaging Spectrometer

TabulaRasa – The impact of erasable writing technologies on manuscript cultures. Funding: ERC-Euroean Research Council

Hybrid+smart - Integrated hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems for smart active building envelopes

·       Ferreira, Ester S. B; Spanheimer, Vanessa; Katrakova-Küger, Danka; Schürmann, Hannah, Waentig, Friederike; Werner, Kristina; (2025): Chemical and Physical characterisation of a south american rubber figurine  In: Metalla : Sonderheft. Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege 2025; Dresden; 18-21 März 2025. (accepted)

·       Weichert, Sabine; Schulz, Ines; Steffen, Robert; Katrakova-Krüger, Danka (2024): Preparation of very thin wires and foils, Pract. Metallogr. 61 (2024) 12, 904-917, DOI 10.1515/pm-2024-0085

·       Hartl, Christoph; Katrakova-Krüger; Danka, Ho, Hodaiah: Modelling and bending analysis of a 3D-printed sandwich structure with an auxetic star-4 core, ICMR2024, MATEC Web of Conferences 401, 02016, DOI 10.1051/matecconf/202440102016 (2024)

·       Katrakova-Krüger, Danka; Spicale, Sarah; Hartl, Christoph: Influence of polymer properties on the mechanical behaviour of 3D-printed auxetic metamaterials and honeycomb structures under bending load, Manufacturing Rev. 12, 14 (2025), DOI 10.1051/mfreview/2025009

·       Hartl, Christoph; Katrakova-Krüger, Danka: Microstructure comparison of welded Nitinol thin foils with linear, oscillating and pulsed laser beam, FEMS EUROMAT 2025, Granada, 14-18 September 2025, lecture