Materials analysis, materialography, failure analysis and machine learning solutions from Aalen
Matworks GmbH – Materials Engineering Solutions
AalenNew on Amplifa
About Matworks
Matworks GmbH from Aalen is a service company for materials testing and materials engineering with focuses on materialography, failure analysis, light and scanning electron microscopy, computed tomography, XRD/phase analysis as well as mechanical and chemical characterization. Further areas of work are tribology and corrosion testing, physical testing, magnetic measurement technology, materials synthesis and powder technology, as well as design, simulation (FEM, CFD) and machine learning solutions for microscopy measurement systems. Analyzed materials include steel, non-ferrous metals, plastics, ceramics, composite materials, magnetic materials and lithium-ion battery cells. The GmbH, founded in 2013 by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schneider, Dr. Alwin Nagel and Dr. Timo Bernthaler, emerged from a Steinbeis transfer center and remains closely networked with Aalen University to this day. Customers come from electromobility, energy technology, battery technology, mechanical engineering and additive manufacturing.
- Site
- Aalen
- Processes
- Materialography / section preparation (also highly sensitive materials, lithium-ion batteries,, Light & scanning electron microscopy (qualitative assessment, MosaiX large-area imaging), Quantitative microstructure analysis (grain size, phase fractions, porosity, layer thicknesses,, EDX material analysis (point, mapping), EBSD, WDX, CL, FIB cross-sections (focused ion beam preparation and analysis), STEM analyses, Fractographic analyses (failure and fracture origin analyses), Computed tomography: 2D X-ray radiography, 3D CT analysis, quantitative 3D analysis,
- Materials
- Steel, Non-ferrous metals, Plastics, Ceramics (preform production, green bodies), Lithium-ion battery cells / battery materials, Hard magnetic materials / FeNdB magnets, Soft magnetic materials, Carbon brush materials
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001 (DIN EN ISO 9001:2015)
- Founded
- 2013
- Employees
- 18
- Industries
- Electromobility, Energy technology, Battery technology, Mechanical engineering & plant engineering, Magnetic materials, Ceramics
- 01
Clarification of requirements and failure assessment
- 02
Section and target preparation / sample preparation
- 03
Microscopic and X-ray analytical examination
- 04
Mechanical, chemical and physical testing
- 05
Quantitative evaluation and report preparation
- 06
Consulting, simulation and implementation of proposed solutions
Locations
Aalen
DEHead office with testing and analysis laboratory
- Lot size
- Individual samples to series analyses
- Materials
- Steel, non-ferrous metals, plastics, ceramics, magnetic materials, battery materials
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materialography / section preparation (also highly sensitive materials, lithium-ion batteries,Testing | – | – | – | – | Metals, Ceramics, Lithium-ion batteries, Magnetic materials, Green bodies |
| Light & scanning electron microscopy (qualitative assessment, MosaiX large-area imaging)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Quantitative microstructure analysis (grain size, phase fractions, porosity, layer thicknesses,Testing | – | – | – | – | Hard magnetic materials, Lithium-ion batteries |
| EDX material analysis (point, mapping), EBSD, WDX, CLTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| FIB cross-sections (focused ion beam preparation and analysis)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| STEM analysesTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fractographic analyses (failure and fracture origin analyses)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Computed tomography: 2D X-ray radiography, 3D CT analysis, quantitative 3D analysis,Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| X-ray diffractometry XRD/phase analysis, in-situ high-temperature diffractometry,Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tensile test (DIN EN ISO 6892-1, ISO 527 part 4/5, DIN EN 10002-5)Testing | – | – | – | – | Steels, Plastics |
| Compression test (DIN 50106)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Hot tensile/hot compression testTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Charpy impact test (DIN EN ISO 14556, DIN EN ISO 148-1, DIN EN 10045-1)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Strength measurement four-point bending fracture; fracture toughness determination KIC;Testing | – | – | – | – | Ceramics |
| E-modulus determination (pulse-echo method)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Hardness testing (Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell), hardness depth profile micro/macro, end-quench testTesting | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Creep rupture test (DIN EN 10291)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Roughness and profile measurement (white-light interferometry, confocal microscopy,Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Crack testing using dye penetrant methodTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Failure analysis (complete analysis according to VDI 3822, partial analyses, failure assessment)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Physical testing: density, E-modulus, Poisson's ratio, electrical conductivity,Testing | – | – | – | – | Battery materials, Magnetic materials |
| Tribology: SRV tribometer (Optimol SRV3), pin-on-disc, abrasive wear testing,Testing | – | – | – | – | Carbon brush materials |
| Corrosion testing: HAST (IEC 68-2-66), PCT (DIN EN 60749-33), salt spray test (DIN EN 9227),Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Materials synthesis/processing: powder technology (milling, mixing, analyzing), preform productionEngineering | – | – | – | – | Ceramics, Powder materials, Composite materials, Magnetic materials |
| Metallic protective coatings for high edge hardness/protectionSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Etching, microstructure contrasting (chemical/thermal grain boundary etching)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chemical analysis: OES/AAS (steels, non-ferrous metals), ICP-AES/ICP-MS, TGHE (O,C,N), GDOESTesting | – | – | – | – | Steel, Non-ferrous metals |
| Plastics analysis (IR, DSC, TGA) – chemical composition and identificationTesting | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Magnetic measurement technology: hysteresis curve of hard magnets, permeability measurement, softTesting | – | – | – | – | Hard magnetic materials, FeNdB, Soft magnetic materials |
| Design & simulation: 3D-CAD design, FEM component calculation, topology optimization,Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Machine learning & microscopy solutions: software integration into microscope measurement systems,Engineering | – | – | – | – | FeNdB magnets |
| Technology consulting, market analysis, literature research, trainingEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Benchmark analyses of lithium-ion battery cells (supplier evaluation, quality control)Testing | – | – | – | – | Lithium-ion battery cells |
22 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with EDX, EBSD, WDX, CL, FIB, STEM | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Light microscope / confocal microscopy with microimaging | ZEISS | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Computed tomograph (3D CT, 2D X-ray radiography) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| X-ray diffractometer (XRD, in-situ high-temperature diffractometry) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| White-light interferometer | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Tensile/universal testing machine (tensile, compression, hot tensile tests) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Charpy impact testing machine | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Tribometer Optimol SRV3 (oscillating configuration) | Optimol SRV3 | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Pin-on-disc tribometer | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| HAST system (High Accelerated Stress Test) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| PCT system (Pressure Cooker Test) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Salt spray test chamber | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Laser flash analysis system (thermal conductivity) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Dilatometer | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Hysteresis graph / magnetometer (Helmholtz coil) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Emission spectrometer OES / AAS | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| ICP-AES / ICP-MS / AAS (wet chemical analysis) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Carrier hot gas extraction (TGHE, O/C/N determination) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Glow discharge spectrometer GDOES | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Sintering furnace (air, vacuum, protective gas, pressure) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Battery testing system (charge/discharge cycles, aging) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
| Pulse-echo measurement system (E-modulus determination) | – | – | – | – | Aalen |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Matworks GmbH is certified to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 for the sale, development and provision of services in materialography, materials testing, analysis of magnets and battery materials, and software for microscopy applications. Testing is carried out according to standardized methods such as DIN EN ISO 6892-1, EN 10247, ASTM E45, DIN EN ISO 642 and VDI 3822.
| Evidence | Aalen |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 (DIN EN ISO 9001:2015) |
History
- 1999
Origins as a Steinbeis transfer center at Aalen University; according to the website, Matworks has stood for Materials Engineering Solutions from Aalen since 1999.
- 2013
Founding of Matworks GmbH by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schneider, Dr. Alwin Nagel and Dr. Timo Bernthaler as an independent company within Steinbeis Enterprise.