Characterization

Unlock the complexities and innovations in the world of material characterization at this expansive symposium. With a foundational focus on examining the evolution of material microstructures, we'll explore the genesis of these structures, from their atomic roots to their macro manifestations. Presentations and discussions will zero in on cutting-edge characterization techniques, from in-situ investigations to high throughput analysis. This event aims to bring together a consortium of interdisciplinary experts, making it a must-attend for everyone keen on understanding the materials of tomorrow.

Non-destructive imaging methods using penetrating radiation such as hard X-rays and neutrons provide insight into heterogeneous materials and engineering components. In combination with tomography they yield a fully three-dimensional virtual representation of the internal architecture of materials and structures, i.e. for materials characterization and non-destructive method for scientific and industrial applications. In addition, multi-modal imaging techniques, time-resolved imaging and hierarchical multi-scale studies (from material to component) are rapidly gaining importance as the systems under study become increasingly complex. Classic lab-based X-ray sources are well complemented with large-scale synchrotron sources (or even X-ray free-electron lasers) and with Neutron sources.

The aim of the symposium is to provide an exchange information platform between researchers involved in the rapidly developing experimental techniques and users applying these techniques in the field of materials science and engineering. Contributions dealing with tomography and radiography using synchrotron and neutron sources will be presented focusing on advances on time/spatial resolution as well as on the simultaneous combination of tomography/radiography with other contrast methods.

Friction and wear occur in a wide variety of technical components, and in many cases reduce energy efficiency of operations and lifetimes of components. The impact of tribological losses on economy is huge, due to the high number of affected systems.

Understanding underlying mechanisms and material reactions is key for the design of resilient tribosystems with low wear and friction. This challenge can be addressed on different scales and by various approaches – from analyzing friction of single asperities and wear on the nanoscale, to the design of components with advantageous contact geometries and loads. The development of novel coatings or surface modifications, modelling of chemical processes at the surface or microstructural alterations, in-situ observations of processes in the contact or a lubricant are just few examples of research with the goal of improving our understanding of tribological problems.

This symposium brings together experts with a background in numerical and experimental tribology. We focus on all time- and length-scales relevant to tribology, from component testing on the macroscale down to atomistic-scale, with the common goal of strategically tailoring long-lasting tribosystems.

Exclusively supported by NanoMEGAS SPRL

Interfaces at which hard and soft matter meet occur often in both natural and synthetic systems. A mismatch in chemical reactivity, mechanical response, or adaptability to the environment across soft–hard interfaces makes them the place where many exceptional physicochemical phenomena happen (e.g., mineralization in biological tissues, electrochemical processes in batteries, charge and mass transport in light transducing devices, to mention just a few). To understand the complex structure–property relationships and to be able to control processes at soft–hard interfaces, the development of specific characterization tools that can be applied across different disciplines is required.These tools will help to not only obtain detailed knowledge about atomic and electronic structure but also reveal nano- and mesoscale dynamics of mass and charge at such interfaces.

This symposium aims to bring together scientists working on the characterization of hybrid interfaces using different methods (electron microscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy methods, scanning probe microscopy, etc.) across different disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, geology). Specific attention will be given to methodologies that enable to resolve atomic and electronic structure of interfaces, to follow processes at interfaces in-situ and in-operando and to develop approaches to standardize the analysis of hybrid interfaces.

Mechanical behavior at the micron and nanoscale is gaining increasing importance in a wide variety of different materials due to the miniaturization of components and systems as well as the introduction of hierarchical multi-scale material designs. Therefore, a rapid development of innovative in-situ and small-scale testing techniques is necessary, which allows further insights in the acting deformation processes and fundamental deformation and failure mechanisms. At the same time, these small length-scales provide the chance for a direct handshake of experimental investigations and computer simulations. Promoting this link will speed up the necessary development of material physics based, predictive models of small-scale mechanical behaviour.

This symposium, which will be organized together with working groups 1 and 2 of the European Network for the Mechanics of Matter at the Nano-Scale (MecaNano Cost Action21121, https://mecanano-gm23.sciencesconf.org), will mainly focus on both, the development, challenges, and application of new advanced mechanical in-situ testing techniques as well as simulation methods to foster a better understanding of the local mechanical behavior of different materials and microstructural constituents. Besides possible size effects in the deformation behavior in that scaling regime, combined experimental, simulation, and machine learning approaches are also of special interest and should be discussed.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced small scale testing techniques (e.g. Nanoindentation, µ-compression, µ-tension testing, µ-bending)
• Testing at elevated and cryogenic temperatures, under various atmospheres, such as hydrogen, in different fields, e.g. electro-magnetic fields as well as in different environmental conditions, e.g. corrosive environments or inert environments for e.g. battery materials
• Simulation and modelling approaches to complement small scale mechanical testing, from the atomistic to the microstructural level; multiscale and multiphysics simulations
• Investigating and understanding and size effects in the deformation behavior, including interface mediated deformation behavior and the coupling environment and deformation
• New testing approaches, analysis concepts, and corresponding challenges in the micro and nano scale mechanical testing, innovative evaluation of localized phenomena by use of digital image correlation, acoustic and thermal measurements or combined full-field measurements
• Correlation with high resolution microscopy analysis as well as in-situ and operando testing using optical microscopy, SEM, TEM, APT, AFM, Raman, or X-ray
• Machine-learning and data-science based approaches

In-situ analyses are essential to understand microstructural changes of materials under different conditions regarding their processing and target applications. This is especially true for composite materials, since each component can behave differently and the relation between their structure and properties is more complex. Therefore, this symposium aims to bring together experts on the field of in-situ characterization methods for composites and multiphase materials. The focus is on the evaluation of microstructural changes of composites during operando or specific conditions including, but not limited to, under mechanical load, at high/low temperatures, different atmospheres or during chemical or physical reactions. The symposium covers the evaluation of all types of composites based on polymers, metals and ceramics, as well as macroscopic multiphase materials like porous materials. Original presentations about the application of techniques such as computer tomography, microscopy and imaging, X-ray diffraction, acoustic emission, ultra sound and electrical resistance monitoring are welcome. The use of two or more techniques in tandem to overcome the usual problems of each method is encouraged. Since the measured data is normally too big and/or complex to be evaluated by normal data processing techniques, the use of advanced data analysis such as machine learning is of particular interest.

In-situ diffraction using X-rays, neutrons, or electrons has become an indispensable tool in modern materials research. Its strength lies in the ability to reveal critical insights into structural properties under dynamic or near-real-world conditions.

Recent years have seen rapid progress in both instrumentation and data analysis, enabling new opportunities to investigate a wide range of material structures and behaviours. Innovative multimodal approaches—such as combining diffraction with spectroscopic, tomographic, or thermographic techniques—allow researchers to correlate structural information with complementary data. At the same time, powerful computational tools, including those based on machine learning and artificial intelligence, now support the efficient and rapid interpretation of large, complex datasets.

The objective of this symposium is to highlight and discuss recent advances in characterizing material behaviour through in-situ diffraction and in-situ diffraction-based imaging techniques using X-rays, neutrons, or electrons. Its focus is twofold: 1) evaluating structural changes of materials under operando or specific external conditions, including (but not limited to) mechanical loading, non-ambient temperatures, physical and (electro)chemical reactions, various atmospheric environments, as well as electrical or magnetic fields; 2) developing the necessary infrastructure such as beamlines, microscopes, sample environments and holders, analysis and automation routines.

We welcome contributions on all materials and diffraction-based methods, particularly those related (but not limited) to the following topics:

• Structural and functional materials
• Advanced/additive manufacturing
• Catalytic processes and chemical reactions
• Energy materials incl. batteries and fuel cells
• 1D, 2D and 3D nanomaterials
• Geological materials and processes
• Recycling and sustainability
• Advances in diffraction-based methods, including imaging methods

Material scientists working on additive manufacturing, welding, quenching, casting and other such thermally-driven techniques often remain confined within their own specialized domains. However, these techniques have overlaps in the form of temperatures and heating/cooling rates encountered during processing. The aim of this symposium is to provide a platform for researchers working on these different techniques to interact with each other, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The focus of this symposium is on advanced characterization techniques based on synchrotron and laboratory X-ray radiation, neutron radiation, electron microscopy, among others with a particular emphasis on in situ techniques. The material systems of interest in this symposium are metals and ceramics in crystalline or amorphous form, undergoing phase transformations or microstructural changes, etc. We also encourage contributions combining experiments with modelling to gain a better understanding of the experimentally observed behavior of materials.

Below is a non-exhaustive example list of topics and keywords for this symposium

• Processes: Additive manufacturing, welding, quenching, casting and similar thermal processes
• Techniques: synchrotron or laboratory X-ray-based, neutron-based, electron microscopy (scanning and transmission) or mass spectrometric techniques
• Materials: Metals and ceramics in crystalline or amorphous phase
• Synergy with modelling techniques at different length scales

The accurate characterization of material behavior under dynamic loading conditions is of paramount importance for the design and safety assessment of modern engineering structures. Industries such as automotive and aerospace, in particular, face critical scenarios involving high-speed impacts and rapidly evolving stress states. Understanding material response in these extreme conditions is crucial for developing robust and reliable components.

This symposium aims to provide a dedicated forum for the discussion of material behavior at strain rates in the range of approximately 10³ /s to 10⁴ /s. This range is directly relevant to a multitude of high-speed automotive and aerospace load cases, or high-speed machining processes, where conventional quasi-static or low-rate material models are insufficient.

Recently, a number of fast X-Ray imaging techniques emerged which are particularly well suited for investigating rate dependent effects. Among these are void nucleation and growth, crack initiation and propagation, and microinertia-dependent failure mechanisms in heterogeneous media. Particular emphasis will be given to these advances.

Key focus points of the symposium include:

• Material Behavior at High Strain Rates: Delving into the intricate response of materials under dynamic loading at strain rates of 1000s−1 and beyond, while remaining below the domain of shockwave physics. This encompasses phenomena such as strain rate sensitivity, adiabatic heating effects, and dynamic fracture.
• Experimental Methods: Presenting and discussing advanced experimental techniques tailored for these high strain rate regimes. A particular emphasis will be placed on **Split Hopkinson Bar methods** (compression, tension, and torsion), which are indispensable tools for generating and characterizing controlled dynamic loads.
• High-Speed Imaging: Exploring cutting-edge fast imaging techniques operating in the **MHz range** using traditional area area cameras as well as fast single line and streak cameras. Recently, a number of fast X-Ray imaging techniques emerged which are particularly well suited for investigating rate dependent effects. Among these are void nucleation and growth, crack initiation and propagation, and microinertia-dependent failure mechanisms in heterogeneous media.    

Contributions addressing these topics as well as related issues or combined considerations with numerical simulation and/or AI, are of great interest. The focus of contributions can be either method-related or characterization-related. This symposium seeks to bridge the current gap in the conference landscape, offering a dedicated platform for groups to exchange knowledge, discuss advancements in dynamic experimental techniques, and explore the latest insights from high-speed X-ray imaging in the field of dynamic material behavior.

Abstract. Optical measurements are well suited for non-contact measurements and are, therefore, more and more applied to in-situ process control. E.g. the restriction in fossil energy resources and the increasing demand for an optimum efficiency, the control of energy conversion processes are gaining more attention. Also modern additive manufacturing techniques need in-situ process control to obtain well fabricated parts. To fulfil these requirements, the measurement of process parameters, in particular temperature, is necessary in order to operate the processes at its most efficient range, thus producing less waste or gain validated parts. In particular the parameters of the materials used for such high-temperature processes must be known to have sufficient accuracy at the relevant high temperatures in order to optimize the efficiency of the process, to simulate the process in advance to prevent unnecessary waste, and to ensure a safe and efficient process. As most of these processes operate at elevated temperatures, contactless measurement methods, in particular opto-thermal methods are used. The proposed Symposium aims to present basic and applied research regarding optothermal measurement technology (including optical sensors, detectors, radiation thermometers, thermografic devices, etc.) and, in addition, dedicated applications of such opto-thermal technologies in the above mentioned or other fields.

We are particularly interested in (but not limited to) contributions that focus on topics such as:

• Optothermal sensor technology concepts;
• Application of optothermal sensor technologies in material science;
• Application of optothermal sensor technologies in energy technologies;
• Application of optothermal sensor technologies in process technologies.