Center of Device Development CeDeD
Efficient materials development through digital workflows
Development of new technical glasses
Glass has played an important role in human life for over two millennia, from traditional applications such as kitchenware and windows to innovative high-tech applications in optical systems, bioactive implants, and energy materials. Despite its long history, only a limited number of glass compositions have been discovered or thoroughly researched. The production and introduction of new multifunctional glasses is often time-consuming and expensive.
To accelerate this resource-intensive development process, Fraunhofer ISC has designed and implemented a robot-controlled process line for automated glass development. All process data is captured via digital interfaces, analyzed, and integrated into a digital workflow to make the development of new glass compositions more efficient.
The automation approach
Automated glass development enables precise, reproducible, and systematic exploration of glass systems. Automatically produced glass samples provide extensive data on mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, such as:
- Elastic modulus
- Solubility
- Glass transition temperature
These data form the foundation for data-driven materials development, improve process quality, and enable optimized, digital materials research. With this approach, Fraunhofer ISC lays the groundwork for making the development of new technical glasses faster, more efficient, and scientifically robust.
