Manufacturing of stepped micro components with insert parts via galvanic deposition in microstructured two-component polymer templates

• Applicant: Dr.-Ing. Volker Piotter
• Subject Area: Production Automation and Assembly Technology ; Plastics Engineering ; Microsystems
• Term: from 2014 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 261189330

The main objective of this project is the transfer of Know How gained in the Forschergruppe 702 into an industrial application. In this frame a galvanoforming process suitable for stepped micro components which additionally contain at least one ceramic insert part has to be developed. Materials will be stainless steel 304L and nickel or nickel-alloys. For this purpose the process technology has to be enhanced accordingly. One important innovation will be the utilization of 2C-templates with incorporated conductive foils to achieve a stepwise electroplating procedure. Basic trials with respect to microstructure and grain size in dependance of parameters, starting layers, carbon diffusion between templates and steel bodies and metal deposition rate as a function of the current density distribution have to be investigated.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants (Transfer Project)
• Participating Institution: Eleoss Ltd.; microworks GmbH