A highly impactful and productive experimental visit was recently concluded at the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST) in Braunschweig, Germany. CLiCAM ERA Talent, Dr. Rajesh Mundotia, alongside Dr. Rebeca Correia (Process Engineer at AGC Interpane), collaborated on advanced surface engineering technologies for technical textiles.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Dipl.-Phys. Holger Gerdes and Dr.-Ing. Ralf Bandorf (Optical and electrical systems, Fraunhofer IST) for facilitating this crucial research endeavour.

Process Optimization for Durable Low-E Functionality

The primary objective of the campaign was to mitigate key challenges associated with integrating High-Performance Low Emissivity (Low-E) functionality into textile substrates using Vacuum-based Surface Engineering techniques.

The core of the work addressed two major hurdles:

• Maximizing Coating Adhesion: Integrating thin-film coatings onto porous and complex textile surfaces requires specialized preparation. The team explored various possibilities of Vacuum-based pre-treatment processes to significantly enhance the adhesion of the subsequent coating layers.
• Ensuring Wash Durability: A significant challenge for functional textiles is retaining the properties of the coating after routine cleaning. Using the world-class facilities at Fraunhofer IST, the team optimized and tuned PVD/PECVD processes to develop highly adherent, dense, and uniform thin-film coatings. This process optimization aims to ensure the Low-E properties are fully retained after multiple washing cycles.

This collaboration highlights CLiCAM's commitment to innovation and applied research in materials science, bringing advanced surface engineering from the lab to real-world technical textile applications.