Joining Technologies & Corrosion

We drive innovations in joining technologies and corrosion management to enable evolution towards increasingly efficient, reliable and sustainable material technologies.

OUR CORE COMPETENCES

OUR PORTFOLIO

  • We are the Swiss competence center for the assessment of corrosion failures and the development of corrosion prevention strategies.
  • We are the only Swiss federal institution to develop novel nanostructured joining materials for emerging micro- and nano-joining technologies.
  • We offer technology transfer of custom-tailored technological solutions in the fields of corrosion protection, joining, surface engineering and functional oxide films. 
  • We operate the first laboratory-based Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (HAXPES) in Switzerland for state-of-the-art chemical-state studies of functionalized surfaces, thin films and their buried interfaces.

OUR RESEARCH

In order to bridge the gap between basic research and real-life applications, we aim at comprehensive understanding of the effect of material heterogeneities and defects on the (electro)chemical reactivity and stability of solid-liquid and solid-gas interfaces. To this end, cutting-edge experiments are combined with modelling to arrive at fundamental understanding of:

  • The thermodynamics and kinetics of diffusion, wetting, nucleation and competing phase formation at solid-solid, solid-liquid and solid-gas interfaces

  • The electrochemical reactivity and combined thermal, chemical and mechanical stability of heterogeneous metals, alloys and coatings systems in harsh environments

  • Defect engineering of functional oxide films

corrosion, joining, surface engineering, corrosion management, corrosion analysis, corrosion testing, failure analysis, joining technologies, packaging, brazing, soldering, bonding, oxide film, local electrochemistry, HAXPES, surface analysis, research, R&D, service, consult, Swiss, switzerland
corrosion, joining, surface engineering, corrosion management, corrosion analysis, corrosion testing, failure analysis, joining technologies, packaging, brazing, soldering, bonding, oxide film, local electrochemistry, HAXPES, surface analysis, research, R&D, service, consult, Swiss, switzerland
corrosion, joining, surface engineering, corrosion management, corrosion analysis, corrosion testing, failure analysis, joining technologies, packaging, brazing, soldering, bonding, oxide film, local electrochemistry, HAXPES, surface analysis, research, R&D, service, consult, Swiss, switzerland

Your Contacts

Dr. Lars Jeurgens
Head of the Laboratory

Phone: +41 58 765 40 53

 

Dr. Patrik Schmutz

Dr. Patrik Schmutz
Group Leader (Deputy to the Head of the Laboratory)

Phone: +41 58 765 4845
patrik.schmutz@empa.ch

Claudia Frey

Claudia Frey
Assistant

Phone: +41 58 765 4914
claudia.frey@empa.ch