Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "Close to the limits? GKSS researchers examine new high-performance materials"

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Dr. Sergio Amancio

Dr. Sergio Amancio

Abstract:
In January 2010, a new Helmholtz university junior research group was set up at the GKSS Research Centre in Geesthacht. The leader of the junior research group is GKSS employee, Dr. Sergio Amancio. Partner university is the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH). The new group devotes itself to the interface properties of polymer-metal hybrid structures produced by advanced joining technologies. About two million euros are available to the multiple-award-winning young researcher.

Close to the limits? GKSS researchers examine new high-performance materials

Berlin | Posted on February 10th, 2010

Helmholtz university junior research groups provide young, talented researchers with optimal conditions: junior research team leaders can carry out research independently and implement their own ideas. "Here in Geesthacht, I benefit from the facilities and the optimal working conditions," declared Dr. Sergio Amancio. "At the same time, I can pursue a university career through the planned seminars and lectures I am going to give at the TU Hamburg-Harburg."

A junior professorship at the TUHH is planned for the junior research group leader Amancio. With this in mind, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mlynek, President of the Helmholtz Society, says: "Through the joint appointment of junior research team leaders to junior professorships, the collaboration with the Helmholtz Society is to be anchored more strongly in institutional terms."

Sergio Amancio's research focus lies in the joining technology field - a sector that is important for instance in aircraft construction, for joints or welding seams are the weak spots in aircraft structures. This is usually where cracks are formed. Intensive research is therefore necessary before new material combinations can be used in aircraft construction.

Creating a secure connection

Amancio's new junior research group "Advanced Polymer-Metal Hybrid Structures", at the Institute of Materials Research in Geesthacht, examines the interface properties of these new high-performance materials. Such hybrid structures between plastic composite materials and lightweight alloys have hardly been tested as yet at the laboratory scale. Some of the novel plastics, so-called polymer-based nanocomposites, being developed at the Geesthacht Institute for Polymer Research will be analysed in collaboration with the junior research group.

About two million Euros for the jurnior researcher

Dr. Sergio Amancio has prevailed before an interdisciplinary jury in a multi-level competition process involving expert peer reviews and presentations: since 2002, the Helmholtz Society has sponsored a total of 116 junior research groups. Half of the expenses are covered by the Helmholtz Society's Incentive and Networking fund. The junior research groups receive the other half of their financing from the Helmholtz centres. With funding of 1.9 million Euros, junior research group leader Amancio is able to finance five additional employees as well as laboratory equipment for five years.

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About Helmholtz University
The Helmholtz Association is a community of 16 scientific-technical and biological-medical research centres. These centres have been commissioned with pursuing long-term research goals on behalf of the state and society. The Association strives to gain insights and knowledge so that it can help to preserve and improve the foundations of human life. It does this by identifying and working on the grand challenges faced by society, science and industry. Helmholtz Centres perform top-class research in strategic programmes in six core fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Key Technologies, Structure of Matter, Aeronautics, Space and Transport.

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Contacts:
Dr. Sergio Amancio
Institute of Materials Research
GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht
21502 Geesthacht
Phone: +49 (0)41 52 87-2066

Heidrun Hillen
Public Relations
GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht
21502 Geesthacht
Phone: +49 (0)41 52 87-1648

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