Participants of the innovation forum “Smart Diamonds” in Erfurt (Photo: CiS)
On 23 and 24 November, about 70 stakeholders from science and research, industry and politics discussed technological developments and market potentials of synthetic diamonds for diverse applications in Erfurt.
Top-class speakers gave deep insights into the current state of synthetic diamond coatings, their applications and stimulated discussion and reflection with their presentations. The agenda focused on reliable and stable manufacturing technologies, quality and costs as well as future products and markets. The production of these wafer-thin coatings is environmentally friendly with reproducible results and acceptable costs. The raw materials are available in almost unlimited quantities.
Especially in microsystems technology, the costs are comparable to other process steps. This opens up fields of application for standard technologies that can offer sensor manufacturers in Thuringia new sales markets. There is great interest from industry – especially SMEs – as new market demands will require new materials and processes in the near future. The first companies in Thuringia have recognised the potential of this smart material.
Mr Biermann, Head of Research and Development at Micro-Hybrid Electronic GmbH from Hermsdorf: “We currently have a challenge that urgently needs a new technology. This problem can be solved with synthetic diamond coatings.”
Other industry representatives also declared concrete interest in the application of these diamond coatings for new product generations in their roadmaps. These include Tesona GmbH & Co.KG from Eisenach and JENOPTIK AG from Jena.
As a result of the forum, the participants agreed that the joint platform “Smart Diamonds” must be expanded in order to promote dialogue between manufacturers, researchers and potential users and to design joint actions.
In addition to the strategic technical importance, the forum also addresses cross-sectional technologies of Thuringia’s RIS3 programmes, primarily in the package of measures “Integration of additional materials in Thuringian microsystems technology”.
For further information please visit www.smart-diamonds.de
Durable diamond gear wheel (Photo: Gesellschaft für Diamantprodukte)
