From February 26th – 28th 2025, the 13th “Gefüge & Bruch Tagung” took place in the old auditorium of Montanuniversität Leoben, this time organized by Verena Maier-Kiener and Christian Mitterer from the Chair of Functional Materials and Material Systems with the help of many members of the department. This renowned event, which has been organized alternately by the Department of Materials Science at Montanuniversität Leoben and Ruhr-Universität Bochum since 1976, once again brought together leading experts from science and industry.
Around 130 materials scientists and engineers from German-speaking countries came together to find out about the current state of research into microstructures and fractures in 34 invited lectures. The thematic spectrum ranged from nanostructured functional materials and microstructure modifications to material behavior under the influence of hydrogen, chemically complex material systems and fatigue-induced cracking to modern, recycling-friendly material concepts and innovative process routes for improving material properties. Local mechanisms of crack growth were also discussed in detail.
The lecture program was complemented by a poster exhibition with 27 scientific contributions and an accompanying sponsors' exhibition. A special highlight was the well-attended poster session in the “drawing room” of the Montanuniversität. In addition, the social evening in the picturesque Dominican courtyard of the Leoben City Shopping Center provided an ideal setting for professional and personal exchange. The six best poster contributions were also honored there, including Maximilian Graf from the Department of Materials Science on “Influence of increased trace element contents on the separated eutectoid transformation in a low-alloyed hypereutectoid steel” and Anna Sophie Jelinek on “Fractographic investigation of fatigue fracture surfaces under the influence of hydrogen”.
The 13th Microstructure & Fracture Conference successfully followed on from its predecessors and offered a high-caliber forum for interdisciplinary exchange. The participants are looking forward with great anticipation to the next edition, which will take place in Bochum in spring 2028.
