In this work, the first simulation model of oxygen depolarized cathodes (ODC), which are silver catalyst-based gas diffusion electrodes, is presented that considers the phase equilibrium of the gas-liquid interface and structure-related inhomogeneities in electrolyte distribution. By means of the model it has been identified that mass transport of water and ions in the liquid phase is a crucial factor for electrode performance and how it is influenced by the electrode structure.

Chlorine is one of the most important basic chemicals, which is used directly or indirectly in the production of around 60 % of all chemical products. The production is almost exclusively based on energy intensive electrolysis processes, with an average of 2.5 – 3.5 MWh of electrical energy required per ton of chlorine generated. This means that chlorine production alone accounts for around 3 % of the electrical energy used worldwide in industry. By using oxygen depolarized cathodes (ODC), it is possible to reduce the demand for electrical energy on an industrial scale by about 25 %. Instead of hydrogen evolution, oxygen reduction takes place. Due to the low solubility of oxygen, the electrode is designed as a gas-diffusion electrodes (GDE). These are porous silver-based electrodes with hydrophobic regions due to the use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). During operation, the liquid electrolyte penetrates the pore structure, but the PTFE prevents complete flooding of the electrode. Oxygen is supplied via a gas compartment and enters the internal structure of the electrode. A three-phase interface is formed, consisting of liquid electrolyte, gas and catalytically active solid, at which the electrochemical reaction takes place. Although the technology is already successfully used industrially, many processes, especially the electrolyte distribution, inside the GDE remain unknown. In this dissertation, the influence of PTFE is first systematically investigated. Subsequently the process is described in a pseudo-2D model supported by operando experiments. Finally, the exact penetration depth of the electrolyte is analyzed using specially designed electrodes.

During the production of fiber-reinforced thermosets, the resin material undergoes a reaction that can lead to damage. A two-stage polymerization reaction is modeled using molecular dynamics and evaluations of the system including a fiber surface are performed. In addition, a phase-field model for crack propagation in heterogeneous systems is derived. This model is able to predict crack growth where established models fail. Finally, the model is used to predict crack formation during curing.

This work presents a data mining framework applied to industrial heattreatment (bainitization and case hardening) aiming to optimize processes and reduce costs. The framework analyses factors such as material, production line, and quality assessment for preprocessing, feature extraction, and drift corrections. Machine learning is employed to devise robust prediction strategies for hardness. Its implementation in an industry pilot demonstrates the economic benefits of the framework. - This work presents a data mining framework applied to industrial heattreatment (bainitization and case hardening) aiming to optimize processes and reduce costs. The framework analyses factors such as material, production line, and quality assessment for preprocessing, feature extraction, and drift corrections. Machine learning is employed to devise robust prediction strategies for hardness. Its implementation in an industry pilot demonstrates the economic benefits of the framework.

Materials Aspects of Electrochemical Engineering is the main theme of this symposium. It charts the way ahead for the future development and economic viability of all types of electrochemical processing.