Materials - CRD-B1
All decisions in product development, production and usage are based on the choice and understanding of materials, which in turn enables cross-domain and lifecycle-wide collaboration. Selecting an alternative material leads to different design requirements, choice of production machines and subsequent production processes. The process-dependent integrated history of the microstructure (e.g., multiple phases in metals or varying superstructures in polymers) and operational usage environment determine the overall component performance until the end of its life due to locally inhomogeneous thermal, mechanical and rheological conditions.