The Comet K-Project JOIN4+ which will run for the next 4 years is the follow-up project of the very successful K-net JOIN network which ended in December 2009. The aim of JOIN4+ is to become, respectively to remain a worldwide accepted pioneer in the field of joining in order to support the Austrian industry.

The consortium under the leadership of the Institute for Materials Science and Welding (IWS) of Graz University of Technology with its director Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christof Sommitsch consists of 15 industry partners and 6 scientific partners coming from Austria and Germany.

8 sub-projects which are connected to each other are divided into two working areas. Within the different projects the focal points among others are the following:

 * A better understanding of the basic mechanism of friction welding
 * Prediction of the behaviour of welded joints of modern high strength steels
 * A better and more reliable recognition and characterization of welding defects
 * Increase of the process reliability through control of the relevant process parameter
 * Development of modern sensor technology for welding processes
 * Joining of dissimilar materials

Students are welcome to participate in this project with bachelor or master thesis.

For further information please contact Mr. Norbert Enzinger (norbert.enzinger@tugraz.at), general manager.
 

Objectives of the programme COMET

The strategic objectives of COMET are:  developing new expertise by initiating and supporting long-term research co-operations between science and industry in top-level research, and establishing and securing the technological leadership of companies. By advancing and bundling existing strengths and by integrating international research expertise Austria is to be strengthened as a research location for the long term. 

General foster notes

The K-Project Network of Excellence for Joining Technolgoies JOIN4+ is fostered in the frame of COMET - Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies by BMVIT, BMWFJ, FFG, Land Oberösterreich, Land Steiermark, SFG and ZIT. The programme COMET is handled by FFG.