Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 2010

Sharkskin for airplanes, ships and wind energy plants

Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Peschka, Dr. rer. nat. Volkmar Stenzel and Dipl.-Ing. Yvonne Wilke (Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research IFAM)

Dipl.-Ing. Yvonne Wilke, Dr. Volkmar Stenzel and Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Peschka.
© Fraunhofer / Dirk Mahler
Yvonne Wilke, Dr. Volkmar Stenzel and Manfred Peschka developed not only a paint that reduces aerodynamic drag, but also the associated manufacturing technology.

To lower the fuel consumption of airplanes and ships, it is necessary to reduce their flow resistance, or drag. An innovative paint system makes this possible. This not only lowers costs, it also reduces CO2 emissions.

The inspiration – and model – for the paint‘s structure comes from nature: The scales of fast-swimming sharks have evolved in a manner that significantly diminishes drag, or their resistance to the flow of currents. The challenge was to apply this knowledge to a paint that could withstand the extreme demands of aviation. Temperature fluctuations of -55 to +70 degrees Celsius; intensive UV radiation and high speeds. Yvonne Wilke, Dr. Volkmar Stenzel and Manfred Peschka of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research IFAM in Bremen developed not only a paint that reduces aerodynamic drag, but also the associated manufacturing technology. In recognition of their achievement, the team is awarded the 2010 Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize.