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In addition to immediate health risks, UV radiation also poses indirect hazards: it corrodes surface coatings on exposed objects (e.g., on aircraft and bridges) and attacks the coated materials. The underlying molecular processes (polymer degradation) are extremely complex. Therefore, a consortium coordinated by Fraunhofer IAF is working within the framework of the BMFTR-funded QPolyDeg project to develop novel quantum algorithms for simulating polymer degradation. Quantum chemical calculations are intended to enable more durable coatings for industrial applications.
What do cars, bridges and airplanes have in common? They are all exposed to the open air most of the time and are subjected to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Airplanes are particularly vulnerable to this radiation, as UV radiation is very intense at high altitudes. UV radiation attacks surface coatings. Particularly, in polymers — which are a component of many coatings — the absorption of UV radiation leads to the breaking of chemical bonds, chain scission and oxidation.
At the macroscopic level, such processes can lead to yellowing, loss of gloss and surface embrittlement, meaning that the areas beneath the coating can also be affected. This results in high testing and maintenance costs as well as safety risks.
For better coatings: Preventing polymer degradation via quantum computing
To better understand and suppress the decomposition of polymers, the individual degradation processes must be investigated. However, this is complicated because quantum-mechanically entangled electron states play a key role in polymer degradation, which is why classical computational methods often reach their limits.
In the joint project “Quantum Computing for the Simulation of UV-Induced Polymer Degradation” (QPolyDeg), which launched on April 1, 2026, researchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF are therefore investigating the use of quantum algorithms for calculating polymer degradation together with Capgemini Engineering Germany, HQS Quantum Simulations GmbH, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, as well as Airbus and Akzo Nobel N.V. as associated partners.
The German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is funding QPolyDeg with 2.4 million euros over a three-year period as part of the “Application-Oriented Quantum Informatics” funding program (grant number: 13N17392).
Quantum algorithms accelerate quantum chemical calculations
“Quantum algorithms promise a significant acceleration of quantum chemical calculations,” emphasizes project leader Dr. Walter Hahn from Fraunhofer IAF. “Our goal in the QPolyDeg project is to develop quantum algorithms for simulating polymer degradation caused by UV radiation, using industrially relevant aircraft coatings as an example. We expect that the aerospace, automotive and construction industries will all benefit greatly from quantum-algorithmically optimized coatings. That is why we are working closely with leading European companies in these sectors.”
“In QPolyDeg, we as the Capgemini Quantum Team connect emerging quantum technology with real business impact,” says Dr. Franziska Wolff from Capgemini Engineering. “By developing application oriented workflows for real systems today, we help ensure a fast and strategic adoption once quantum hardware is read.”
“HQS works on spectroscopy software, so QPolyDeg is a natural match for us,” explains Dr. Michael Marthaler, CEO and co-founder at HQS Quantum Simulations. “UV radiation effects on polymer coatings is a relevant and underexplored area for quantum simulation tools, and we’re happy to bring our experience to the table alongside the other partners in this project.”
“Optimizing the properties of functional materials requires an understanding of structural-composition-property relationships across multiple scales — from atomic-level crystal structures and defects through material microstructures to the behavior of macroscopic components under real-world operating conditions,” emphasizes Dr. Daniel Urban from Fraunhofer IWM. “To this end, quantum computing offers promising innovative approaches to substantially enhance the capabilities of atomistic simulations of molecules and materials.”
Polymer degradation analysis, algorithm development, industrial application
As part of the project, the consortium partners will undertake all steps necessary to improve surface coatings using quantum computing: starting with the analysis of polymer degradation processes under the influence of UV radiation, through the development of suitable quantum algorithms for simulating optimized coatings to the investigation of the industrial application and scalability of the algorithms.
Capgemini Engineering will investigate suitable embedding strategies and model potential types of polymer degradation, developing a machine learning (ML) approach to predict polymer degradation pathways. HQS will then apply active space methods and use quantum chemical methods to analyze ground and excited states with respect to the type of entanglement.
The Fraunhofer IAF and IWM institutes will calculate the ground and excited states of the Hamiltonian operators of the active spaces using various quantum algorithms and further develop these algorithms in the process. The states determined by the quantum algorithms will be reused by Capgemini and HQS in their respective workflows.
Fraunhofer IWM will focus on promising non-variational quantum algorithms that can be executed on modern quantum hardware and will investigate the fundamental applicability of these algorithms to the problem at hand. Fraunhofer IAF will work on the further development of early-fault-tolerant and fault-tolerant quantum algorithms with regard to the preparation of the required initial states. Specifically, the focus is on questions of the fundamental applicability and the scaling and convergence behavior of these algorithms for different problem sizes.
About Fraunhofer IAF
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF is one of the world’s leading research institutions in the fields of III-V semiconductors and synthetic diamond. Based on these materials, Fraunhofer IAF develops components for future-oriented technologies, such as electronic circuits for innovative communication and mobility solutions, laser systems for real-time spectroscopy, novel hardware components for quantum computing as well as quantum sensors for industrial applications. With its research and development, the Freiburg research institute covers the entire value chain — from materials research, design and processing to modules, systems and demonstrators.
https://www.iaf.fraunhofer.de/en.html
https://www.iaf.fraunhofer.de/en/researchers/quantum-systems/quantumcomputing/qp...: Project profile for QPolyDeg
https://www.iaf.fraunhofer.de/en/customers/quantum-systems/quantum-computing.htm...: Overview of the research activities of Fraunhofer IAF in the field of quantum computing:
https://www.iaf.fraunhofer.de/en/networkers.html: Information on collaboration with Fraunhofer IAF:
The QPolyDeg project is developing quantum algorithms to significantly increase the resistance of su ...
Copyright: © ImageSine – stock.adobe.com
In the QPolyDeg collaborative project, the institutes Fraunhofer IAF and IWM are working together wi ...
Copyright: © HQS Quantum Simulations
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