87445 - Ceramics Technology and Materials Characterization M

Learning outcomes

Introduction to the characteristics, the properties, the manufacturing, the application and the recycling of ceramic materials. Knowledge of basic and advanced techniques for mechanical, thermal and morphological characterization of materials.

Course contents

Module 1 Ceramics Technology (6 CFU, 48 hours, Prof. Paola Fabbri and prof. Micaela Degli Esposti)

· Introduction: ceramic materials and products; definitions, classification. Traditional and advanced ceramics.

· Microstucture and general properties of ceramic materials: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, glassy materials. Crystalline structures in ceramics. Phase distribution. Porosity. Mechanical thermal, chemical, electrical and functional properties of ceramic materials. Structure-properties correlations.

· Raw materials for ceramic products: silicates: silica, clays, feldspar. Non-silicates raw materials. Characterization and quality of raw materials for traditional ceramics: chemical composition, mineralogical structure, granulometry, rheology, plasticity, moldability, melting and thermal transitions during consolidation. Ceramic compounds; composition, functions, criteria for ceramic design.

· Preparation of ceramic compounds. Machining, dry and wet treatments. Technical aspects.

· Forming of ceramic products: powder pressing, wet molding, extrusion.

· Surface treatments for ceramic products: pigments and dyes. Innovations in the ceramic world: ink-jet printing with ceramic dyes for high-level decoration.

· Traditional ceramic products: tiles compositions, features, production lines, selection and properties. Bricks and materials for structural constructions. Pots. Sanitary ceramics. Refractory materials.

· Advanced ceramic products: ceramics for the chemical engineering: zeolites and ceramic porous materials for catalysts and filtration.

· Advanced ceramics: non-oxide ceramics. Nitrides, borides, carbides. Characterization, features and applications in advanced industrial fields.

· Functional glasses and the amorphous state.

· Bioceramics and bioglasses for medical applications.

· Thermal screens for aerospace application.

· Ceramic products and the environment: consideration on the environmental impact of ceramics production. Regulations and laws.

· Laboratory of ceramic materials at Centro Ceramico in Bologna.

Module 2 Materials characterization (3 CFU, 24 hours, Prof. Micaela Degli Esposti)

The course will transfer knowledge on:

· Methods for the determination of the physical properties of materials: density and porosity

· Determination of the surface properties of materials: contact angle, specific surface area, tensiometry

· Chromatographic methods for the characterization of polymers: GPC

· Spectroscopic methods for the chemical characterization of materials: FT-IR, UV-Vis, XRD

· Determination of the mechanical properties of materials: hardness, tensile testing, flexural testing, compression testing, impact testing. Introduction to fracture mechanics. Fatigue.

· Thermal analysis of materials: TGA, DTA, DSC

· Thermomechanical analysis: DMTA

· Microscopies: optical, electronic SEM, TEM, atomic force AFM, confocal microscopy

Readings/Bibliography

· L. Bertolini - Materiali da costruzione, Volume primo, 2° Ed. – Città Studi Ed., Milano, 2010.

· W. F. Smith - Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, 3° Ed - McGraw-Hill It., Milano, 2006.

· Instrumental methods of analysis. Hobart H. Willard, Lynne L. Merritt Jr, John A. Dean, Frank A. Settle Jr. CBS.

• Foundation of materials science and engineering. William Smith and Javad Haschemi. Mc Graw Hill.
• Materials science and engineering an introduction. William D. Callister and David G. Rethwisch. John Wiley & Sons.
• Fundamentals of materials science and engineering an integrated approach. William D. Callister and David G. Rethwisch. John Wiley & Sons.

·Materials given by the professors, available on line.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures and laboratory classes

Assessment methods

Oral exams on the contents of the course. The final mark corresponds to the mean of the marks obtained in the two modules, averaged over the respective CFU (Module 1 = 6 CFU, Module 2 = 3 CFU)

Teaching tools

Slides used for the lectures are made available to the Students before the lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Fabbri

See the website of Micaela Degli Esposti