The European Ceramic Society

Laboratory sheet

Belgium

KU Leuven Department of Materials Engineering

Research groups on “Powder Metallurgy and Advanced Ceramics” / “Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering”

Director : Prof. dr. ir. Jozef (Jef) Vleugels

Email : Jozef.vleugels@kuleuven.be

Phone : +32 16 321244

Address : Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, bus 2450 B-3001 Heverlee Belgium

Website : https://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/english/research/siem/ACPM

Director : Prof. dr. ir Annabel Braem

Email : Jozef.vleugels@kuleuven.be

Phone : +32 16 321244

Address : Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, bus 2450 B-3001 Heverlee Belgium

Website : https://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/english/research/siem/ACPM

Research topics :

  • Processing and characterisation of multifunctional materials: colloidal or conventional powder metallurgical processing of monoliths, composites, gradient materials and laminates based on oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides as well as ceramic-metal composites (such as ZrO2-TiN (-TiCN, -NbC, -WC), WC-Co, TiCN-Ni, NbC-Ni,…). Microstructural, mechanical and functional characterisation and evaluation. 

  • Development, characterisation and evaluation of biomaterials: zirconia, ZTA, ATZ, HA, calcium phosphates, glass ceramics, bioactive glass, amorphous silica for controlled release,... 

  • Colloidal processing of inorganic materials: electrophoretic deposition of free-standing objects, coatings, laminates and gradient materials, as well as for surface functionalisation.

  • Additive manufacturing of materials: Direct ink writing (DIW) and stereolithography (SLA/DLP) of ceramics and cermets. Selective laser melting (SLM) and sintering (SLS) of ceramics in collaboration with the department of mechanical engineering of KU Leuven.

  • Surface functionalization of biomaterials: electrophoretic deposition, plasma coating, laser texturing of ceramics to develop antimicrobial, antifouling, bio- and hemo-compatible surfaces.

  • Selective powder deposition: selective powder deposition and consolidation of ceramic and cermet monoliths, laminates and gradient materials.

  • Advanced sintering technologies and modelling: Conventional sintering, spark plasma sintering, hot pressing, microwave and hybrid microwave sintering.

  • Dedicated powder preparation: Synthesis of oxides, carbides, borides, ternary carbides,… by means of sol-gel synthesis, mechanical alloying, carbo- and borothermal synthesis, reaction synthesis, molten salt synthesis,…

  • Processing and characterisation of MAX, MAB and MXene materials: Reactive hot pressing, reactive spark plasma sintering, molten salt synthesis,...

  • Materials for dental applications: In close collaboration with the BIOMAT research cluster of KU Leuven.

  • Machining of ceramics: In collaboration with the Department of mechanical engineering of KU Leuven. Electrical discharge machining, conventional grinding, ultrasonic machining, hard machining, laser structuring,...

Contact information:

Prof. Dr. ir. Jozef Vleugels

Tel : +32 16 321244

Jozef.vleugels@kuleuven.be

Advanced Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy — Department of Materials Engineering (kuleuven.be)

Contact information:

Prof. Dr. ir. Annabel Braem

Tel : +32 16 321534

Annabel.braem@kuleuven.be

 https://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/english/research/siem/BIO/Biomaterials-tissue-engineering

 
Prof. dr. ir Fei Zhang 

Tel : +32 16 710090

fei.zhang@kuleuven.be

https://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/english/research/50000644/research/biomat

Dr. Shuigen Huang (research expert)

Tel : +32 16 321777

Shuigen.huang@kuleuven.be

https://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/english/research/siem/ACPM

Exceptional facilities :

(see:  https://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/equipment)

  • Fully equipped powder metallurgical lab for colloidal and powder processing

  • Milling and mechanical alloying equipment

  • Selective powder deposition equipment

  • Additive manufacturing equipment (direct ink writing & stereolithography/DLP)

  • A wide collection of furnaces for different atmospheres and temperature ranges

  • Spark plasma sintering, microwave sintering, hot pressing equipment

  • Thermal analysis lab (DSC, DTA, TGA, SDT, TMA, DMA, IET)

  • SEM & NanoSEM with EDS/EBSD (Electron Backscattered Diffraction)

  • Dual beam SEM combined with a FIB (Focused Ion Beam)

  • Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with WDS

  • TEM: Transmission Electron Microscopes equipped with EELS and EDX

  • Equipment for surface treatment (atmospheric plasma) and characterization (contact angle, surface zeta potential, 3D optical profiler, nanoSEM, AFM, ellipsometry, ATR-FTIR)

Financial support programmes :

  • European funding: H2020, Horizon Europe, Interreg,…
  • National / regional funding: FWO, VLAIO,…
  • Industrial funding

Latest news

Next Deadline to apply to the JECS Trust is 31st May 2025

Please note that the decisions of the JECS Trust board will not be known before end of July 2025. Activities submitted for the deadline of 31st May 2025 for support from the JECS Trust should then not begin before August 2025.

Mar 13, 2025
12th March - International Day of Ceramics!

Dear Ceramic Community,

We are pleased to announce that March 12, 2025, marks the first-ever International Day of Ceramics!

Mar 12, 2025

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