The European Ceramic Society

Laboratory sheet

Austria

Lehrstuhl für Gesteinshüttenkunde – Montanuniversitaet Leoben

Chair of Ceramics

Director : Prof. Harald HARMUTH

Email : harald.harmuth@unileoben.ac.at

Phone : +43 3842 402 3201

Address : Franz Josef-Strasse 18, 8700 LEOBEN

Research topics :

With respect to materials the scope of the chair of ceramics comprises ordinary ceramic refractories, slags, mineral binders, concrete, glass, and non refractory ceramics with a main focus on refractories slags and melts, mineral binders and building materials. With respect to methods applied, research concentrates on microstructural characterization, determination of properties (mechanical and fracture mechanical properties, properties of melts and slags), failure analysis, simulation of thermomechanical material behavior, CFD simulation and thermochemical calculation.

Selected topics: 

  • Thermomechanical material models for ordinary ceramic refractories.
  • Simulation of refractory lining behavior and design.
  • DE simulation of ordinary ceramic structures.
  • Nonoxides for refractory applications.
  • Corrosion of refractory components in slags.
  • CFD simulation assisting investigations of slag/refractory and slag/steel interaction.
  • Alternative mineral hydraulic binders.

Exceptional facilities :

High temperature fracture mechanical testing equipment; uniaxial high temperature compressive and tensile creep testing; high temperature dissolution testing device; Double/Single Hot Thermocouple Technique for investigation of slag crystallization; hot stage microscopy.

Financial support programmes :

  • European fundings: ETN ATHOR
  • National fundings: COMET (K1 Met, K2 IC-MPPE)

Latest news

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When I am asked about my experience in YCN, dozens of beautiful memories and feelings come to mind. How to summarize them all?

Apr 29, 2025
YCN Newsletter 26 - Expert opinion - Prof. Branko Matović

High Entropy Oxides: Materials of the Future for Extreme Environments

Imagine a material that can withstand rocket engine temperatures, resist the harshest chemical environments, and at the same time enhance battery performance — this is the promise of high entropy oxides (HEOs).

Apr 29, 2025

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ECerS coordinates and promotes the study of ceramics through the following actions :

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Av. Gouverneur Cornez , 4

7000 Mons

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