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High-temperature materials are currently a crucial part of material science research activities toward Sustainable Development Goals. Although nowadays, carbon neutrality is associated mostly with systems internally generating net-zero energy or producing no greenhouse gasses during their usage, the efficiency improvement of already existing solutions might be a tipping point for industry. For example, thermal power generation based on green hydrogen and/or ammonia as a synthetic fuel is a decisive technology in reducing carbon emissions and providing a stable clean energy supply. The reduction of production costs in power plants using them is commonly considered a potential tipping point for industry. Thus, further improvement of the efficiency of thermal plant installations, such as turbines, is a very important topic. Therefore, the development of high-temperature materials, which can be used at further elevated temperatures is crucial to achieving full carbon neutrality in the future.

When taken to the extremum, ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTC) is a very interesting topic for the future of material engineering. Therefore, although I was initially interested mostly in superalloys improved by carbides or oxides, I expanded my interest toward the UHTC materials with my former AGH University and Hokkaido University colleagues. Just now, we are publishing a few articles tackling this incredibly interesting subject. The first paper of that series was just released in the Journal of the European Ceramic Society [1].

Although choosing Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) was a little bit accidental for my research, the method proved to be producing very fruitful results. Moreover, in both Japan and Poland, I was learning the technology from one of the best experts in the world. For example, it allowed us to study the often-omitted subject of oxidation performance of Metal Matrix Composites combining hard ceramics and Inconel family superalloys. Typically, researchers tackling this subject would be satisfied with improved mechanical properties. However, the environmental conditions require further studies of chemical and thermal resistance if such material were to work in high-temperature applications. Our samples were studied in that regard and very interesting phases and passivation mechanisms were discovered to appear in the microstructure of such composites [2].

Currently, combining the research capabilities of the team at AGH University and partners from Hokkaido University and Tohoku University, we continue to explore the topic of high-temperature materials from both metals and ceramics material groups, as well as composites utilizing both. We are very interested in expanding our network of contacts, so do not hesitate to contact me in my current workplace, Tohoku Forum for Creativity, which boosts the potential of talented and capable researchers willing to collaborate with Japan [3].

Contact details:

Adrian Graboś

adrian.grabos.b8@tohoku.ac.jp

+ 81 22 217 6095

Links:

[1] - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955221924000797

[2] - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010938X22003717

[3] - https://www.tfc.tohoku.ac.jp/