The European Ceramic Society

Laboratory sheet

Italy

INSTM R.U. – Politecnico di Torino – Department of Applied Science and Technology

Research and education on traditional and advanced ceramics

Research topics :

  • Ceramic (nano)composites for high-stress/high-T applications: processing of Alumina- ZrO2, Alumina-Y3Al5O12 (YAG) and Al2O3-ZrO2-YAG composites from  powder synthesis up to dense, nano/microstructured components, able to work in extremely harsh conditions, particularly at very high temperatures for long times.

    Contact information:

    Dr. Paola PALMERO

    Tel: +39 0110904678

    paola.palmero@polito.it

  • Transparent polycrystalline ceramics: fabrication of yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12, YAG) doped with rare earth elements through powder synthesis by co-precipitation route, its consolidation up to theoretical density by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS, carried out at INSA of Lyon in the frame of a fruitful cooperation established by many years), polishing and annealing post-treatments to optimize the optical properties.

    Contact information:

    Dr. Paola PALMERO

    Tel: +39 0110904678

    paola.palmero@polito.it

  • Bioceramics: processing of nanostructured ceramic powders and dense or porous ceramics with tailored micro/nanostructures made of biocompatible or bioinert monophase or multiphasic composites (Alumina, Alumina-Zirconia, pure and substituted Hydroxyapatites, bioglasses).

    Contact information:

    Dr. Paola PALMERO

    Tel: +39 0110904678

    paola.palmero@polito.it

  • Polymer-ceramic composites: development of polymer-matrix composites by adding ceramic fillers to improve mechanical, thermal, and functional properties of the organic thermoplastics or thermosets, for their application in aeronautical and aerospace, automobile, biomedical, coating and microelectronics fields.

    Contact information:

    Prof. Mariangela LOMBARDI

    Tel: +39 0110904745

    mariangela.lombardi@polito.it

  • Cellular ceramics: production of porous ceramics with a total open porosity ranging between 40 and 95% and pores diameters between 200 μm and 3 mm by a replica technique, strictly controlling the porosity morphology through the choice of the polymeric sponge; production of closed or open porous ceramics by an innovative method combining gel-casting and sacrificial template, by using polymeric pore formers to control the pore shape, the pore size distribution, the total porosity volume.

    Contact information:

    Prof. Jean-Marc TULLIANI

    Tel: +39 0110904707

    jeanmarc.tulliani@polito.it

  • Sensors for gas and humidity detection: development of ceramic gas and  humidity sensors for NO2, CO2 and ammonia detection studying  powder  processing,  ink formulation for screen-printing, thermal treatments in order to optimize functional response of oxide ceramics.

    Contact information:

    Prof. Jean-Marc TULLIANI

    Tel: +39 0110904707

    jeanmarc.tulliani@polito.it

  • Traditional ceramics: study of ancient mortars and plasters composition; development of innovative solutions for traditional ceramics (cement matrix composites containing multi- walled carbon nanotubes, self-healing concrete materials, hybrid  organic/inorganic consolidants for mortars and stones conservation, geopolymers).

    Contact information:

    Prof. Jean-Marc TULLIANI

    Tel: +39 0110904707

    jeanmarc.tulliani@polito.it

  • Multilayer ceramics: Development of multilayers based on non-oxide ceramics for high temperature applications; set-up of tape-casting conditions and thermal treatments parameters in order to control microstructures  and  final  thermos-mechanical performances, in view of their exploitation in thermal protection systems.

    Contact information:

    Prof. Claudio BADINI

    Tel: +39 0110904635

    claudio.badini@polito.it

Exceptional facilities :

  • Spray dryer;
  • Freeze dryer;
  • Furnaces for heat treatments up to 2500 °C;
  • Laser flash (max temperature 1500 °C);
  • Thermomechanical analysis (TMA max temperature 1500 °C, possibility to operate with controlled atmosphere);
  • Burner rig (home-made system to evaluate material performances up to 1300 °C under oxidation  conditions,  with  controlled  temperature,  fuel  and  gas  flow  and  possible  air quenching (from 1300 to 200 °C in 10 min).

Financial support programmes :

  • European fundings: LONGLIFE – Advanced multifunctional zirconia ceramics for long- lasting implants, UE Collaborative Project, VII FP; CEREXPRO – CERamic heat EXchangers with enhanced materials PRoperties, UE Collaborative Project, VII FP; NANOKER – Structural Ceramic Nanocomposites for top-end Functional Applications - UE IP Project, VI FP; EXTREMAT – New Material for EXTREMe Environment - UE IP Project, VI FP; SMARTEES - multifunctional components for agressive enviroments in space applications – UE IP Project, VI FP;

  • Regional fundings: STEPS – Sistemi e Tecnologie per l’EsPlorazione Spaziale, Regional project; HyBrake – Intelligent Hybrid Materials for Brake Applications, Regional project; GEOMAT - Leganti geopolimerici come alternativi al cemento portland. Fattibilità tecnica nella produzione di materiali e componenti dimostrativi, Regional project;

  • National fundings: Design and realization of organic, inorganic and hybrid nanostructured scaffolds as substrates for the differentiation of stem cells  in  regenerative  medicine, PRIN; Development of materials with hierarchical architectures for nitrogen oxides sensors operating at low temperature, for environmental monitoring, PRIN.

Latest news

New book by Prof. Suk-Joong Kang:

Prof. Kang is one of the foremost worldwide specialists in sintering and this book, presented as a series of questions and answers concerning sintering may be useful both to students of ceramics and also to teachers looking for questions to discuss with their students.

Nov 5, 2024
YCN Newsletter 23 - Brazil Capes Thesis Award and Flash (Sinter) Crystallization of Glass by Isabela Reis Lavagnini

We are proud to announce that Isabela Reis Lavagnini has been awarded the 2024 Capes Thesis Award for her outstanding work in Materials, titled "Flash Sintering of Zirconia, Hydroxyapatite, and Hydroxyapatite-Zirconia Composite." 

Oct 17, 2024

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