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
Director : Prof. Laura MONTANARO
Email : laura.montanaro@polito.it
Phone : +39 0110904680
Address : Politecnico di Torino Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24 10129 Turin (Italy)
Research topics :
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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 :
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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;
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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;
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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
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.
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!
Information
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