Ceramics and Glasses
The Ceramics and Glasses group is concerned with the processing, characterisation and applications of structural and functional ceramic materials, both in 'bulk' form and as thin/thick film coatings.
Structural ceramics, such as alumina and zirconia, are used in engineering applications due to a combination of high strength, chemical/thermal resistance, and extreme hardness.
In contrast, functional ceramics exhibit unique electrical, magnetic and optical properties, which lead to applications in a diverse range of electronic components e.g. filters in mobile telecommunications, exhaust gas sensors, pyroelectric thermal imaging cameras.
Image: Ferroelectric Domains in 0.95Na0.5K0.5NbO3 - 0.05LiNbO3 (NKLN) Ceramics
Piezoelectric materials are a vital part of our modern world, with applications as diverse as spark igniters, micropositoners in cameras and fuel injection systems in automobiles NKLN is a candidate material to replace the harmful lead containing piezoelectric ceramics based on (Pb,Zr)TiO3.
By engineering the ferroelectric domain structure the piezoelectric properties can be optimized. This is the first image showing details of the lamellar-shaped 90° domains and curved 180° domains in NKLN ceramics.
The sample was chemically etched in hot sulphuric acid.Our group is engaged in research aimed at understanding the structure-property relationships in a wide range of ceramic materials and in developing materials/components with enhanced properties. Materials are produced by conventional powder processing methods and by novel processing procedures such as free form fabrication and electrophoretic deposition.
Active projects in the ceramics group involves a wide range processing techniques for functional and structural materials that are employed in industries as diverse as power generation, sensing, consumer electronics, mobile telecommunications, aerospace and biomedical materials. To understand the microstructure-property relationships for the ceramics at scales ranging from the nanometre to the centimetre, extensive use is made of specialist characterisation facilities within the School of Materials plus national and international facilities. Through our links with industry we ensure that the research we carry out is relevant and focussed on the requirements of new technology. Work in Ceramics and Glasses is carried out in five primary areas:
Facilities
Our Group has state of the art facilities, including fluidised chemical vapour deposition furnace, impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and high performance transmission electron microscopy, Raman/fluorescence microscopy, nano-identor, pore master, Master sizer, Zeta-sizer, BET facility, atomic force microscopy, MTS XP Nanoindenter, KSI 1 GHz Acoustic Microscope, Netzsch STA capable up to 1600 C with evolved gas analyzer, and a range of inkjet printers optimised for work with ceramics. The Group also makes extensive use of central facilities for synchrotron X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction in order to study the complex structures and internal stresses in materials.
Sponsors
The Ceramics and Glass Group has strong ties with industry, having ongoing collaboration with Rolls-Royce, ALSTOM Power, British Nuclear Fuel Ltd, Sulzer-Metco, Ceram Research, Filtronic Comtek, Teer Coatings, Mel Chemicals. Xaar printing Technology, Pilkington, BAE Systems. Support is also provided by EPSRC, ONR, AWE (Aldermaston), European Commission, EPSRC (KNOO), British Energy, NDA.