Advanced Ceramics Processing

The course is offered every alternate year, next time will be Spring 2021.
Topics to be covered are:
Powder synthesis/characterization.¨
Innovative methods for preparation of ceramic and inorganic materials.
Preparation of films and coatings.
Surface/colloidal chemistry related to ceramics processing.
Diffusion, grain growth and development of microstructure in condensed matter.
Sintering: solid state and liquid phase.
Relation between micro/nanostructure and properties.

After completing the course the student will be able to:
- Describe different approaches to how ceramic powders are prepared from solid and liquid precursors
- Describe nucleation and growth theory
- Describe how different inorganic and ceramic materials can be made by innovative methods
- Describe different routes to films and coatings
- Describe the principles of wetting, deagglomeration and adsorption and explain how this can be used for ceramics fabrication
- Explain how stable suspensions of ceramic powders can be made and explain the theoretical considerations needed to make the stable suspensions
- Describe the principles of drying of ceramic green bodies and wet films
- Describe the principles of densification, grain growth and microstructure development in polycrystalline solids
- Explain the different steps of solid state and liquid phase sintering and be able to choose the optimal sintering conditions for a given material
- Describe the relation between micro/nanostructure and properties for a given material
- Be able to use the aquired knowledge on own research problems

The teaching is based on study groups. Mandatory project work.
Voluntary exercises. If there are many students the examination form might be changed to written exam.