Service

 Processing, analysis, characterisation and mechanical testing of advanced ceramics

Service / Equipment

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We offer you assistance in the processing, analysis, characterisation and mechanical testing of advanced ceramics. The following specific techniques and facilities are available in our group:

Processing and Shaping Slurry and powder preparation

  • 3 D printing of of hydrogels, ceramics and composites
  • Nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization via sol-gel, click chemistry and related methods
  • Ball milling, attritor, dispermat, sonifier and couette mixer
  • Shaping of green bodies by pressure casting, cold isostatic pressing (CIP), electrophoresis, freeze gelation processing (FGP), Rapid freeze prototyping, freeze dryer, centrifugation, extrusion, foaming, polymer condensation, powder press
  • Surface coating by cold gas plasma oven
  • Pyrolysis of pre-ceramic polymers up to 1350°C
  • Sintering up to 1700°C in oxidizing and inert atmospheres

 

Analysis and Characterisation

  • 3 D X-ray microscopy / tomography for non-destructive access to internal microstructure and composition
  • Dynamic tensiometry, dilational interfacial rheology and contact angle measurements via drop profile analysis
  • Ceramography
  • Diamond wire saw, lathe, milling machine
  • Microstructural analysis with XRD and EDX
  • Light- and scanning electron microscopy
  • Fluorescence microscopy
  • UV/VIS multiwell plate reader
  • Analysis of surface roughness (white light interferometer, lateral resolution 110 nm, vertical resolution 2 nm)
  • Particle size analysis down to 3nm particle size
  • BET - surface area
  • Rheology of suspensions, emulsions and liquid-liquid interfaces
  • Zeta potential characterisation of suspensions and emulsions
  • Streaming potential of plane surfaces
  • TMA with dilatometer up to 2000°C, oxidizing and inert
  • Combined Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA)and Differential thermal analysis (DTA) up to 1500 °C
  • Mercury porosimetry (pore diameter 70 µm down to 4 nm)
  • Gas adsorption and chemisorption, water vapour adsorption
  • Gas chromatography
  • Mass spectroscopy
  • He-pycnometry for particle density measurements
  • Gas and Fluid Permeability testing rig
  • Thermal conductivity measurement (Laserflash)
  • Cell laboratory
  • Bacteria laboratory
  • CO2 incubator
  • Climatic exposure test cabinet
  • Impedance measurement

 

Mechanical Testing

  • Mechanical testing of porous ceramic structures, ceramic single fibres and composites from RT up to 1600°C in oxidizing or inert atmosphere
  • Testing machines for static, quasistatic and cyclic loading up to 300Hz
  • Equipment for testing under tensile, compression, flexural, shear and torsion load
  • Test fixtures for biaxial and fracture mechanics tests
  • RT-, HT- and laser-extensometry
  • In-situ 3D X-ray microscopy for tensile, compression, and flexural tests
  • Microindenter testing facility
  • Grindosonic
  • Acoustic emission analysis
  • Finite Element Modelling Software Package MARC with workstation
Please contact us for further questions and possibilities.