APPLIED MINERALOGY TO CERAMIC MATERIALS
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- MATTEO ARDIT
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- GEO/06
Training objectives
- The course aims at transferring in-depth knowledge about the main natural and synthetic materials used in industrial processes related to the production of classic (traditional) ceramic materials, advanced ceramics, ceramic matrices for the immobilization and inertization of elements that are dangerous for humans and environment, and bioceramics through various applications that make use of mineralogical and crystal-chemical techniques and knowledge.
The in-depth study of specific topics, such as the design and characterization of new ceramic colorants in order to reduce the use of critical elements while maintaining or improving the colorimetric properties, the new technical and technological challenges for the production of ceramic colorants through digital printing, the possible immobilization of dangerous elements within ceramic matrices, the possible modulation of the properties of some advanced ceramics in non-environmental conditions, represent the ideal scenario where the student, through guided exercises, acquires skills on the techniques of mineralogical investigation and related interpretative models.
The skills achieved match well the territorial reality of the Emilia-Romagna, region permeated with R&D centers and industries specialized in both traditional and advanced ceramics. Prerequisites
- Knowledge acquired during the classes of Chemistry, Physics, and basic Mineralogy.
Course programme
- The class is structured into 40 hours (5 CFU) of frontal teaching and 12 hours (1 CFU) of exercises, for a total of 52 hours.
Introductory notions (theory)
- Classification of materials: polymers, metals, ceramics.
- Traditional ceramic materials VS advanced ceramic materials.
Ceramic colorants (theory + exercises)
- Classification of the main ceramic dyes: pigments, dyes and effects.
Ceramic colorants 1
- Research of new ceramic pigments through basic crystallochemical concepts.
- From solid solutions to structural relaxation: inconsistencies between short and long range information - from the "rigid sphere" (HS) model to the "virtual crystal approximation" (VCA) model.
Ceramic colorants 2
- The advent of digital decoration through inkjet printing.
- Technological problems related to the micronization of ceramic colorants (micronization VS crystal structure VS chemistry of dyes).
Traditional ceramics, circular economy and environment (theory + exercises)
- Traditional ceramic materials: chemistry, firing and structure of the constituent phases.
- Potential introduction of hazardous elements in ceramic matrices: ceramization.
- Quantitative phase analysis (internal standard method) from X-ray powder diffraction data of traditional ceramics.
Advanced ceramic materials (theory + exercises)
- Multiferroics, semiconductors, sensors, ceramic membranes for H2 separation and production.
- Advanced ceramics at non-ambient conditions: effects of temperature and pressure in crystalline structures.
- Interpretation of thermal expansion and isotropic compression data.
Bioceramics (theory)
- Examples of bioceramics and their possible uses.
- Osteo-compatible materials. Didactic methods
- - Frontal lectures in the classroom with the aid of digital presentation, guided exercises using specific software.
- In case of need, possibility to follow the lectures remotely (live streaming of the lessons).
- Open discussions to verify the understanding of covered topics.
- Possible meetings with experts from different sectors. Learning assessment procedures
- The student will have to take an oral exam after the production and delivery of a report on a topic of his/her own choice concerning the course program (the topic is preliminary agreed with the teacher).
The report (on average 5/6 pages in A4) counts as 2/3 of the whole exam evaluation.
During the oral exam, lasting about 45 minutes, the student will present what developed in the report. The oral examination will continue in the form of an open discussion on the other topics covered during the course.
The oral examination counts as 1/3 of the whole exam evaluation. Reference texts
- Teacher's handouts of the on-screen presentations used by the teacher for lectures.
Reference texts on the general themes of the course:
- Heimann, R. B. (2010). Classic and Advanced Ceramics: From Fundamentals to Applications. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.
- Somiya, S. (2013) Handbook of Advanced Ceramics Materials, Applications, Processing, and Properties. 2nd Edition. Academic Press.
Specific topics can be developed through the following texts:
Techniques:
- Geiger, C. A. (2001). Solid solutions in silicate and oxide systems. The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
- Beran, A., & Libowitzky, E. (2004). Spectroscopic methods in Mineralogy. The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Interpretative models:
- Hazen, R. M., & Downs, R. T. (2018). High-temperature and high pressure crystal chemistry. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
- Hazen, R. M., & Finger, L. W. (1984). Comparative crystal chemistry. Wiley, New York.
