KU Leuven

KU Leuven Department of Materials Engineering

Research groups on “Powder Metallurgy and Advanced Ceramics” / “Materials for living systems”

Director : Prof. dr. ir. Jozef (Jef) Vleugels

Email : Jozef.vleugels@kuleuven.be 

Phone : +32 16 321244

Address : Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, bus 2450 B-3001 Heverlee Belgium

Website : http://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/Onderzoek/Ceramics/ceramics 

Director : Prof. dr. ir Annabel Braem

Email : Annabel.braem@kuleuven.be

Phone : +32 16 321244

Address : Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, bus 2450 B-3001 Heverlee Belgium

Website : http://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/Onderzoek/Ceramics/ceramics 

   

Research topics :

  • Processing and characterisation of multifunctional materials: colloidal or conventional powder metallurgical processing of monoliths, composites, gradient materials and laminates based on oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides as well as ceramic-metal composites (such as ZrO2-TiN (-TiCN, -NbC, -WC), WC-Co, TiCN-Ni, NbC-Ni, …). Microstructural, mechanical and functional characterisation and evaluation. 
  • Development, characterisation and evaluation of biomaterials: zirconia, ZTA, ATZ, HA, calcium phosphates, bioactive glass, amorphous silica for controlled release, etc. 
  • Colloidal processing of inorganic materials: electrophoretic deposition of free-standing objects, coatings, laminates and gradient materials, as well as for surface functionalisation.
  • Additive manufacturing of materials: Direct ink writing (DIW) and stereolithography (SLA) of ceramics and cermets. Selective laser melting (SLM) and sintering (SLS) of ceramics in collaboration with the department of mechanical engineering of KU Leuven.
  • Advanced sintering technologies and modelling: Conventional and hybrid spark plasma sintering, hot pressing, microwave and hybrid microwave sintering.
  • Dedicated powder preparation: Synthesis of oxides, carbides, borides, ternary carbides, … by means of sol-gel synthesis, mechanical alloying, carbo- and borothermal synthesis, reaction synthesis, molten salt synthesis, …
  • Processing and characterisation of MAX, MAB and MXene materials: Reactive hot pressing, reactive spark plasma sintering, molten salt synthesis, etc.
  • Materials for dental applications: In close collaboration with the BIOMAT research cluster of KU Leuven.
  • Machining of ceramics: In collaboration with the department of mechanical engineering of KU Leuven. Electrical discharge machining, ELID & conventional grinding, ultrasonic machining, hard machining, laser structuring, etc.

Contact information:

Prof. Dr. ir. Jozef Vleugels - +32 16 321244 - Jozef.vleugels@kuleuven.be 

Dr. ir. Shuigen Huang (research expert) - +32 16 32 1777 - Shuigen.huang@kuleuven.be 

Prof. Dr. ir. Annabel Braem - +32 16 321534 - Annabel.braem@kuleuven.be 

Dr. ir. Fei Zhang (FWO-fellow) - +32 16 37 7738 - Fei.zhang@kuleuven.be 

    

Exceptional facilities (see website) : 

  • Fully equipped powder metallurgical lab for colloidal and powder processing
  • Milling and mechanical alloying equipment
  • Additive manufacturing equipment (direct ink writing & stereolithography)
  • A wide collection of furnaces for different atmospheres and temperature ranges
  • Spark plasma sintering, microwave sintering, hot pressing equipment
  • Thermal analysis lab (DSC, DTA, TGA, SDT, TMA, DMA, IET)
  • SEM & NanoSEM with EDS/EBSD (Electron Backscattered Diffraction)
  • Dual beam SEM combined with a FIB (Focussed Ion Beam)
  • Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with WDS
  • TEM: Transmission Electron Microscopes equipped with EELS and EDX

About us

The Belgian Ceramic Society (BCerS)

 

We are a Belgian learned society of scientists and manufacturers from the ceramics sector.

Contact us

+32 (0)65/40 34 38

bcers@bcrc.be

Avenue Gouverneur Cornez, 4

B-7000 MONS

Share

Share and recommend our platform on your social networks.

249b0ee6a0274c8b95a5dad764ccce26