Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Ioannina School of Engineering
 
 
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Ceramics & Composites Laboratory (CCL)

URL: www.materials.uoi.gr/ccl
Tel.: (+30)-265100-7366, 9023
Fax: (+30)-265100-7074
Installation:   Building Ε1, 1st floor, University Campus
Main Building of the Dept. Materials Science and Engineering, 1st floor, University Campus
Director: Professor M. Karakassides
Personnel
Research
Equipment
Education
Faculty members Senior researchers
  • K. Vasilopoulos
  • M. Baikousi
  • K. Spyrou
  • P. Zygouri
  • Μ.Subrati
  • E, Barka
  • K. Dimitriadis
Other researchers (postgraduate students)
  • N. Chalmbes, MSc (Ph.D. candidate)
  • E. Thomou, MSc (Ph.D. candidate)
  • N. Karouta, MSc (Ph.D. candidate)
  • T. Giousis, MSc (Ph.D. candidate)
  • V. Sakavitsi, MSc (Ph.D. candidate)
  • C. Gioti, MSc (Ph.D. candidate)
  • G. Asimakopoulos, MSc (Ph.D. candidate)
  • S. Giouzel, MSc (Ph.D. candidate)
  • A. Dimitrakou (PhD)
  • A. Asvestas (Ph.D. candidate)
  • S. Papagiannis (Ph.D. candidate)
  • A. Spyrou (Ph.D. candidate)
  • N. Plakantonaki (Ph.D. candidate)*
  • A. Mourlas (Ph.D. candidate)*
  • A. Anastasiou (Ph.D. candidate)*
  • S. Papantoniou (Ph.D. candidate)*
  • V. Papapetrou (Master thesis)
  • E. Giannioti (Master thesis)
  • G. Kostakis (Master thesis)
  • F. Evangelou (Master thesis)
  • D. Babbatsoulis (Master thesis)
  • S. Martini (Master thesis)
  • G. Katsoulidis (Master thesis)
*: Ph.D. candidates whose PhD thesis is carried out in other Research Centers under the supervision of the Faculty members of CCL.

Research Associates (staff)
Research interests
  • Synthesis of ceramic materials Development of several different types of ceramics, such as traditional ceramics, advanced ceramics, conventional glasses and special glasses made of silicates, borates, phosphates, bioceramics and bioglasses, via conventional methods, such as firing, glass-frit, or sol-gel etc. Advance technological materials, such as ceramic ionic conductors, electronic ceramic and bioceramics, attract special interest.
  • Modifications of ceramic raw materials and development of novel ceramic-based composites Chemical modification of ceramic raw materials, such as clay minerals, cements, porous matrices for producing composite and hybrid materials aimed at advanced uses. Development of ceramic/polymer, or ceramic/ceramic composites, inorganic/organic hybrids, porous/magnetic with improved properties aiming at advanced technological applications.
  • Design and development of ceramics and composites with controlled morphology Development of ceramics and composites with different morphologies, such as granulus, bulk, macro- and nano-porous, fibres, thin films. These materials are used, as selective adsorption materials, catalysts, reinforcement media, modifiers of material properties, etc. Solid state chemistry, sol-gel chemistry using molecular templates, hydrothermal transformations, precipitation, deposition of monolayers (Langmuir-Blodgett) etc., are popular methods employed.
  • Development of new nano-structured composites Development of ceramic and composite materials of porous polymeric of ceramic membranes and nano-composite materials of carbon nano-tubes dispersed in polymeric matrices of ceramic substrates. Surface layering techniques, such as Langmuir-Blodgett mono-layers, reactions under controlled atmosphere, powder sintering are popular techniques employed.
  • Process engineering for materials Analysis, design, and development of processes for production, treatment, and modification of materials. Laboratorian studies for the influence of specific parameters on a specific process as well as modelling using the results of such studies. Studies for the optimization of operation conditions for polyparametric processes. Laboratory scale reaction kinetic studies. Materials production systems design. Chemical reactors systems development and/or units for materials and/or energy production processes both in laboratory and pilot plant scale.
  • Atomic level structural studies and design of microstructure ceramic and composites Ceramics and composites atomic structure are determined with X-ray diffraction, Raman and Infrared spectroscopy, atomic force and electron microscopies, as well as Molecular dynamics simulations. High important objectives of the research is the advanced spectroscopic characterization and the thoroughly understand of the materials’ structure and the ways that it related to their fundamental properties.
  • Physical-chemical properties and materials processing Measurements of density, viscosity, surface area (gas and mercury porosimetry), adsorption capacity and ion exchange capability, sorption in high pressures, chemical durability, thermal conductivity, phase transformation over increasing temperature.
  • Mechanical and optical properties Mechanical properties of ceramic and composites are studied using conventional methods (tensile, compression and bending strength, hardness) as well as new spectroscopic methods (micro-Raman and FT-IR microscopy). Studies of optical properties (transmission, absorption, dielectric properties, fluorescence, refractive index, dielectric constant) within a wide range of electromagnetic spectrum from UV to far-infrared.
  • Materials characterization with X-ray emission spectroscopies Materials characterization with X-ray emission spectroscopies (XES). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of matter and materials using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and electron-induced X-ray emission (EIXE). Application of micro-XRF (μ-XRF) for three-dimensional determination of layered structures with thickness in the range of nm to μm. Macroscopic XRF imaging (MA-XRF) for two-dimensional elemental mapping. Handheld X-ray fluorescence (HHXRF) for in-situ non-destructive analysis (application in archaeometry, cultural heritage, environment). Total X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for trace analysis (TXRF). High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy using crystal spectrometers for elemental analysis and chemical speciation study (WD-XRF). High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy for the study of exotic atoms and molecules.
Equipment & facilities
  • Chemistry laboratory and laboratory of high temperature processing for samples synthesis and production. Vacuum lines, pH-meters, glove-box, incubators, thermostatic cells, centrifugal equipments, spin- and dip-coating apparatuses, twin-roller system of super-fast glass quenching, planetary mill, autoclave, Langmuir-Blodgett equipment, microwave synthesis unit, six furnaces reaching 1000-1750οC enabling flowing gas supply.
  • Structural analysis laboratory Spectrometer micro-Raman (Renishaw 1000, laser 532 nm, 200 mW and optical microscope). Spectrometer micro-Raman (JASCO RFT-6000, laser 10642 nm, 700 mW and optical microscope connected with FTIR-JASCO -6300 full vacuum spectrometer) FT-IR Infrared spectrometer with Infrared microscope (JASCO IRT-5000). Spectrometers, FT-IR (GX Shimadzu 4000 and IRAffinity-1, reflection and transmission modes, enabling measurements at high temperatures up to 900oC). Spectrometer UV-Vis (Shimadzu 1200PC, enabling measurements on solids and liquids). Μικροσκόπιο AFM, Bruker (Veeco) Multimode/Nanoscope
  • High temperature laboratory High temperature Furnaces and Presses: Vacuum Hot Press Furnace (VHP) 2000ºC, Termolab Portugal, CVD- horizontal tube and box furnaces, Carbolite, Nabertherm, Lindberg/Blue,. Termolab, Thermansys Microwave synthesis system Flexiwave, Milestone and PYRO, microwave advanced muffle furnace, Milestone. Twin roller system for high supercooling of melts CCVD equipment’s, (digital flow control, temperatures up to 1100 oC, various gases)
  • Thermal analysis and porosimetry Thermal analysis systems: (DTA/DSC/DTG).: Setaram DSC-131, Shimadzu DTG 60 Thermal Analyzer, Perkin-Elmer, Diamond DTA-TG, Thermo-Mechanical Analyzer,SETARAM-SETSYS Evolution DTA-TG -TMA Thermal Conductivity Analyzer, TCi, C-Therm Technologies Analyzers for specific area measurements and porosity: Sorpomatic 1990 micropore and crypton configuration (N2), ThermoFinnigan, pore size analyzer (Hg), PoreMaster-60, Quantachrome Instruments. B.E.T. surface area and pore size analyzer, Autosorb iQ Quantachrome, (enabling measurements of micro-porous materials). Volumetric gas sorption system capable of performing gas sorption analyses under high pressure conditions (iSorb HP series).
  • Mechanical properties Mechanical properties (Shimadzu, AGS-H, 1000 Ν) Cutting equipment (Zwick, 2 knives) Hydraulic press with heating plates (Specac, temperature up to 300οC, 15tons).
  • X-ray emission spectroscopy laboratory Micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (M1-Mistral, Bruker) Handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Tracer 5i, Bruker) Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (S4-Explorer, Bruker)
Support of students' laboratories
  • Laboratory of General and Inorganic Chemistry
  • Laboratory of Materials I: Introductory to Materials Science
  • Laboratory of Materials II: Ceramics, glasses and composites
  • Laboratory of Physical Chemistry
  • Laboratory of Materials Characterization Techniques
  • Laboratory of Materials Technology (Master curriculum)
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