Diversification in Diversification in Advanced Ceramics: Advanced Ceramics: Working with Working with Academics for Academics for Superior Ceramic Superior Ceramic Process and Product Process and Product Development.Development.Prof. Bill Lee, Prof. Bill Lee, Director, Centre for Advanced Director, Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics (CASC) Structural Ceramics (CASC) and Dept of Materials,and Dept of Materials,w.e.lee@imperial.ac.ukw.e.lee@imperial.ac.uk

Presentation to A New Ceramics Era, Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent

October 14th 2010

UK Universities Ceramics Research.UK Universities Ceramics Research.

• Rising quality and quantity in range of advanced Rising quality and quantity in range of advanced ceramics areas.ceramics areas.

• Large programmes in bioceramics, defence Large programmes in bioceramics, defence ceramics (armour, ultra high temperature), nuclear ceramics (armour, ultra high temperature), nuclear ceramics and functional ceramics.ceramics and functional ceramics.

• Number of well attended technical meetings.Number of well attended technical meetings.• Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics (CASC). Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics (CASC). • Academics already work with many companies Academics already work with many companies

(Pilkington, Morgan Matroc, Rolls Royce, Shell, (Pilkington, Morgan Matroc, Rolls Royce, Shell, DSTL etc.) DSTL etc.)

• Good opportunities for collaborating with Good opportunities for collaborating with world-world-leadingleading research groups e.g. through TSB, EPSRC research groups e.g. through TSB, EPSRC and EC programmes. and EC programmes.

Ceramics Ceramics Research at Research at UK UK Universities.Universities.

Imperials Materials.Imperials Materials.• Research Groups in Materials Department:Research Groups in Materials Department:

– Advanced AlloysAdvanced Alloys– Ceramics and GlassesCeramics and Glasses– Nanotechnology Nanotechnology

• Thin Films and CoatingsThin Films and Coatings• Materials Theory and SimulationMaterials Theory and Simulation• Nanoscale CharacterisationNanoscale Characterisation

– Biomaterials Biomaterials

• Major materials areas include: Major materials areas include: – Energy (esp. nuclear and fuel cells)Energy (esp. nuclear and fuel cells)– Biomaterials, Tissue Eng. & Regenerative MedicineBiomaterials, Tissue Eng. & Regenerative Medicine– Transport (aerospace, land vehicles)Transport (aerospace, land vehicles)– Novel Electronic Devices (thin films, sensors, photonic crystals) Novel Electronic Devices (thin films, sensors, photonic crystals) – Environment (clean up, pollution control & prevention) Environment (clean up, pollution control & prevention)

• Multi-departmental and multi-disciplinary research groups Multi-departmental and multi-disciplinary research groups enabling world-leading research including:enabling world-leading research including:– Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics (CASC)Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics (CASC) – London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) – Centre for Nuclear Engineering (KNOO, Eng. Doc.) Centre for Nuclear Engineering (KNOO, Eng. Doc.) – Institute for BioMedical Engineering (IBME) Institute for BioMedical Engineering (IBME) – Thomas Young Centre for Materials Theory Thomas Young Centre for Materials Theory – Energy Futures Lab/UKERC. Energy Futures Lab/UKERC.

– 36 Academics, £11M annual research income.36 Academics, £11M annual research income.

– 3 EPSRC Platform Grants (in thin films, metals and fuel cells), joint 3 EPSRC Platform Grants (in thin films, metals and fuel cells), joint awards of 2 Programme Grants in Plasmonics, Nanostructured awards of 2 Programme Grants in Plasmonics, Nanostructured Functional Energy Materials and 2 Doctoral Training Centres Functional Energy Materials and 2 Doctoral Training Centres (Materials Theory and Plastic Electronics) and the Nuclear Eng (Materials Theory and Plastic Electronics) and the Nuclear Eng Doc.Doc.

– Other large EPSRC grants including Other large EPSRC grants including CASC CASC , KNOO, TITAN, SIMS/LEIS. , KNOO, TITAN, SIMS/LEIS.

– 7 Technicians, 6 Research Officers, 11 Dept. Support staff 7 Technicians, 6 Research Officers, 11 Dept. Support staff (Admin/PA’s/Secretarial/Clerical). (Admin/PA’s/Secretarial/Clerical).

– ~300 UGs, ~110 PhDs, ~40 PDRAs.~300 UGs, ~110 PhDs, ~40 PDRAs.

– ~15 Visiting Scientists, Professors and Emeritus Profs.~15 Visiting Scientists, Professors and Emeritus Profs.

– 6 spinouts: 6 spinouts: Ceres Power, BioCeramics Therapeutics, Ceres Power, BioCeramics Therapeutics, STS, IMPT, STS, IMPT, Novathera and OSsprayNovathera and OSspray..

Imperial’s Department of MaterialsImperial’s Department of Materials

Ceres Power: A Ceramics Success.

• Founded 2001 by Brian Steele, Founded 2001 by Brian Steele, John Kilner, Alan Atkinson, John Kilner, Alan Atkinson, Bob Rudkin in Materials and Bob Rudkin in Materials and Nigel Brandon in ESE.Nigel Brandon in ESE.

• Exploiting fuel cell technology Exploiting fuel cell technology arising from ~10y EPSRC-arising from ~10y EPSRC-funded research at Imperial funded research at Imperial College into ion-conducting College into ion-conducting ceramics.ceramics.

• 1kW fuel cell stack nearing 1kW fuel cell stack nearing market generating sufficient market generating sufficient CHP for average home from CHP for average home from natural gas. natural gas.

• 50 employees, £250M value.50 employees, £250M value.

VHTRBill Lee Research Group: Ceramics Bill Lee Research Group: Ceramics and Glasses for Extreme Environmentsand Glasses for Extreme Environments• Dr. D Daniel, Dr. E Zapata-Solvas and E Eakins: Processing,Dr. D Daniel, Dr. E Zapata-Solvas and E Eakins: Processing,

Characterisation and Oxidation of ZrBCharacterisation and Oxidation of ZrB22-SiC Ultra High -SiC Ultra High Temperature Composites.Temperature Composites.

• Dr. M Gilbert: Radiation Damage and Gas Dr. M Gilbert: Radiation Damage and Gas Accumulation in Nuclear Ceramics (with Robin Grimes Accumulation in Nuclear Ceramics (with Robin Grimes and Neil Hyatt).and Neil Hyatt).

• Dr. Sivaldo Correira: Using Waste Fired Clay Bricks in Concretes.Dr. Sivaldo Correira: Using Waste Fired Clay Bricks in Concretes.• H Jackson: Processing and Modelling of ZrC as a H Jackson: Processing and Modelling of ZrC as a

Potential VHTR Nuclear Fuel Material (with Robin Grimes).Potential VHTR Nuclear Fuel Material (with Robin Grimes).• D Da Silva: Glass Matrix Composites for Optomechanical and D Da Silva: Glass Matrix Composites for Optomechanical and

High Temperature Applications (with Aldo Boccaccini).High Temperature Applications (with Aldo Boccaccini).• Tayyab Subhani: Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Silica and Bio- Glass Tayyab Subhani: Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Silica and Bio- Glass

(with Milo Shafer and Aldo Boccaccini).(with Milo Shafer and Aldo Boccaccini).• R Sa: Effect of R Sa: Effect of In SituIn Situ Carbon Nanotubes on Refractories Microstructure Carbon Nanotubes on Refractories Microstructure

and Properties.and Properties.• Bai Cui: Crystal Chemistry and Processing of Bai Cui: Crystal Chemistry and Processing of MMn+1n+1AXAXnn Phase Ceramics. Phase Ceramics.• Naeem Ur-rehman: Effect of Processing on Ballistic Naeem Ur-rehman: Effect of Processing on Ballistic

Performance of SiC (with Luc Vandeperre).Performance of SiC (with Luc Vandeperre).• Chin Heng Phuah: Corrosion of Spent AGR Nuclear Chin Heng Phuah: Corrosion of Spent AGR Nuclear

Fuel (with Mary Ryan).Fuel (with Mary Ryan).• John O’Neill: Durability of Spent MOX Nuclear Fuel John O’Neill: Durability of Spent MOX Nuclear Fuel

(with Mary Ryan).(with Mary Ryan).• Xin Tian Yang: Glass Corrosion: Parameter estimation Xin Tian Yang: Glass Corrosion: Parameter estimation

in reaction diffusion problems involving ionic species in reaction diffusion problems involving ionic species with limited data (with Paul Tangney)with limited data (with Paul Tangney)

Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics.Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics.

• Started July 2008 joint between Depts. Materials and Mech Started July 2008 joint between Depts. Materials and Mech Eng. with £5.5M award from EPSRC.Eng. with £5.5M award from EPSRC.

• Strong links to energy (including nuclear), aerospace and Strong links to energy (including nuclear), aerospace and defence, transport and healthcare industries. defence, transport and healthcare industries.

• Includes:Includes:– 3 new academics in measurement of high temp. 3 new academics in measurement of high temp.

properties, high-temp. processing and multiscale and properties, high-temp. processing and multiscale and life prediction modelling plus 3 PDRAs and 3 PhDs.life prediction modelling plus 3 PDRAs and 3 PhDs.

– Full time technical manager and technician. Full time technical manager and technician. – 3 PhDs at other universities (co-supervised at Imperial).3 PhDs at other universities (co-supervised at Imperial).– Support to host research visits.Support to host research visits.– Over £1M of accessible equipment.Over £1M of accessible equipment.– Support to host national/international conferences.Support to host national/international conferences.

New CASC Academics.New CASC Academics.

• Eduardo Saiz, Staff Scientist at Berkeley Lab USA. Eduardo Saiz, Staff Scientist at Berkeley Lab USA.

- High-temperature capillarity & interfaces, spreading- High-temperature capillarity & interfaces, spreading and adhesion in metal-ceramic systems. and adhesion in metal-ceramic systems.

- Freeze casting, bioglass and bioceramics.Freeze casting, bioglass and bioceramics.

• Luc Vandeperre, PhD KuLeuvenBelgium.Luc Vandeperre, PhD KuLeuvenBelgium.

Post Doc Cambridge. Post Doc Cambridge.– Fracture and deformation, AlN doped SiC, mullite, ZrBFracture and deformation, AlN doped SiC, mullite, ZrB22..

– Ceramics for radwaste disposal e.g. cements, geopolymers.Ceramics for radwaste disposal e.g. cements, geopolymers.

• Finn GiulianiFinn Giuliani, , PhD Cambridge, Assistant Prof.PhD Cambridge, Assistant Prof. Linköping University, Sweden. Linköping University, Sweden.

– Mechanical behaviour, MAX phases, FIB-TEM.Mechanical behaviour, MAX phases, FIB-TEM.

– Nanoindentation. Nanoindentation.

Completed Refurbishment 2009.Completed Refurbishment 2009.

• Advanced Manufacturing Facility (AKA Advanced Manufacturing Facility (AKA Machine Shop). Machine Shop).

• 4 academic offices and study space for 28 4 academic offices and study space for 28 PhD students. PhD students.

• Ceramics Laboratory. Ceramics Laboratory.

Newsletter and Website

Occasional CASC newsletter provides news and contact information for visitors to the Centre and for dissemination at meetings and international visits. The first issue, in March 2010, focussed on the three CASC academics staff.

website (www.imperial.ac.uk/casc) contains details of CASC staff, visitors, equipment and activities, as well as a list of future UK ceramic-related meetings.

UK meetings and networks

•The postgraduate speaking competition at CASC SG Meeting meeting selected a UK speaker Ashley White (Cambridge) who won the student speech contest at ECerS (Cracow, June 2009).•CASC organised a 1-DRAC meeting at Imperial on 20 November 2009, which was attended by about 70 people. It was followed by the CASC Official Opening.•CASC organised a Bioceramics meeting Sept 30th 2010 under the SCERN banner, with 75 attendees. •CASC is playing a lead role in co-ordinating UK structural ceramics meetings.

First CASC Summer School on Ceramics

First CASC summer school at Imperial College London, from 14 to 16 September 2010.The school provide tutorials focussing on current developments in ceramic synthesis, processing and mechanical characterisation with particular emphasis on practical aspects and hands-on experience.Aimed at early career engineers and researchers – working in universities or industry.30 attendees (£200 fee for 3 days all in). Will hold again in September 2011.

Equipment

Several large items of equipment are being purchased by the Centre to improve UK capability in the fabrication and modelling of structural ceramics:• Nanoindenter• Server• Freeze dryer• FactSage software• Thermal analysis

All equipment is available to the UK ceramics community. Contact Fraser Wigley (f.wigley@imperial.ac.uk) or Garry Stakalls (g.stakalls@imperial.ac.uk) if you wish to use these facilities.

• Thermo-mechanical testing• Vacuum hot press• ACerS/NIST phase equilibria software

CASC-Industry ConsortiumCASC-Industry Consortium

• To enable sustainability of the centre from To enable sustainability of the centre from 2012.2012.

• Will hold industry open day and workshop in Will hold industry open day and workshop in 2011.2011.

• All members will have access to CASC All members will have access to CASC academic, technical staff and facilities.academic, technical staff and facilities.

• Will involve levels of membership with Will involve levels of membership with graduated annual fee and access to CASC graduated annual fee and access to CASC facilities and people and control over facilities and people and control over projects.projects.

Other National and International Funding Opportunities.Other National and International Funding Opportunities.

• Technology Strategy Board programmes and Technology Strategy Board programmes and calls. TSB supported UK industry innovation, calls. TSB supported UK industry innovation, near market development with £711M budget near market development with £711M budget 2008-11 + £180M from RDAs and £120M from 2008-11 + £180M from RDAs and £120M from RCUK (www.innovateuk.org).RCUK (www.innovateuk.org).– Materials Knowledge Transfer Network.Materials Knowledge Transfer Network.– Knowledge Transfer Partnerships funded by Knowledge Transfer Partnerships funded by

Technology Strategy Board to encourage Technology Strategy Board to encourage business/university collaborations (ktponline.org.uk). business/university collaborations (ktponline.org.uk). Associate employed by company, 40-60% TSB grant. Associate employed by company, 40-60% TSB grant.

• EPSRC programmes (www.epsrc.ac.uk)EPSRC programmes (www.epsrc.ac.uk)– CASE studentshipsCASE studentships– Responsive mode and Managed callsResponsive mode and Managed calls– Strategic Partnerships.Strategic Partnerships.

Other National and International Funding Opportunities.Other National and International Funding Opportunities.

• European Community Framework Programmes (FP VII).– E.g. NMP. 20110201-1 Research and Innovation for

Advanced Multifunctional Ceramic Materials. SME targetted collaborative scheme, Nov 4 deadline, £2-3Meuros (35% to SME who drive science).

Conclusion.Conclusion.

• UK ceramics academic community is thriving.UK ceramics academic community is thriving.

• There are many opportunities to access funds There are many opportunities to access funds to work with world-leading groups in the UK. to work with world-leading groups in the UK.