Ceramics and refractories

Due to a well-developed expertise in the application of technical ceramics, ceramic composites and refractories for industrial needs, RINA is acknowledged as a valuable link between the industrial world and the academic institutions in this area.

Our research and development activities are mainly focused on ceramics for high and ultra-high temperatures, and for operation under extremely harsh conditions (e.g. oxidative environment, wetting by liquid metals and alloys, interaction with liquid slags and molten rocks).

Fields of expertise

• Pre-consolidation processing:
  • Dispersion and rheology of slurries
• Green forming:
  • Types and functions of additives and their removal
  • Dry pressing and unaxial dry pressing
  • Cold isostaic pressing
  • Slip casting
• Conventional consolidation methods:
  • Solid state sintering in air, vacuum and controlled atmosphere
  • Gas pressure sintering (up to 10 MPa)
  • Liquid phase sintering
  • Hot pressing
• Modern production methods:
  • Reaction sintering
  • Spark plasma sintering.

Deliverables

Examples of our research activities are:

• Development of non-oxide ceramics and composites (SiC, Si3N4, SiAlON) for high temperature applications (e.g. molten metals and alloys)
• Development of electro conductive ceramics for furnaces
• Development of lightweight thermal insulation
• Development of UHTC materials for aero-space applications.