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.
