Multidisciplinary Studies on Ceramics Group

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURAL RELIABILITY

MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS FOR DENTAL IMPLANTOPROSTHESES

SEPIOLITE-BASED ADDITIVES AS A VECTOR OF NANOPARTICLES TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTIES OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MATRICES.

GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE PROCESSING

We work on the design of new materials with a range of specific properties for a given application. Special emphasis is placed on the control of process parameters in relation to the microstructure and on the development of economically viable manufacturing technologies with extremely high performance. See our recent work on green and sustainable processing of piezoelectrics “BaZrO₃-BaTiO₃-CaTiO₃ piezoceramics by a water-based mixed-oxide route: Synergetic action of attrition milling and lyophilization” here

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURAL RELIABILITY

The group specialises in the mechanical behaviour, reliability and the relationship between microstructure and in-service behaviour of a wide range of advanced materials. For example, it studies the biomechanical behaviour of different commercial structural prostheses in order to replace the materials from which they are made with new materials that are more reliable, durable and at the same time multifunctional. This last reserach line is based on the basic knowledge acquired in the field of biomaterials to transfer it to a real clinical problem.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPECT ISSUE

During the last two decades a great number of countries in all continents have legislated to replace commercial ceramics based on the xPbTiO₃-(1-x)PbZrO₃ solid solution, known as PZT, with Lead-Free materials. See our review: "Towards Lead-Free Piezoceramics: Facing a Synthesis Challenge".

MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS FOR DENTAL IMPLANTOPROSTHESES

Nowadays, the problems related to dental implants, in which this line of research is included, have an extraordinary impact both from a social point of view (in the EU alone the number of people who need implants is more than 100 million) and from an economic point of view. It is a sector with a spectacular growth (>20% per year), reaching a volume of € 5000 million in the EU alone. The results of this line have led to the development of new generation of biomaterials for use in dental applications with a higher success rate than current implants.

SEPIOLITE-BASED ADDITIVES AS A VECTOR OF NANOPARTICLES TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTIES OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MATRICES.

The main objective of this research line is the development of nanocomposite materials with an inorganic or polymeric matrix with multiple functionalities, e.g. high mechanical and tribological resistance, biocidal activity, etc. Sepiolite is able to host nanoparticles and optimise nano/microparticulate materials with many interesting properties, which are being exploited in products with new functionalities.

Description and Mission of the group

The components of this Group are the ICMM researchers José F. Bartolomé, Sonia López Esteban and Lorena Pardo. The activity of the group is related to the development of ceramic or composite materials with multiple functionalities. These activities have aspects related to the three research lines of ICMM:

Materials for a sustainable world
Materials for health
Materials for digital information

Processing

Design of new materials with special focus on the control of process parameters to taylor the microstructure and on the development of economically viable routes for extremely high performance.

This activities aim to determine the structural fiability and realiability of ceramics and composites with a wide range of functionalities.

Study of green-piezoelectric ceramics - ferroelectric poly-crystals - for sensors, actuators and transducers for numerous devices in industry, health, energy and other emerging technologies.

The ICMM Group of Multidisciplinary Studies on Ceramics was renovated in May 2024 to join diverse expertise related with advanced functionalities of ceramic materials. From Left to right: Sonia López Esteban, Jose F. Bartolomé Gómez, Victor Escribano Castillo, Lorena Pardo and Ana Torres Muñoz