|
Chemistry and Technology of Materials
Doctoral Programme,
Faculty of Chemical Technology
Doctoral study of Chemistry and Technology of Materials is a natural consequence of the long-time material research at UCT Prague. The study is based on the cutting-edge physical, chemical and engineering approaches to materials and material technology. Students develop their knowledge about materials; they find and comprehend deeper relationships among preparation and/or production of materials, structure and composition, and their properties. Inevitable part of the study are courses focused to deeper understanding of nature of materials, analytical methods, material characterization, and material technologies. CareersGraduates become not only leading experts in the field of material science and technology, but thanks to their experience in international teamwork they are predetermined to start their career in academic area, international research and technology corporations, innovative companies, and state government. Programme Details
Ph.D. topics for study year 2025/26Analysis of batch-to-glass conversion process
AnnotationThe goal of this project targets the analysis of one of the critical batch-to-glass conversion processes – the evolution and collapse of the primary foam at the batch-melt interface. This porous foam layer, which behaves as a form of insulation layer, results from the products of various gas evolving reactions that are being trapped in the primary melt. This project will focus on understanding the foam morphology, the reactions that lead to primary foaming.
Contact supervisor
Study place:
Laboratory of Inorganic Materials, FCT, VŠCHT Praha
Cold sintering of ceramics – theory and experiment
AnnotationThis dissertation follows one of the latest trends in ceramic science, which is low-temperature (≤400 °C) sintering of ceramics, known as cold sintering. The application of such a low temperature is made possible by the presence of a liquid phase and the application of high pressure. The work focuses on the theory of the entire process, specifically on the effects of the liquid phase (water or solutions of acids and bases), temperature, pressure, and dwell time on sintering. These theoretical foundations will be verified and developed based on experiments, which will include the preparation of ceramic materials (oxides and halides) and the characterization of their composition and microstructure using methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, the characterization of mechanical properties, particularly hardness and fracture toughness (using indentation methods), but also elastic properties (using dynamical methods) and thermal diffusivity or conductivity (using transient heat transfer methods). Part of the work will be image analysis and the modeling of relations between composition, microstructure and properties.
Contact supervisor
Study place:
Department of Glass and Ceramics, FCT, VŠCHT Praha
Cutting-edge cermet composites for high kinetic energy dissipation
AnnotationTurquoise hydrogen, a product of modern approach to methane pyrolysis, appears along with a waste by-product carbon. Modifying the process by adding metal oxide particles, the carbon is transformed into a variety of carbide phases and carbon-based nanostructures. Among these, the TiC and WC, exhibiting one of the highest hardnesses among carbides, will be used for a targeted preparation of cutting-edge materials capable of high kinetic energy dissipation. For this purpose, the carbides/carbon nanostructured composite mixtures prepared by plasma cracking of methane will be thoroughly investigated at the level of powders and their compacts. High fracture toughness Ni-Ti and CoCrNi alloys will further embody them. The incorporation strategy will be initially tested on sandwich structures compacted by SPS, providing the general knowledge to be utilised for DED additive manufacturing. Alternating layers, their composition, mutual intermixing and interconnection will lead to the synthesis of functionally-graded materials with the potential of being implemented as ballistic protection.
Contact supervisor
Study place:
Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering, FCT, VŠCHT Praha
Advanced high-entropy alloys with modifiable properties
AnnotationHigh entropy alloys belong to a relatively new group of materials which are characterized by the preferential formation of solid solutions instead of intermetallic compounds. These materials exhibit several excellent properties, foremostly high strengths while maintaining sufficient ductility, good corrosion resistance and others. By suitable processing of these alloys, it is possible to achieve further substantial improvement of these already very good properties. The work will be focused on the preparation of new advanced high-entropy alloys combining significantly higher strengths while maintaining sufficient plasticity.
Contact supervisor
Study place:
Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering, FCT, VŠCHT Praha
Stability of soil ternary complexes with toxic oxyanion (As/Sb/Se). Effect of iron and organic carbon.
AnnotationIn soil profiles several toxic elements (arsenic, antimony, selenium) occur as oxyanions primarily bound to HFO phases, forming stable surface complexes. This process runs as the balanced adsorption of oxyanions from a soil solution to active adsorption sites of soil particles, in the presence of another anions and dissolved organic matter. During this process the binary and/or ternary soil complexes of HFO, organic matter and oxyanion have been formed. The adsorption and complexation proceed in a colloid environment, which is susceptible to the ionic strength of soil solution (stabilization or aggregation of particles). According to recent results the stability of formed ternary complexes is critical for the long-term stability of binding oxyanions. The aim of this work will be to qualify the formation of organic matter – ferric oxide – anionic particle ternary komplexes, to describe their structure and binding properties, and to estimate the environmental impact to the stability of complex components, particularly the toxic oxyanionic forms.
Contact supervisor
Study place:
Department of Solid State Chemistry, FCT, VŠCHT Praha
Melting processes in vitrification technologies
AnnotationThe analysis of the processes during the vitrification process is performed using a mathematical model. Input data of the model will be obtained by a set of experimental methods including high temperature monitoring of melting processes, analysis of released gases, thermal analysis and determination of oxidative reduction equilibrium in melts.
Contact supervisor
Study place:
Laboratory of Inorganic Materials, FCT, VŠCHT Praha
Hydratation and adsorption properties of waste aluminosilicates in water management
AnnotationAluminosilicates, together with e.g. powdered building waste, biochar, lignin are able to adsorb and keep a large amount of water compare to soils and sediments. The mixing of these materials with selected soils in controlled dosages can support water retention in soils, which is significant due to more and more often "dry periods" and generally lower precipitation. A controlled dosage of the material with high water retention to soil ecosystems can improve markedly a water regime and hydrological cycle.
Contact supervisor
Study place:
Department of Solid State Chemistry, FCT, VŠCHT Praha
Improved durability and application properties of additively manufactured tools for automotive
AnnotationAdditive manufacturing (AM) provides the possibility of a step change in material efficiency by increasing the ‘buy-to-fly’ ratio by reducing material waste, design optimisation by placing material only where it is needed in a component, and the possibility of repair of components to dramatically extend service life. For these benefits to be fully realised, optimised circular approaches to AM are required including the use of recycled materials, improved feedstock (powder) manufacturing with increased yields, manufacturing with low or no defects and resultant parts with excellent performance including the ability to repair and remanufacture to dramatically improve life span. In order to reduce the carbon footprint of car production, this project will aim at optimization of additive manufacturing technologies in order to reach longer lifetime of produced tooling for car part production at reduced manufacturing environmental costs. It will be allowed by deeper understanding into the relationship between the properties of metal powder, manufacturing parameters and application properties. Tooling with improved corrosion, wear or heat resistance will thus be produced. In particular, the project will look at (1) understanding into the effect of powder composition on final performance of produced parts, (2) increase powder re-use or application of powders made of recycled metals, (3) optimization of post-treatment techniques such as fine machining, heat treatment and nitridation, (4) development of methodologies for assessment of product durability, including advanced defectoscopy techniques, mechanical tests and corrosion resistance, and (5) identification of areas where material or energy savings can be reached without compromising the application properties. The project will be carried out with the support of a major Czech car manufacturer and in cooperation with an Australian university.
Contact supervisor
Study place:
Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering, FCT, VŠCHT Praha
|
Updated: 20.1.2022 16:26, Author: Jan Kříž