Ceramics and Composite Materials

Irena Žmak graduated Mechanical Engineering and completed Master’s and PhD studies in Materials Engineering at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, where she currently holds the tenured assistant professor position at the Department of Materials. Her primary research and teaching fields include the artificial neural network modelling of material properties and process parameters, and the analysis of structure and properties of composite materials, modern bio- and biodegradable materials, and materials recycling. She teaches advance materials technologies too. She has published many scientific papers in relevant scientific journals, edited a special issue of a high-impact journal, written a few book chapters, and edited two conference proceedings .

Artificial Neural Network Modelling of Material Properties and Process Parameters,Analysis, Structure and properties of Composite Materials, Modern Bio- and Biodegradable Materials,Materials Recycling

Dr. Xiaojian Mao is an associate professor at Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SICCAS). Dr. Mao got his PhD degree at Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, and then worked as a Postdoc at Risoe DTU in Denmark in 2009-2010. He worked as an associate professor at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics since 2012. He was the winner of Shanghai technological invention award, Shanghai Rising-Star of young scientist. He was a visit researcher at NIMS Japan in 2016 and got the support of “One Hundred Person Project” of SICCAS in 2017. Dr. Mao focuses his research on transparent ceramics and the application for infrared windows and domes. He is the coordinator and participant in about 10 projects in the field of transparent ceramics and infrared windows and domes. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and applied 30 patents on ceramic materials and ceramic processing

Transparent ceramics, Ceramic Processing, Infrared Materials

Prof. Dr. J. Ma. Rincón is a Senior Research Professor (Profesor de Investigación) at the Instituto E. Torroja de Ciencias de la Construcción, CSIC, Madrid, Spain, where he is the foundator and Head of the Glass- Ceramics Laboratory. He was the former General Secretary of the Spanish Glass and Ceramic Society and Editor - in- Chief of the scieniific bulletin: Bol. Soc. Esp. Ceram.Vidr (period 1988-92). Since last 2006 he has promoted as Head of the new Department at IETcc, CSIC: Construction Systems for Buildings (Sistemas Constructivos de la Edificación) Dr. Rincón since 1970 has conducted glass-ceramics and electron microscopy researchs and in all type of ceramics, glasses and glass-ceramics and their raw materials, being the author of seven monograph books ( three edited on english ) and 170 scientific papers in glass-ceramics and advanced ceramics. He worked as invited Professor at the Department of Materials Science and National Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the University of Califomia, Berkeley during 1984-85. There he collaborated with Prof. Gareth Thomas in microstructure and microanalysis (AEM and HREM ) characterization of zirconial/ mullite composite ceramics. The group leadered by Prof. Rincon is mainly investigating, under european and industry contracts, in the design and development of new glass-ceramics for coatings and by recycling of industrial wastes. Also is member of several national and international scientific nettworks, such as the TC05 Commitee of the International Commission of Glass focused in inmobilization and recycling of industrial wastes in glassy matrices. He is reviewer of various SCI Bulletins in glasses, ceramics, construction materials and environmental protection. Since last 15 years his group is specially active in the VITRIFICATION and RECYCLING of a wide range of industrial residues, from minerals and natural stone production, metallurgical, ceramics, electronic, energy production, etc…and simulated radioactive industrial wastes. Due to his experience in electron microscopy and microanalysis he has also conducted research in archaeometric characterization of ancient glasses and ceramics giving rise to several SCI papers in this area. In the recent period (2011-15) Prof. Rincón was the President of the Spanish Society of Scientists (AEC) and editor-in chief of the divulgation bulletin: Acta Científica y Tecnológica.

new glass-ceramics for coatings and recycling of industrial wastes

Piedad N de Aza studied Chemistry at the Autonoma University of Madrid and Ceramic at the Santiago de Compostela University where she received her doctoral degree. She did a postdoctoral stage at the IRC in Biomaterials at the Queen Mary & Wetsfield College, University of London (U.K.) working on in vitro and in vivo behavior of bioceramics. At this moment, she is the Head of the Materials Science, Optic and Electronic Technology Department, Professor of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering and Researcher in the Bioengineering Institute at the Miguel Hernandez de Elche University.

Design and developing new polycrystalline biomaterials with controlled microstructures making use of appropriated phase equilibrium diagrams and to study, a part of their physical properties, their behavior in vitro (sterm cells) and in vivo (bioactivity in rats and dogs). Actually, main emphasis is putting on the tissue engineering field study of the tissue-ceramic implant interfaces by using SEM-EDX, TEM and HRTEM with EDS and micro-Raman spectroscopy

Dr Frédéric Aguesse received his PhD degree from Imperial College London, UK, in 2012 following a Master Science degree at the University Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. In February 2012, Frédéric Aguesse started as a postdoctoral researcher and then Associate Researcher (from 2015) at CIC Energigune on ceramic materials for all-solid state batteries and post-mortem analysis. Since his early start Frédéric developed collaborations with worldwide institutes such as ETH Zürich, MIT Boston, the London Centre of Nanotechnology and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan, where he worked as research visitor in 2010. He also performed a 6-month stay at Argonne National Laboratory in the Battery and Energy Storage Division. Dr. Aguesse presents a large knowledge on the development of ceramics, functional materials and thin films by means of physical vapour deposition techniques. During his PhD he studied the magnetoelectric effect in thin films and at CIC Energigune he works in developing all-solid state batteries and dedicates his skills for the preparation of ceramics with high Li-ions conductive properties and their integration in full cells. Frédéric constantly looks for opportunities to develop new skills and aptitudes and he is acquiring further experience by developing an inspiring protocol for a fast characterisation of aged/end-of-the-life Li-ion cells in close collaboration with international battery companies. His research has been published in more than 20 peer-reviewed papers and he owns a patent on all-solid-state batteries.

Functional materials, Thin films

R&D Responsible in Minera Sabater S. L. (2000-2004), dedicated to the exploitation of white clays for the ceramic sector. R&D Director in Tierra Atomizada S.A. (2004-2012), producer of spray-dried powder for the ceramic tiles industry, where I developed my doctoral thesis totally focused on the industry. My work was focused on the formulation of new ceramic pastes and additives applied on the industrial plant from previous laboratory studies, on the managing and maintenance of equipments for the characterization of materials (rheometer, diffractometer, spectrometer of X-rays, laser diffraction analyser of particle size distribution, differential and thermogravimetric analyser dilatometer, hot stage microscope, spectrophotometer, analyser of organic and inorganic carbon, optical microscope and scanning electronic microscope). In addition, I took part in the production of several subsidized projects by Spanish Government, focused on the revaluation of Spanish clays for the ceramic sector. Since 2013 until now, I am a researcher in the Research Group of Solid State Chemistry in the department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry of Universitat Jaume I, led by the full professor Juan B Carda Castelló. My research is focused on the development of ceramic and glass-ceramics materials formulated from industrial residues as recycled glass, ceramic chamottes, ashes from the thermal power station, etc. My objective consists of revaluing all these industrial residues in materials of high added value to reduce the consumption of natural raw materials, to save energy during the industrial process and to promote the circular economy and the friendly environment industrial processes. It is emphasized the use of these materials as supports to replace the soda-lime glass in thin films solar cells based on the chalcogenides technology, able to promote the “Building Integration Photovoltaics” concept. I take part in projects subsidized by the Department of Economy and Competitiveness of Spanish Government. I am author of several articles published in scientific journals such as Ceramics International, Bulletin of the Spanish Society of Ceramics and Glass, Materials Letters, etc. I have taken part in international congresses as the International Conference European Ceramic Society or the EUCheMS Chemistry Congress and in national congresses such as the Congress of Spanish Society of Ceramics and Glass

New glass-ceramics and ceramics from recycled industrial residues to produce highly added value materials.

Maximina Romero (Ph.D, Scientific Researcher at the Spanish National Research Council - CSIC) joined the Group of Vitreous and Ceramic Materials in Construction in 1991. From October 1996 until 1998 she was Marie Curie fellowship at the Department of Materials, Imperial College, London, UK, acquiring a wide knowledge on glass nucleation phenomena and its study by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA). Dr. Romero has co-authored more than 150 scientific publications in the field of glass, ceramics and glass-ceramic materials. She is also scientific co-editor of 3 materials science books. Her papers published in SCI journals have been referenced about 1500 times, which leads an h-index of 24. Dr Romero's current research interests include compositional design, processing and characterization of frits for ceramic glazes; development of new building materials by sintering and crystallization of glasses; foam glasses and porous ceramic materials; valorization of industrial and mining wastes by vitrification and sintering processes and processing and technological characterization of ceramic tile.

compositional design, processing and characterization of frits for ceramic glazes; development of new building materials by sintering and crystallization of glasses; foam glasses and porous ceramic materials; valorization of industrial and mining wastes by vitrification and sintering processes and processing and technological characterization of ceramic tile.

Dr. Fenniri was educated at the Université de Strasbourg, France, receiving his undergraduate degree in chemistry and biochemistry, and his M.Sc./Ph.D. degrees in supramolecular science and engineering under Nobel Laureate Professor Jean-Marie Lehn. He then joined the Scripps Research Institute in California, USA, where he carried out his postdoctoral training under the supervision of Professor Richard A. Lerner. In 1997 he moved to Purdue University, where he initiated his independent academic career, and established the Purdue Laboratory for Chemical Nanotechnology. In 2003, He joined National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) as a founding member and the University of Alberta where he led the Supramolecular Nanoscale Assembly program. Since 2013, Dr. Fenniri has been Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. Dr. Fenniri has achieved international recognition as a leader in the areas of self-assembly, supramolecular chemistry, nanomedicine, and materials sciences. His group works at the forefront of basic and applied nanosciences, in collaboration with various academic institutions, federal laboratories, and with the private sector. Dr. Fenniri’s contributions appeared in over 220 publications, 20 patents and patent applications, and over 450 contributed national and international conference papers. Dr. Fenniri has also presented his work in over 170 invited distinguished lectures, colloquia and seminars around the globe. Dr. Fenniri is the recipient of several academic and professional honours and awards, including the Xerox UAC Award, the 3M Faculty Award, the Showalter Trust Fund Award, the Trask Trust Fund Technology Innovation Award, the Cottrell Teacher Scholar Award, and the US National Science Foundation Career Award. Dr. Fenniri is Member of the Editorial Board of several scientific journals and serves on several national and international scientific boards, panels, and committees.

Nanotechnology for biomedical applications, nanoscale materials for drug delivery, and cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine.

Prof. Oleg Figovsky is the founder and R&D the Polymate Ltd. - International Nanotechnology Research Centre where he is working on research in nanostructured corrosion-resistant composite materials and protective coatings based on a polymer and silicate matrix. He is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Head of the UNESCO Chair "Green Chemistry". For his inventions in nanotechnologies he was awarded gold and silver medals at IENA-98 and Gold Angel Prize at the Genius 2006 exhibition.

Advanced composite materials based on polymer & silicate binders, Testing of materials and structure under extreme conditions, including strength and creep of structural materials (metals & composites) in the three-dimensional stress state, Advanced coating for corrosion protection of metals and concretes, Nano materials & technologies