Discover the exciting world of flash sintering and its advantages like lower energy consumption and faster manufacturing speed. Learn about the history of ceramics and the establishment of a ceramics hub in Stoke-on-Trent. The podcast also features insights from Lucideon, a leading expert in the field. Don't miss the sponsors and an interesting article on multi-phase flash sintering technique for 3D complex shapes.
Flash centering is a rapid sintering technique that offers advantages such as lower energy consumption, shorter manufacturing times, and control over material performance compared to conventional techniques.
Implementing flash centering in industrial applications faces challenges in thermal management and material optimization, but it holds potential for various areas including nuclear waste disposition, solid-state electrolytes, and coatings.
Deep dives
Introduction to Lucidian and its Role in Advanced Ceramics
Lucidian is an advanced materials consultancy based in the UK that specializes in developing and commercializing advanced ceramics. Their expertise lies in solving problems related to new processes, formulations, and technology platforms. Lucidian collaborates with universities and academia to bring technologies to market and help clients reach technology readiness levels (TRLs) six and seven. Through a government-funded project, Lucidian is building an advanced ceramic pilot line that aims to create an advanced ceramic hub and provide free access to consortium members. Their focus is on developing flash centering technology for applications such as nuclear waste disposition, environmental barrier coatings, solid-state electrolytes, and batteries.
Flash Centering: Rapid Sintering Technique
Flash centering is a rapid sintering technique that involves applying an electric field to a ceramic during the centering process. There are two variations of flash centering: contact flash and contactless flash. In contact flash, a ceramic piece is sandwiched between electrodes, heated to a specific temperature, and subjected to an electric field. This process leads to rapid centering with optical emissions. Contactless flash, on the other hand, involves igniting a plasma and rastering it across a surface, making it suitable for thin layer ceramics and coatings. Flash centering offers advantages such as lower energy consumption, shorter manufacturing times, and control over material performance compared to conventional techniques.
Technical Challenges and Potential Applications of Flash Centering
Implementing flash centering in industrial applications faces several challenges. One challenge is thermal management, particularly in ensuring homogeneous heating and preventing localized hotspots. The development of nonlinear real-time control software helps address these challenges by actively monitoring and adjusting the power delivery. Flash centering is a material-driven process, and optimizing parameters for each specific material is crucial. Lucidian is currently engaged in research projects for flash centering applications in nuclear waste disposition, environmental barrier coatings, and battery technologies. These research efforts involve scaling up flash centering and designing tailored processes for optimal performance.
Lucidian's Journey with Flash Centering and Future Prospects
Lucidian's involvement with flash centering began with a focus on reducing energy consumption in the ceramics industry. Collaborating with universities and researchers, they explored the feasibility of flash centering for tileware production. While tileware did not work out as a suitable application due to mass manufacturing requirements, Lucidian gained valuable knowledge in thermal management and process optimization. This knowledge has paved the way for flash centering's potential in other areas, such as nuclear waste disposition, solid-state electrolytes, and coatings. However, commercializing flash centering involves overcoming technical and quality control challenges, as well as building partnerships with equipment manufacturers and end users.
Delve into the new (ish) exciting world of flash sintering and learn how it compares to Spark Plasma Sintering. Also get ready for a little history lesson on ceramic production in the UK.
This episode is sponsored by Lucideon, learn more about their work and job opportunities by visiting their website.
This episode is sponsored by Materials Today, an Elsevier community dedicated to the creation and sharing of materials science knowledge and experience through their peer-reviewed journals, academic conferences, educational webinars, and more.
Thanks to Kolobyte and Alphabot for letting us use their music in the show!
If you have questions or feedback please send us emails at materialism.podcast@gmail.com or connect with us on social media: Instagram, Twitter.
Materialism Team: Taylor Sparks (co-creator,co-host), Andrew Falkowski (co-creator), Jared Duffy (production, marketing, and editing).
Keywords: Materials Science Manufacturing Ceramics UK Flash Sintering
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
