Expanding industrial use of ceramics

LAY LANGUAGE
Ceramic materials are used in several industrial applications, but their use is limited because of their brittle nature at room temperature. Purdue University researchers have developed a method to make them less brittle at room temperature or lower, making it possible to use ceramics in a wider range of applications.

PROBLEM
Ceramic materials are used as structural materials in industries like aerospace, transportation, energy and manufacturing. They are mechanically strong and chemically inert; resist wear and corrosion; insulate against heat and electricity; and are harder, and have higher melting points, than metals. They also are brittle at room temperature, which limits potential applications.

SOLUTION
Purdue University researchers have created a method that improves ceramic room-temperature plasticity, or ability to be formed into a specific shape or geometry. They introduce high-density defects into ceramics at high temperatures, which change the arrangement of atoms in a structure.

The method improves upon traditional methods used to improve ceramic plasticity. It has been tested and validated on various ceramics of different dimensions in a laboratory setting.

PRIMARY INVESTIGATORS
Haiyan Wang and Xinghang Zhang, College of Engineering

IN THE MEDIA
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INVENTION DISCLOSURE
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LICENSING CONTACTS
Email: otcip@prf.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Email: Steve Martin // sgmartin@prf.org