Conducts applied research in the field of materials science and technology, with a special focus on the study of porous ceramic materials. These innovative materials are produced using advanced Additive Manufacturing techniques to create custom, cutting-edge structures that are employed in critical sectors such as energy, chemistry, and transportation. These materials enhance performance and efficiency, addressing current challenges and shaping the future of these strategic industries.
Hybrid Materials Laboratory - MEMTi
Laboratory of
Hybrid Materials
The research is focused on the development, characterization, and study of the relationships between production processes and the final properties of innovative materials of technological interest, which are investigated within the numerous research projects that the Laboratory conducts in collaboration with companies and institutions both in Switzerland and abroad.
The main research activity involves exploring new Additive Manufacturing approaches to produce ceramic objects with highly complex geometries, using various types of 3D printing techniques. These components are designed with advanced design methods, simulated using numerical computations, manufactured, and then experimentally characterized using a range of equipment.
The Laboratory is also active in the manufacturing of polymer and ceramic matrix composites.
The main research activity involves exploring new Additive Manufacturing approaches to produce ceramic objects with highly complex geometries, using various types of 3D printing techniques. These components are designed with advanced design methods, simulated using numerical computations, manufactured, and then experimentally characterized using a range of equipment.
The Laboratory is also active in the manufacturing of polymer and ceramic matrix composites.
The expertise within the Laboratory primarily focuses on ceramic and polymer matrix composites, ceramic foams and lattices, microstructure analysis, material characterization, innovation in production processes, and the development of materials for energy and chemical applications.
The Laboratory utilizes a wide range of tools for the preparation and characterization of new materials. In parallel with experimental activities, it also engages in modeling and simulation to deepen the theoretical understanding of specific processes, or the properties of the materials being studied.
The Laboratory utilizes a wide range of tools for the preparation and characterization of new materials. In parallel with experimental activities, it also engages in modeling and simulation to deepen the theoretical understanding of specific processes, or the properties of the materials being studied.
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Ceramic and polymer matrix composites
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Material characterization
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Ceramic foams and lattices
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Innovation in production processes
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Microstructure analysis
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Development of materials for energy and chemical applications
The Laboratory utilizes a wide range of tools for the preparation and characterization of new materials. In parallel with experimental activities, it also engages in modeling and simulation to deepen the theoretical understanding of specific processes, or the properties of the materials being studied.
Design, fabrication and characterization of new ceramic and composite materials.
The primary activity of the Laboratory is the production of ceramic materials with highly complex geometries using various 3D printing techniques.
Stereolithography (SLA)
Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF)
Binder Jetting (BJ)
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
The primary activity of the Laboratory is the production of ceramic materials with highly complex geometries using various 3D printing techniques.
The computational design of complex architectures is achieved through numerical codes specifically developed over the years and continuously improved. These codes allow the generation of porous materials suitable for 3D printing and the execution of topological optimizations to create high-performance ceramic components.
The computational design of complex architectures is achieved through numerical codes specifically developed over the years and continuously improved. These codes allow the generation of porous materials suitable for 3D printing and the execution of topological optimizations to create high-performance ceramic components.
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Stereolithography (SLA)
Tecnica di produzione additiva che consente di creare oggetti tridimensionali a partire da dati digitali elaborati con un software CAD. Utilizza resine fotosensibili che vengono solidificate tramite una sorgente di luce UV, permettendo la realizzazione di modelli precisi e dettagliati.
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Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF)
This additive manufacturing technology uses a laser beam to sinter powder particles, which can be polymer-based or composite. The laser selectively fuses the particles layer by layer, creating three-dimensional objects without the need for support structures.
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Binder Jetting (BJ)
This 3D printing technology uses a powder bed, where layers of powder are bonded by a binder deposited by an inkjet print head. The process is repeated layer by layer to create three-dimensional structures from a CAD file.
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Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
This 3D printing technique uses a thermoplastic filament that is melted and deposited layer by layer to construct an object. A CAD software generates the digital model, which is then printed using an extrusion head that deposits the molten material following the predefined path.
The computational design of complex architectures is achieved through numerical codes specifically developed over the years and continuously improved. These codes allow the generation of porous materials suitable for 3D printing and the execution of topological optimizations to create high-performance ceramic components.
Computational design and topology optimization of complex architectures for additive manufacturing.
The expertise available within the Hybrid Materials Laboratory enables its operation across the fields of materials science and technology, computational design, chemistry, and energy.
In particular, the Laboratory focuses on:
In particular, the Laboratory focuses on:
- computational design and simulation of complex geometries
- materials science and technology
- 3D printing of advanced ceramics
- thermal treatments and infiltrations
- catalytic coatings
- materials characterization
- resistive, electrified, and microwave heat exchange
- oxidation
- catalysis
- process intensification
3D printed carbon cellular structures for a thermochemical seasonal heat storage system
The main research activities currently underway at the Laboratory include:
- Development and characterization of ceramic foams and lattices, fabricated through additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, for the creation of porous burners, catalytic supports, radiators, solar absorbers, catalysts, air/water filters, and heat exchangers.
- Development and characterization of densified ceramic materials through infiltration techniques using ceramic precursors and reactive alloys for high-temperature applications.
- Development and characterization of ceramic matrix composites for aerospace and high-temperature applications.
- Development and characterization of polymer matrix composites for electrical applications.
- Computational design of highly complex components for the study and optimization of their thermal, electrical, fluid dynamic, and mechanical behavior.
3D printed and sintered architected catalytic ceramic supports.
Computational design and topology optimization of complex architectures for additive manufacturing.
The computational design of complex architectures is achieved through numerical codes specifically developed over the years and continuously improved. These codes allow the generation of porous materials suitable for 3D printing and the execution of topological optimizations to create high-performance ceramic components.
The main research activities currently underway at the Laboratory include:
The main research activities currently underway at the Laboratory include:
- Development and characterization of ceramic foams and lattices, fabricated through additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, for the creation of porous burners, catalytic supports, radiators, solar absorbers, catalysts, air/water filters, and heat exchangers.
- Development and characterization of densified ceramic materials through infiltration techniques using ceramic precursors and reactive alloys for high-temperature applications.
- Development and characterization of ceramic matrix composites for aerospace and high-temperature applications.
- Development and characterization of polymer matrix composites for electrical applications.
- Computational design of highly complex components for the study and optimization of their thermal, electrical, fluid dynamic, and mechanical behavior.
The Laboratory is equipped with a wide range of instruments for the preparation and characterization of new materials, including mixers, pulverizers, presses, cutting machines, viscometers, microscopes, dilatometer, Nabertherm debinding furnace (up to 1000°C), Nabertherm sintering furnace (up to 1800°C), KEOS pyrolysis furnace (up to 1000°C), XERION high-temperature graphite furnace (up to 2200°C), thermogravimetric analyzer, calorimeter, mercury porosimeter, helium pycnometer, powder pycnometer, laboratory setups for high-temperature (up to 1500°C) heat exchange testing, pressure drop, oxidation, and aging under different environments and conditions, a system for catalytic activity evaluation (up to 1000°C), laboratory setups for resistive and microwave heating, rigs for testing chemical processes at the laboratory scale (up to 1000°C), and four high-resolution 3D printers:
- Admatec Admaflex 130 (Stereolithography)
- EOS Formiga P110 FDR (Laser Powder Bed Fusion)
- ExOne Innovent+ (Binder Jetting)
- BCN3D Epsilon W27 (Fused Filament Fabrication)
Additive manufacturing with Binder Jetting technique of high-performance heat exchangers for high temperature application (above 1000°C).