Course detail

Nonmetallic Materials

FSI-WNEAcad. year: 2025/2026

The introductory course of non-metallic inorganic materials focused on the structure of ceramic materials and their physical and chemical properties. Lectures also provide, in addition to specific information on ceramic materials, the theoretical foundations of chemical thermodynamics and introduction to polymers.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

7

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. RNDr. Karel Maca, Dr.

Department

Institute of Materials Science and Engineering (ÚMVI)

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of physics, chemical thermodynamics and kinetics and also synthesis of ceramics on the level of introductory university courses is assumed.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Course-unit credit requirements: attendance at seminars and fulfilment of assignments. Examination verifies the knowledge of the theory and its applications to solving practical problems. The exam consists of written and oral parts; students take the oral exam even though they do not succeed in the written part.
Attendance at all practical lessons and fulfilment of assignments is required. In case students do not meet these conditions they can be given additional assignments.

Aims

The objective of the course is to make students familiar with the fundamentals of ceramic material science from the viewpoint of structure-properties relations.
Students will be able to use the acquired knowledge in the related master studies of material engineering and apply it to the solution of appropriate problems of industrial practice particularly the problems connected with the selection of special ceramic materials.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker: Fyzika, Část 2: Mechanika – Termodynamika, VUTIUM, Brno 2000 (CS)
D.W.Richerson: Modern Ceramic Engineering,Marcel Dekker,New York 1992 (EN)
GREEN, D. J. An introduction to the mechanical properties of ceramics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004, 336 s. ISBN 0-521-59913-x. (EN)
J. Cihlář: Chemie slévárenských materiálů, Nakladatelství VUT v Brně, 1991 (CS)
K. Maca: Základy chemické termodynamiky a kinetiky, učební texty ÚMVI, 2005 (CS)
M.W.Barsoum: Fundamentals of Ceramics, IOP Publishing, London 2003 (EN)
V. Šatava: Úvod do Fyzikální Chemie Silikátů: SNTL, Praha, 1965 (CS)
W.D.Kingery, H.K.Bowen and D.R. Uhlmann: Introduction to Ceramics,Wiley, New York 1976 (EN)

Recommended reading

J. Cihlář: Chemie slévárenských materiálů, Nakladatelství VUT v Brně, 1991 (CS)
D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker: Fyzika, Část 2: Mechanika – Termodynamika, VUTIUM, Brno 2000 (CS)
M.W.Barsoum: Fundamentals of Ceramics, IOP Publishing, London 2003
W.D.Kingery, H.K.Bowen and D.R. Uhlmann: Introduction to Ceramics,Wiley, New York 1976

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-ZSI-P Bachelor's

    specialization MTI , 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. RNDr. Karel Maca, Dr.

Syllabus

1. Principles of chemical thermodynamics
Classification of thermodynamic systems, variables and relationships. Equilibrium criteria. First and second thermodynamic theorem, types of energy in systems, entropy.
Relationships and variables

2.Thermodynamic potentials of closed systems. Criterion and conditions for derivation of thermodynamic equilibrium. Thermochemistry. Heat capacities. Dependence of heat capacities, reaction heat, entropy and Gibbs energy on temperature. Changes in Gibbs energy in chemical reactions.

3. Phase equilibria - single- and multi-component homogeneous systems (solutions) .Gibbs phase law. Single-phase phase diagrams in (p, T) space. Clapeyron and Clausius - Clapeyron equations. Multi-component systems: expression of composition, partial molar variables, chemical potential. Ideal solutions - gases, liquids. Raoult's law. Real solutions. Equilibrium of the gas and liquid phases of a mixture.

4. Polymers
Basic terms, history, nomenclature, chemical composition of polymers, structure of polymers, molecular weight and its determination, basic properties of polymers, polyreaction.

5. Bonding in non-metallic inorganic materials (NAM)
Structure of atoms. Solids with ionic bonding and covalent bonding. Intermediate forces.
Structure of NAM - Crystal Structures. Binary ionic compounds. Composite crystalline structures.

6. Structural defects and structure of glass NAMs
Structural defects - Spot defects: stoichiometric, non-stoichiometric, internal. Notation of point defects. Linear defects. Planar defects. Creating glasses. Models of glass structure. Structure of oxide glasses

7. Phase diagrams of selected NAMs.  Binary and ternary diagrams of significant NAMs. Mixability of the phase-intermediate compounds-solid NAM solutions. Chemical Reactions in NAM - Kinetics of heterogeneous reactions. Sintering of NAM

8. NAM microstructure. Microstructural characteristics, Methods, Microstructure vs properties, Typical microstructures: advanced ceramics, glass, Fractography

9. Physical and thermal properties, mechanical properties. Density, Porosity, Melting temperature, Thermal capacity and conductivity. Thermal expansion. Temperature shock. Flexibility, Strength, Hardness, Fracture toughness, Ductile vs brittle behavior

10. Strengthening and toughening of NAM, Influence of external conditions on the properties of NAM. Self-reinforcing ceramics, Transformation hardening, Mechanisms of hardening. Creep, Static fatigue, Chemical effects, Mechanically induced defects, Thermal shock

11. Electron and ion conductivity, dielectric properties.  NAM band theory, Conductors, non-conductors, semiconductors, Concentration of charge conductors and their mobility. Defects - migration of ions, Ionic conductivity, Solid electrolytes and their applications. Dielectric properties. Polarization mechanisms. Dielectric losses. Capacitors and insulators.

12. Magnetic properties and optical properties of NAM. Para-, ferro-, and antiferro- and ferrimagnetism. Magnetic domains and hysteresis curve, Types of magnetic NAM. Optical properties – absorption, refractive index, dispersion, transparency, color. 

13. Oxide, carbide and nitride NAM.Typical representatives of NAM, Fabrication, Properties, Use

Laboratory exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. RNDr. Karel Maca, Dr.

Syllabus

  1. Calculations according to chemical equations. Thermochemistry - thermal capacities, reaction heat and their dependence on temperature.
  2. Dependence of Gibbs energy on temperature.
  3. Clapeyron equation, Clausius-Clapeyron equation.
  4. Nomenclature and structure of polymers, molecular weight calculations, examples of polymerizations, polycondensation, polyaddition.
  5. Preparation of basic technological processes and aids for production of bodies from advanced ceramics by slip-casting method.
  6. Practical preparation of stable ceramic suspension and its use for advanced ceramic production by slip-casting method.
  7. Geometric adjustment, measurement and evaluation of density of ceramic bodies in green body state.
  8. Presentation of students on a given topic, measurement and evaluation of density of ceramic bodies after heat treatment (sintering) and their treatment by embedding in polystyrene for the grinding and polishing process.
  9. Ceramography of prepared ceramic bodies consisting of manual and automatic grinding and polishing.
  10. Observation of microstructures using scanning electron microscopy, hardness measurement
  11. Evaluation of grain size of prepared ceramics by line intercept method, structural comparison of examined materials, protocol completion.
  12. Excursion in laboratories of the Department of Ceramics IMSE.
  13. Credit.