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A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Polycrystalline Ceramics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 April 2025 | Viewed by 12899

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Prof. Dr. Guo Liu

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Guest Editor

School of Engineering Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Interests: 3D/4D additive–subtractive manufacturing; shape memory ceramics; intelligent manufacturing equipment

Dr. Jiamin Wu

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Guest Editor

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: ceramics; additive manufacturing; 3D printing; application
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Rujie He

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Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: ceramics; ceramic matrix composites; 3D printing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Relative to polymers and metals, the processing of ceramics is challenging due to their extremely high melting points. The development of polymer-derived ceramics, prepared through the thermolysis of polymeric ceramic precursors, offers potential for manufacturing ceramics with tuneable microstructures and properties. Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional printing, has boomed over the last 30-40 years. AM is a material-oriented manufacturing technology, and printing resolution versus printing scalability/speed trade-off exists among various types of ceramic materials. The AM of ceramic structures is typically achieved with powder/slurry-based ceramic printing feedstocks, coating-film-based ceramic printing feedstocks, and polymeric precursor-based ceramic printing feedstocks. The rapid development of AM and other ceramic processing technologies is expected to broaden the applications of ceramic materials in aerospace, biomedical, electronics, and art fields. This Special Issue is mainly focused on the ceramic processes and microstructure of ceramics, including (but not limited to) the additive manufacturing of ceramics, ceramic matrix composites, polymer-derived ceramics, the microstructure of ceramics, materials characterization, thermal/environment barrier coatings, and bio-ceramics.

Prof. Dr. Guo Liu
Dr. Jiamin Wu
Prof. Dr. Rujie He
Guest Editors

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Keywords

additive manufacturing of ceramics
ceramic matrix composites
polymer-derived ceramics
microstructure of ceramics
materials characterization
thermal/environment barrier coatings
bio-ceramics

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transparent Celadon with Phase-Separated Structure: Study on the Technological Characteristics and Coloring Mechanism of Celadons from the Lieshan Kiln

by Qijiang Li, Jingyun Wang, Chao Chen, Tao Fang, Chenyi Gao and Jinwei Li

Crystals 2025, 15(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15010095 - 20 Jan 2025

Viewed by 443

Abstract

The excavation of the Lieshan Kiln site represents a significant advance in the field of ceramic archaeology. Previous scholars fixated on the white porcelain unearthed from this kiln, yet this study zeroed in on celadon from the Northern Song and Jin Dynasties. Celadon samples were analyzed using colorimetry, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (ED-XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarizing microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermal expansion analysis. Results revealed that material and technological advancements in the production of the Lieshan Kiln and reveal the special phase-separated structure in the glaze of the transparent celadon, with a weakly reduced firing atmosphere. Celadon bodies from both periods were crafted from local sedimentary clays in a single-ingredient formula, with the Jin Dynasty refining the preparation, leading to enhanced density and higher firing temperatures compared to the Northern Song Dynasty. The celadon glaze, a high-calcium type made up of glaze ash and specific clays, differed from the body materials. The high SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio, along with Fe₂O₃ and trace P₂O₅, promoted phase separation. Glaze coloration was modulated by the interaction of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions, and chemical coloration by Fe ions prevailed when phase-separated particles were minute enough to avoid Rayleigh or Mie scattering. In conclusion, the study deepens the understanding of ancient ceramic production by exploring the phase separation structure and coloring mechanism of the celadon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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12 pages, 11277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Grain Growth Behavior of Alumina in Zirconia-Toughened Alumina (ZTA) Ceramics During Pressureless Sintering

by Yi Zhao, Jiang Deng, Wen Li, Jianhong Liu and Wenjie Yuan

Crystals 2025, 15(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15010089 - 17 Jan 2025

Viewed by 362

Abstract

The primary grain size, sintering conditions, and admixtures have a significant impact on the grain growth of alumina ceramics. Three kinds of alumina powders with varying grain sizes and zirconia nanoparticles were selected and configured into five compositions of zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics. As-received granules were used to sinter bulk ceramics at temperatures of 1520 °C, 1600 °C, and 1680 °C for durations of 0.5–2 h, respectively. The average grain sizes of alumina in ZTA ceramics were studied as a function of the sintering temperature, time, and particle size of raw materials. The results demonstrated that the addition of nano alumina led to a slight reduction in the grain size of alumina and a more uniform grain size distribution. The incorporation of nano zirconia (15 wt.%) resulted in the concentration of zirconia among the alumina grains, effectively inhibiting grain growth and resulting in a significant reduction in the average grain size of alumina from 11.73 to 5.63 μm after sintering at 1600 °C for 1 h. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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12 pages, 3236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphotropic Phase Boundary Region 0.7BiFeO₃-0.3BaTiO₃ Ceramics Exploration Under the Influence of the Incorporated Sn-Ions for Piezo/Ferro Applications

by Ahmad Hussain, Nawishta Jabeen, Imtiaz Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Usman Khan, Muhammad Adnan Qaiser, Zaki I. Zaki and Mohamed E. Khalifa

Crystals 2025, 15(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15010074 - 14 Jan 2025

Viewed by 620

Abstract

In the field of piezoelectric applications, perovskite-based multifunctional composite ceramics are widely explored. The morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) regions, where dual structural phases coexist, play a crucial role in boosting the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties significantly. Herein, MPB-region-existent 0.7BiFeO₃-0.3BaTiO₃ (BFBT) composite ceramic is investigated under the influence of wt%Sn-ion incorporation at the lattice sites of the BFBT. Specifically, the ceramic composition BFBT:0.2Sn has demonstrated excellent remnant polarization (P_r ~ 22.68 µC/cm²), an impressive piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃ ~ 211 pC/N), stable impedance of 1.07 × 10⁷ Ω, a Curie temperature of 435 °C and low dielectric loss (tanδ) of <0.5. Moreover, the BFBT:0.2Sn ceramic has also maintained a stable d₃₃ of ~150 pC/N and resistivity of ~10² Ω even at a temperature of 400 °C. Such outcomes confirm the ability and potential of the BFBT:0.2Sn ceramic composition for high-temperature piezoelectric applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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11 pages, 7797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Additives of Nanostructured Functional Ceramics on the Properties of Welding Electrodes

by Saidov Rustam Mannapovitch, Rakhimov Rustam Khalidov and Kamel Touileb

Crystals 2024, 14(12), 1082; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14121082 - 16 Dec 2024

Viewed by 644

Abstract

The synthesis of special photocatalysts of nanostructured functional ceramics (PNFC) under the ZKHM brand under the influence of concentrated solar radiation showed the effectiveness of these ceramic materials in multifunctional use, in particular as additives for coatings of welding electrodes. However, problems with producing these materials in solar ovens on an industrial scale did not allow the widespread use of this method. This problem was solved using the technique of PNFC synthesis, followed by activation by pulsed radiation generated by functional ceramics. The ceramic material obtained by this method under the brand name ZB-1 also showed its effectiveness when used as an additive in welding electrode coatings. A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of the actions of additives from the ZKHM and ZB-1 brands on the welding and technological properties of welding electrodes from the MR-3 brand was carried out. Comparative results for the formation of weld beads showed that beads with high-quality formation without external defects were achieved when surfaced with electrodes with additives from both brands at concentrations up to 1%. Also, at concentrations up to 1%, these additives increased the breaking length of the arc and the stability of arc welding. The different effects of these additives were observed in a comparative analysis of their impacts on the size of the visor at the end of the electrode, the coefficients of melting and surfacing, and the loss factor for fumes and splashing of electrode metal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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16 pages, 5705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance and Characterization of Additively Manufactured BST Varactor Enhanced by Photonic Thermal Processing

by Carlos Molina, Ugur Guneroglu, Adnan Zaman, Liguan Li and Jing Wang

Crystals 2024, 14(11), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14110990 - 16 Nov 2024

Viewed by 855

Abstract

The demand for reconfigurable devices for emerging RF and microwave applications has been growing in recent years, with additive manufacturing and photonic thermal treatment presenting new possibilities to supplement conventional fabrication processes to meet this demand. In this paper, we present the realization and analysis of barium–strontium–titanate-(Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃)-based ferroelectric variable capacitors (varactors), which are additively deposited on top of conventionally fabricated interdigitated capacitors and enhanced by photonic thermal processing. The ferroelectric solution with suspended BST nanoparticles is deposited on the device using an ambient spray pyrolysis method and is sintered at low temperatures using photonic thermal processing by leveraging the high surface-to-volume ratio of the BST nanoparticles. The deposited film is qualitatively characterized using SEM imaging and XRD measurements, while the varactor devices are quantitatively characterized by using high-frequency RF measurements from 300 MHz to 10 GHz under an applied DC bias voltage ranging from 0 V to 50 V. We observe a maximum tunability of 60.6% at 1 GHz under an applied electric field of 25 kV/mm (25 V/μm). These results show promise for the implementation of photonic thermal processing and additive manufacturing as a means to integrate reconfigurable ferroelectric varactors in flexible electronics or tightly packaged on-chip applications, where a limited thermal budget hinders the conventional thermal processing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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13 pages, 8448 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Silver Vanadate Nanowires Addition on Structural and Morphological Properties of Dental Porcelain Prepared from Economic Raw Materials

by Badr Eddine Sakhkhane, Marieta Mureșan-Pop, Lucian Barbu-Tudoran, Tamás Lovász and Liliana Bizo

Crystals 2024, 14(7), 616; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14070616 - 3 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1370

Abstract

In addition to many materials, silver vanadate (AgVO₃) has gained interest due to its antimicrobial properties, which opens up the potential for use as an antibacterial agent for biomedical applications. This work aimed to study the effect of AgVO₃ addition on the structural and morphological properties of a developed dental porcelain (DP) prepared from natural raw materials. AgVO₃ nanowires, prepared by the coprecipitation method, were added in different amounts (1, 3, and 5 wt.%) to a DP mass with the initial composition of 80 wt.% feldspar, 15 wt.% quartz, and 5 wt.% kaolin, obtained by sintering the mixture at 1300 °C. The structural and morphological properties of AgVO₃ and DP were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed the formation of α-AgVO₃ nanowires coated with semispherical metallic silver nanoparticles. Moreover, α-AgVO₃ additions do not influence the structural and morphological properties of DP, with the presence of Ag and V clearly identified in the DP with the α-AgVO₃ addition. Our findings highlight the potential of this novel material for use in various dental applications. Future studies need to establish the antibacterial properties of the prepared dental material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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15 pages, 20842 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Temperature Tribological Behavior of Fast-Hot-Pressed NiCr/Cr₃C₂-LaF₃ Self-Lubrication Composite

by Hao Yang, Chuanbing Huang, Haozhong Lv, Yongjun Liu, Yonghui Sun, Huifeng Zhang, Hao Lan, Yang Wu and Weigang Zhang

Crystals 2024, 14(4), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14040365 - 12 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1281

Abstract

This article details a method for preparing cermet matrix composites via Fast hot pressing (FHP) sintering technology and emphasizes their potential use in extremely high-temperature settings. The material primarily consists of NiCr alloy, Cr₃C₂, and LaF₃. An in-depth investigation was conducted on the tribological properties of the specimen by conducting sliding tests against a Si₃N₄ ball at varying temperatures, including room temperature (RT), 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C. Advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, micro-XRD, and micro-Raman spectroscopy were employed to examine the friction surfaces formed under different frictional temperatures. The findings reveal a uniform composition and high density within the composites. It is noteworthy that as the LaF₃ content increases, the hardness of the ceramic phase diminishes. Conversely, the hardness of the alloy phase augments with the addition of LaF₃, provided that its content remains below 15 wt%. The composite material containing 15 wt% LaF₃ demonstrates superior hardness values, with the ceramic phase reaching HV1412 and the alloy phase achieving HV384. Furthermore, the coefficient of friction of the composite material was evaluated. The coefficient of friction of the composite is between 0.74 and 0.4 and the wear rate is 4.46 × 10⁻⁶–5.72 × 10⁻⁵ mm³N⁻¹m⁻¹ from room temperature to 800 °C. The lubrication behavior at low temperature is mainly attributed to the lubricating effect of LaF₃, and at high temperature it is due to the tribochemical reaction to form LaCrO₃ with good lubricating properties, which plays a synergistic lubricating role with Cr₂O₃. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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13 pages, 5885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Evolution and Mechanical Behavior of Ytterbia Doped Hafnia Biphasic Ceramics under Annealing at 1500 °C

by Yang Wu, Hao Lan, Xiaoming Sun, Zihao Hu, Yonghui Sun, Huifeng Zhang, Chuanbing Huang and Weigang Zhang

Crystals 2024, 14(3), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14030279 - 15 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1169

Abstract

HfO₂ has become a promising thermal barrier coating material due to its similarity in structure and chemical properties with ZrO₂ and its higher phase structure transition temperature. However, the fracture toughness of HfO₂ is not ideal, greatly limiting its application. In this report, we find a special sandwich structure of ceramics, comprising a cubic (C) phase /monoclinic (M) phase/cubic (C) phase. The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of these ceramics were investigated under annealing at 1500 °C. The results indicate that, with an increase in annealing duration, there was a gradual augmentation in the proportion of the monoclinic (M) phase and the fracture toughness increased from 2.18 MPa·m^0.5 to 2.83 MPa·m^0.5 after 48 h of annealing, which is higher than many potential TBC materials. The residual compressive stress present in the M phases during the progression of crack propagation served to facilitate the bridging and deflection of cracks. As such, this process led to the alleviation of stress concentration at the crack tip, ultimately enhancing the toughening effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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12 pages, 10232 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid Growth of Niobium Oxide Nanowires by Joule Resistive Heating

by Aarón Calvo-Villoslada, Paloma Fernández and Belén Sotillo

Crystals 2024, 14(3), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14030245 - 1 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1567

Abstract

Joule heating of niobium (Nb) metal wires by running a high electric current density through them has been used to grow Nb₂O₅ nanowires. The formation of a micrometric oxide layer on the Nb wires has also been observed. The size and density of the nanowires are related to the current values applied, as well as the thickness of the oxide layer formed. Characterization of both nanowires and oxide layer has been performed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. It has been observed that this method allows the growth of Nb₂O₅ nanowires in times as short as tens of seconds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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18 pages, 4398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of TiO₂ on the Microstructure and Flexural Strength of Lunar Regolith Simulant

by Junhao Chen, Haoming Chen, Zhe Zhao and Xiao Zong

Crystals 2024, 14(2), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14020110 - 23 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1471

Abstract

Lunar regolith is the preferred material for lunar base construction using in situ resource utilization technology. The TiO₂ variations in lunar regolith collected from different locations significantly impact its suitability as a construction material. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the effects of TiO₂ on the properties of lunar regolith. This study aims to evaluate the influence of TiO₂ content and sintering temperature on phase transformation, microstructure, and macroscopic properties (e.g., the shrinkage rate, mechanical properties, and relative density) of lunar regolith simulant samples (CUG-1A). The flexural strength and relative density of the sample with a TiO₂ content of 6 wt% sintered at 1100 °C reached 136.66 ± 4.92 MPa and 91.06%, which were 65% and 12.28% higher than those of the sample not doped with TiO₂, respectively. The experiment demonstrated that the doped TiO₂ not only reacted with Fe to form pseudobrookite (Fe₂TiO₅) but also effectively reduced the viscosity of the glass phase during heat treatment. As the sintering temperature increased, the particles underwent a gradual melting process, leading to a higher proportion of the liquid phase. The higher liquid-phase content had a positive impact on the diffusion of mass transfer, causing the voids and gaps between particles to shrink. This shrinkage resulted in greater density and, ultimately, improved the mechanical properties of the material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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11 pages, 2875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unveiling the Transporting Mechanism of (Ti_0.2Zr_0.2Nb_0.2Hf_0.2Ta_0.2)C at Room Temperature

by Tao Liu, Liwen Lei, Jinyong Zhang and Neng Li

Crystals 2023, 13(4), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13040708 - 21 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1838

Abstract

High-entropy materials have been widely researched in recent years, and more work on their thermal and electrical properties is still needed. Herein, we fabricate a high-entropy carbide (Ti_0.2Zr_0.2Nb_0.2Hf_0.2Ta_0.2)C ceramic and report the thermal and electrical conductivity at room temperature using first-principles calculations and experiments. The movement of phonons is suppressed in high-entropy carbides when analyzing the thermal and electrical conductivity at room temperature, but the movement of electrons is not. After the first-principles calculations on the electronic structure and lattice vibration and experiments, we give the reasons why the rule of mixture can predict electrical conductivity but not thermal conductivity at room temperature. Finally, we outline the cause of the similar lattice patterns between TaC and (Ti_0.2Zr_0.2Nb_0.2Hf_0.2Ta_0.2)C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics: Processes, Microstructures, and Properties)

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