Course objectives |
Students will be able to assess the relationship between structure and properties of selected inorganic non-metallic materials as an important prerequisite for their production, control and application with special emphasis on chemical engineering and environmental aspects, economic efficiency and sustainable development. |
Learning outcomes expected at the level of the course (4 to 10 learning outcomes) |
After passing the exam, students will be able to:
1. Distinguish and explain the physical and chemical conditions of the genesis of mineral resources.
2. Classify ceramic materials with respect to their properties and applications.
3. Predict the inter-relationship between microstructure, properties and production of ceramic materials.
4. Explain the characteristics and behavior of clay minerals in a water-clay system depending on the structure of clay minerals.
5. Explain the difference in the structure of ceramics depending on the processes of drying and firing (sintering).
6. Distinguish and explain the mechanisms of hydration, setting and hardening of mineral binders.
7. Assess the impact of the environment (weathering) on the resistance and durability of technical glass and decorative stone, including historic and cultural heritage monuments.
8. Explain the difference between the natural and synthetic inorganic pigments.
9. Evaluate and propose protection measures in order to improve the durability of selected inorganic non-metallic materials. |
Course content broken down in detail by weekly class schedule (syllabus) |
1st week: Introduction. Historical overview, development and meaning of the commercial inorganic non-metallic materials industry (clay wares, refractories, porcelain, technical glasses, cement, concrete, etc.).
2nd week: Sources of raw materials. The earth’s crust, rocks, minerals, the environment, conditions and processes of mineral genesis. Classification of minerals and rocks.
3rd week: Silicates, oxides and other minerals Structure and properties.
4th week: Ceramic materials. Traditional (classical) and advanced (high-tech) ceramics. Resemblances and differences.
5th week: Raw materials for traditional ceramics and demands for their quality. Phase diagrams of the systems important in ceramics.
6th week: Raw materials for advanced ceramics and demands for their quality. Pure oxide ceramics. Non-oxide ceramics. Bioceramics.
7th week: The water-clay system. Characterization of ceramic slurries (reological properties, thixotropy, plasticity, etc.). Forming processes (slip casting, pressing, jiggering, extrusion, etc.). Drying and firing (sintering).
8th week: A high-temperature reactions and sintering processes in the traditional and advanced ceramics production.
9th week: The written knowledge tests (I Colloquium).
10th week: Glass. Structure and classification of glass. A property of glass melts. Glass forming operations and equipment.
11th week: Overview and properties of particular types of ceramics (porcelain, cements, refractories, technical glass). Flow diagrams of chosen inorganic material production with special reference to the physical and chemical base of the processes, equipment and environmental aspects.
12th week: Technical and decorative stone. Stone types, properties and exploiting.
13th week: The impact of aggressive environment on the durabilty of ceramics, technical glass and decorative stone including historic and cultural heritage monuments.
14th week: Inorganic pigments. Natural and synthetic. Overview and properties of particular pigments.
15th week: The written knowledge tests (II Colloquium). |
