Course detail
Processing of Nonmetallic Materials
FSI-WNK Acad. year: 2026/2027 Winter semester
The course covers the fundamentals of advanced ceramics, glass, glass-ceramics, and polymeric organic materials. Emphasis is placed on the principles of technologies for individual groups of materials. Processing methods are discussed in relation to the nature and properties of the material. The course also includes an overview of the processing of ceramic-ceramic, glass-ceramic, and ceramic-polymer composites.
Language of instruction
Czech
Number of ECTS credits
5
Supervisor
Entry knowledge
Students must prove knowledge of the structure and properties of non-metallic materials. Knowledge of chemistry is required at the level of general secondary school.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
A graded credit will be awarded based on an interview with the student, during which the student must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of non-metallic materials.
Each student will receive a selected product made of non-metallic material with a brief description of the material and the function of the part. In the following discussion, the student must be able to determine the appropriate technology for the selected product, describe it, and justify this choice.
The presence of students at lessons will be checked. Compensation for missed lessons will be solved case by case.
Aims
The aim of the course is to present the basic overview of methods for advanced non-metallic materials processing. Students will learn of principles of particular methods and of their relation to the materials.
Participants of the course will be able to analyse processing needs of particular materials and select the appropriate processing method for a selected application.
Study aids
The basic study material will be lectures in the form of PowerPoint presentations, which also include links to further reading.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme B-ZSI-P: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's
specialization MTI: Materials Engineering, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
26 hours, optionally
Syllabus
1. Classification of non-metallic materials and their characterisation from processing viewpoint – ceramics, glass and glass-ceramics, plastics, non-metallic composites
2. Principles of ceramics processing; introduction, powder treatment and powder evaluation
3. Shaping of ceramic green bodies; dry shaping
4. Shaping of ceramic green bodies; wet shaping – dense and porous ceramics
5. Shaping of ceramic green bodies; plastic shaping, additive methods
6. Drying and binder removal, sintering
7. Machining of sintered parts, single crystal fabrication
8. Principles of glass processing and glass-ceramics processing; introduction, glass melting
9. Glass shaping; casting, pressing, rolling, float process, blowing
10. Thermal processing of glass and glass-ceramics
11. Principles of plastics processing; introduction, thermoplatics, thermosets, elastomers
12. Shaping of plastics; injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, fibres fabrication
13. Composites processing; classification, ceramics; ceramics
composites, ceramics; plastics composites
Laboratory exercise
13 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
Seminars (except the first and the last) will be carried out in a way of excursions to the university labs and to two workplaces where technological equipment will be shown. Real demonstration of methods and techniques will be presented.
1. Introduction to products made of ceramics, glass and plastics. Their use in practice, connection between processing and materials properties; real examples and demonstrations
2. Equipment for powder treatment and evaluation
3. Uniaxial and isostatic powder pressing
4. Suspensions preparation, centrifugation, suspension casting
5. Preparation of thermoplastic suspensions and their evaluation
6. Injection moulding and extrusion of ceramics
7. Binder removal and sintering
8. Cutting, grinding and polishing of ceramics and glass
9. Shaping of laboratory glass, glass apparatus fabrication
10. Injection moulding and extrusion of plastics
11. Design and fabrication of injection moulding moulds for plastics and ceramics
12. Pressing of plastics films and fibre preparation
13. Examination