Properties and performances of the ceramic materials largely depend on their design strategy including their synthesis pathways, their processing and shaping routes. Manufacturing processes carefully designed lead to reliable performance of massive structures or coatings, of porous or dense components even showing a large size and/or a complex shape.
In many cases, the advanced processing and shaping techniques provide ceramic materials with unique properties that cannot be achieved using conventional routes, leading to novel potential applications of such materials.
On the other hand, the understanding of fundamental phenomena, as well as the better nano-microstructural design and the processing optimisation to improve the material performances, can be achieved efficiently thanks to the innovative tools supplied by the computational materials science.
 
The Symposium entitled ‘Innovative ceramic syntheses, processing and shaping’ is aimed at providing a forum for academic and industrial researchers, to present and discuss their recent scientific results on a wide variety of topics related to science and engineering issues associated with innovative ceramic syntheses, processing and shaping.
A particular emphasis will be placed on the understanding and use of non-conventional and innovative processes to develop ceramic materials with new functionalities and/or structures, and on current progress and challenges, as well as future directions in sustainable technologies.

 

Topics

• Powder syntheses
• Preparation of granulates, feedstocks, suspensions, inks, pastes, and filaments
• Synthesis and process of geopolymers
• Polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs)
• Coating technologies
• Novel shaping methods (starting from ceramic suspensions, or exploiting soft chemistry, sol-gel, gel casting, ice-templating, temperature-induced forming, direct foaming, ...)
• Additive manufacturing
• From porous to dense components
• Process monitoring and control
• Multiscale modelling, numerical simulation and Artificial Intelligence/deep learning applied to the design of ceramic materials or components

     

In the last few decades, remarkable advances in the knowledge and control of sintering mechanisms, modelling of thermal processes, and development of different techniques, among others, Spark Plasma Sintering/Field-Assisted Sintering, Cold Sintering, Flash Sintering and Ultrafast Sintering, have extraordinarily improved the densification of a wide range of ceramic materials with controlled architectures, allowing the manufacturing of complex forms (near net shape) with tailored microstructures and properties. The main objective of this symposium is to take stock of these latest advances and to stimulate discussion of the technological levers still to be lifted for the development of novel ceramic materials with improved properties. The discussion will also aim to respond to the societal challenges that are looming before us, such as the reduction of manufacturing and energy costs whilst minimizing the environmental impact. 

 

Topics

• Spark plasma sintering/Field-assisted sintering 
• Flash sintering  
• Cold sintering  
• Microwave sintering 
• Selective Heat Sintering (including laser sintering, radiative heating etc.) 
• Ultrafast high-temperature sintering 
• Reactive sintering 
• Sintering mechanisms 
• Modelling 
• Tailored ceramic microstructures and properties (functionally graded, nanomaterials, composites…) 

     

This symposium aims at gathering contributions that address current progresses around Additive Manufacturing (AM) and hybridized processing technologies from upstream materials design to downstream characterization, through shaping, debinding, consolidation/sintering, finishing post-treatments and quality check. Both experimental and numerical approaches are welcome in this symposium, emphasizing the current tremendous issue of the full digitalization of the design and entire fabrication chain of ceramics both at the academic and industrial levels. 
 

Topics

• Additive Manufacturing / Industry 4.0
• Materials Design / feedstocks  
• Numerical simulations 
• Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning / Deep learning 
• Acquisition of Data, Data Storage, Data use 
• Debinding, consolidation/sintering and finishing post-treatments 
• Quality assurance, performance, design, reliability 

   

Advanced ceramics like ceramic-matrix composites, laminates and architectured porous ceramics are entering a new age, with a robust increase of their applications in aircraft propulsion, brake systems, thermal protection of space objects, heat exchange in energy conversion and heavy industry, nuclear applications, etc … Indeed, their outstanding performances turn them into the « enabling materials » for highly demanding, though strategic applications under extreme conditions. 
The increasing demand pushes not only the engineers to propose new materials designs, materials solutions and processes but also the scientific community to investigate breakthrough techniques related to their synthesis, multi-scale characterization, testing in a variety of conditions and to develop or apply state-of-the-art modelling techniques in order to better understand the relationships between processing, (micro-)structure and properties of these materials. This symposium welcomes all contributions addressing research and development on this class of amazing materials.    

 

Topics

• Oxide /non oxide structural ceramics  
• Architectured ceramics, including porous ceramics 
• Ceramic Matrix Composites, including Ceramic laminates and fibre composites 
• MAX phases and related compounds  
• Manufacturing technologies  
• Testing techniques; diagnostics; structural characterization 
• Mechanical, thermal and tribological properties; oxidation/corrosion resistance 
• Microstructure/property/processing relationships 
• Design 
• Modelling, numerical simulation and Artificial Intelligence 

   

Refractories have been vital for many materials processing industries for centuries, whilst ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are becoming increasingly important materials for a wide range of high temperature applications, not least aero-engine components and clean energy technologies. This symposium has been designed to exchange ideas related to new and enhanced materials, innovative design approaches, advanced processing routes and new and superior characterisation techniques and results. The refractories section covers the latest research and development in shaped and monolithic refractory ceramics in terms of fundamentals, design of refractories, applications, and future challenges, whilst the CMC and HTCMC aspects of the symposium can cover SiC/SiC, C/SiC, oxide/oxide and UHTCCMCs. 

 

Topics

• Refractories: raw materials, shaped and monolithic refractories 
• CMCs: Ox-Ox, SiC-SiC, C-SiC, UHTCMCs 
• New and enhanced materials, design and microstructures 
• New processing / manufacturing routes for all of the above 
• New characterisation techniques / results  
• Thermomechanical behavior, fracture, and creep 
• Corrosion, thermodynamic and kinetics 
• Education 

     

Sustainability in environmental science means “the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance”. Overwhelming evidence of manmade climate change has led to a gradual paradigm shift in favour of sustainable materials, which are defined as products that protect our environment throughout their entire life cycle. Sustainable or not, ceramic materials are truly commendable when considering their negligible pollutive behaviour through their entire length of service and beyond. Another key indicator of sustainability is how well materials can be recycled and reused.  
The objective of this symposium is to present the last research developments about the key environmental aspects in the field of ceramics :  

• New deposits of raw materials  
• Raw materials from recycling, urban mining, by-products from other processes 
• Avoiding air emissions, particulate matter, soot and gaseous emissions 
• Valorization of process wastewater containing mineral components and other inorganic materials 
• Reduction of energy consumption, (drying and firing 800-2000°C) 
• Avoiding CO2 emissions
• Unavoidable energy  
• Predictive maintenance and predictive processes   

 

Topics

• Evaluation of alternative raw materials 
• New sustainable industrial processes 
• Life-cycle assessment: Recycling, upcycling and circular economy 
• Stability and ageing processes
• Process monitoring and control 
• Transition to a low-carbon economy in the silicate industry
• Low temperature sintering technologies
• Modelling, numerical simulation and Artificial Intelligence 

     

The structural changes that occur in a glass melt are fundamental for the prevention of or creation of the conditions which lead to crystallization. Through the understanding of these conditions, one can engineer the creation of glass and glass ceramic media for diverse applications. During this symposium, we invite all communications on this subject, especially those with interest in the fundamentals and applications where crystal growth, crystal functionalization can lead to new functionality. This symposium will address all studies that link melts to crystals, including the modelling, processing, and metrology (especially those that evaluate in-situ behavior) of glass and glass ceramic systems, that enable unique microstructures and function. 
 

Topics

• Basic science, crystallization 
• Link between structure, microstructure and properties (glass, glass-ceramics and glazes)
• New technologies and innovative processes, hot forming
• Process monitoring and control
• Modelling, numerical simulation and Artificial Intelligence
• Applications and future developments (optics, fibers, laser, etc) 
• Link between glass/melt and crystal
• What are the changes that occur in a liquid before the first crystal appears?
• Applications of bulk, thin film and fiber composites with engineered microstructures 

     

The symposium will offer an interdisciplinary meeting point for scientists from academia and industry to present and discuss the state-of-the-art, and developments in the broad field of functional ceramics. Besides new fundamental insights, the development of advanced functional ceramics and composites with improved, new or tailored properties relies on emerging processing routes that open new application perspectives. The aim of the symposium is also to highlight advances in the understanding of structure/microstructure/properties relationships.

 

Topics

• Dielectrics (high K, microwave, high-temperature applications)
• Ferroics (ferroelectrics, antiferroelectrics, relaxor ferroelectrics, multiferroics) 
• Magnetic materials  
• Thermoelectrics 
• Ionic, electronic and mixed conductors, defect chemistry and transport 
• Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (from composition and other critical elements to devices, i.e., electromechanical sensors and actuators, energy harvesting …)  
• Caloric materials and applications, cooling technologies 
• Modelling, simulation and in situ characterization techniques 
• Transparent optical ceramics (passive and active) 
• Composite materials (for new/tailored functionalities) 

     

This symposium will cover ceramic and glass materials that are crucial for the development of energy conversion and storage technologies, such as: 

• Power generation (high-temperature coatings and ceramic matrix composites for gas turbines, materials for nuclear fission and fusion reactors and waste confinement, heat storage and exchange, absorbers for solar thermal energy) 
• Energy harvesting (thermoelectrics, photovoltaics, solar fuels/artificial photosynthesis) 
• Electrochemical applications (ionic/proton and electronic conducting dense or porous membranes for gas separation, catalytic membrane reactors, solid oxide cells including high-temperature electrolysis, batteries)

Contributions highlighting new materials, processing-microstructure-properties relationships for these materials, and their integration and functionality in devices, with sustainable manufacturing and recycling solutions, are welcome. Specific components include electrodes, electrolytes, electrochemical membranes, catalysts, substrates, seals, interconnects, coatings or interfacial layers. Testing of single components, modules, and stacks is also considered within the scope of this symposium. 

 

Topics 

• High-temperature materials for gas turbines 
• Concentrated solar power 
• Nuclear fission and fusion, and radwaste confinement 
• Photovoltaics and photocatalytic materials 
• Thermoelectric materials 
• Oxygen and hydrogen transport membranes 
• CO2 capture and utilization 
• Chemical energy carriers 
• Solid oxide cells, including oxygen ion, proton and mixed conductors 
• High-temperature fuel cells and electrolyser 
• Li- and Na-ion batteries, including all solid-state batteries 
• Supercapacitors  

     

During the last few decades, the use of ceramic materials for healthcare has significantly increased, encompassing a large variety of applications. Indeed ceramics are no more restricted to applications relying on their mehcanical properties and chemical inertness (such as orthopaedic and dental applications). They are now also vital for applications necessitating biologically active  materials (such as theranostics,  tissue engineering or drug delivery systems).
Such a variety of applications necessitates bioceramics of many compositions, forms and shapes, manufactured with a large range of advanced or conventional processes. 
Thus this symposium will seek to bring together researchers from academia, medical device manufacturers, and clinicians, to provide a large view of bioceramics, composite and bioactive glasses used for healthcare.  
 

Topics

• Ceramics in Nanomedicine, in biotechnology
• Biological interactions
• Medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications
• Dental and orthopaedic ceramics
• Bioactive ceramics and glasses for tissue engineering
• Bone replacement, regeneration and reconstruction
• Bioceramics for therapeutic ion and drug delivery
• Modelling, numerical simulation and Artificial Intelligence

     

The rapid development of modern societies is based on the availability of new materials with specific features. Construction industry is a big CO2 emitter and consumes each year a huge amount of energy and resources. However, resources availability and global warming are everyday more and more pressing issues to face. Thus, construction materials now need new features, in addition to further improved current performances and durability. To this aim, this symposium focuses on new ceramics and inorganic materials, eventually produced with novel eco-friendly processes or from new raw materials deriving from by-products of other industrial processes. Innovative shaping techniques like 3D printing are also considered because they can help saving resources and thus increase the sustainability of construction materials.
The appearance of new building materials doesn’t cancel current materials which performances, such as mechanical, physical and functional properties, as well as environmental impact and durability, can be further enhanced. Within the aim of sustainability, end of life scenario has also to be considered, thus recycling of all materials has to be investigated.
On behalf of the Co-organizers, it is our great pleasure to invite all scientists, colleagues, young researchers, business delegates, students and anybody interested in innovative ceramics and inorganic construction materials to attend this symposium. 
 

Topics

• Ceramics 
• Inorganic materials 
• Inorganic binders and cements 
• Innovative green synthesis 
• New raw materials 
• Recycling of by-products 
• Innovative shaping processes 
• Mechanical and functional properties 
• Durability 
• Life cycle assessment 

     

The characterization of the microstructure and properties of ceramics is simply necessary to enable their development and optimization. It is the cornerstone to allow new discoveries. While classic characterization (mechanical testing, electron microscopies, x-ray or neutron diffraction) still covers a very important role, the requests made to such methods (e.g. expand their capabilities to high temperatures or high pressure, faster in situ or operando measurements etc.) have triggered the development of advanced characterization tools.
Among those, one can count special microscopy techniques, combined methods (including in-situ and even online during production), 3D imaging techniques, time resolved measurements and characterization at large scale facilities (neutron and synchrotron radiation sources).
All these allow nowadays pushing the investigations to fantastic spatial and temporal resolutions, under environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, load, reactive atmosphere  etc.) simply unreachable a few decades ago. 

This symposium aims at sparking the discussion among the ceramic community on:

• The needs of the community in terms of advanced characterization tools
• The state-of-the-art of such tools and the gaps existing
• The possible application of methods that are not commonly used in the community
• The use of characterization for fundamental understanding materials development quality control modelling 

Contributions on all the above-mentioned aspects are welcome to trigger vibrant discussions: what do we need to develop and push beyond the current envelope? How do we couple advanced characterization methods  with the build-up of new ceramic materials exhibiting enhanced or even new properties?  

Trivially, advanced data processing and analysis methods are badly needed in conjunction with the enormous amount of data produced by modern techniques.
A section of the symposium will be, therefore, dedicated to coupling between characterization and modelling automatic and combined data analysis machine learning methods data reduction techniques and applications

We expect to pave the road to a joint effort across the fields of experimental characterization, computational tools and material synthesis. 
 

Topics

• X-ray and neutron scattering, diffraction and absorption methods under external constraints (stress, temperature, pressure etc.) 
• In situ or operando methods
• New characterization tools for the development of new ceramic materials
• Light or X-ray based spectroscopy advanced methods (Raman, Infrared spectroscopy, EXAFS and XANES etc.) 
• Spatial or temporal high resolution approaches 
• Advanced methods for the characterization of electrical or magnetic properties of ceramics 
• From the lab. to the industry. Advanced on-line methods for the characterization of ceramics during their elaboration processes 
• Artificial Intelligence and advanced materials characterization: Data reduction, data analysis, data fusion. 

     

Ceramics and glass have been part of the material culture of mankind since its early history. They are essential witnesses to the inventiveness, technical and artistic skills on the one hand, and to everyday life of societies on the other hand. The analysis of their material provides information about the origin and management of resources, the exchange and commercial networks, the movement of craftsmen and techniques, the processes of recycling, as well as about art and aesthetics, and the symbolic concepts of past and present civilizations. How can we investigate them most meaningfully, how to preserve them for the next generations?
Contemporary ceramics are versatile. Diverse production techniques and design methods allow for the most diverse works. Spacious installations, objects inspired by traditions, nature or contemporary events, new glazes, combinations with other materials - the repertoire of contemporary ceramics is endless.
The scope of this session is to illustrate various facets of research on these emblematic materials, whether archaeometric, historical or artistic, and whether they develop new analytical methodologies or paths of creativity.  
 

Topics

• Provenance studies of ceramics and glass and trade networks
• Technological developments in ceramics and glass manufacture and their diffusion
• Architectural ceramics and glass
• Conservation and restoration issues in ceramics and glass
• New techniques, new approaches to ceramics and glass
• Ceramics and glass as anthropological and symbolic objects
• Creation and innovation
• Imitations, forgeries, authentification
• Recycling, sustainability, environmental issues in cultural heritage and art     

     

Frontiers of Ceramic Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development
This joint ECerS-ACerS symposium manifests the importance of international dialogue for sustainable growth and technological advancements in ceramic science and engineering. Organized by two world-leading ceramic societies, the objective of this transatlantic joint symposium is to strengthen global collaboration and improve mutual research potential. It will bring together experts from the global ceramics community to present their ground-breaking research developments lace in the field of ceramics, leading to new functionalities, new processes and enhanced performance. This includes structural and functional ceramic materials and process development for circular economy and sustainable growth. Special attention will be given to advanced manufacturing technologies related to energy, storage, and environmental technologies. This Symposium, which will consist of invited presentations only, will bring together a diverse range of experts from academia and industries all over the world to present the latest progress and discuss key issues, challenges and opportunities in ceramic science and technology.  
Sponsorships: The European Ceramic Society / The American Ceramic Society
 

Topics

• New strategies and ceramic technologies for sustainable societal development
• Recent development and breakthroughs in engineered ceramics and composites
• Innovative concepts for ceramic manufacturing, processing and integration
• Ceramics and composites for structural, environmental, energy and health applications
• Novel processing routes for functional ceramics 
• Non-destructive testing for investigation of ceramics and composites 
• Computational materials design and machine learning approaches
• Additive manufacturing and green processing of ceramics   

     

The Satellite Symposium (SS15) entitled Clinical Applications of Ceramics and Technologies in Dentistry within the Symposium S10 is organized in memoriam of ECERS' fellows James Zhijian Shen and Tomaž Kosmač, who sadly passed away recently. Close collaborators and friends, with the same vision, they always had in mind to : 

• Integrate advanced ceramics, ceramic technologies and the demand for ceramic-based solutions in restorative dentistry into a single, comprehensive research community.  
• Promote networking and discussions between ceramists, engineers and clinicians devoted to dental ceramics and ceramic processes with the focus on challenges encountered by the current and the emerging concepts going beyond the state of the art.

  
They successfully laid the foundation stone of such community for all of us by initiating Advanced Ceramics and Technologies for Dentistry (ACT4D) as a symposium of the XII European Ceramic Society (ECerS) Conference and Exhibition that took place in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2011. The symposium was a great success, which encouraged James and Tomaž to publish a book Advanced Ceramics for Dentistry, which had the same original idea and motivation as ACT4D. James prolonged the spirit of ACT4D during several ECERS and independent conferences in-person and on-line editions during the COVID pandemic. The last edition was more comprehensive than ever, including design concepts and technologies, digital workflow, biological interactions, clinical aspects, etc. 
The community feels honoured to continue to nurture the much needed translational research and multidisciplinary discussions between ceramists, engineers and clinicians devoted to dentistry. Therefore, this symposium is meant for scientists, engineers and clinical experts wishing to merge ceramic engineering skills with biological, medical and clinical knowledge. The symposium, endorsed by the Bioceramic working group of ECERS and linked/complementary to Symposium 10, will be built in relation with the European Society of Ceramic Implantology (ESCI), in order to further strengthen the interactions between clinicians and ceramic experts. 
In frame of SS15, a Shen-Kosmač contest sponsored by CeramTec will be organized inviting young researchers to orally present their cross-disciplinary studies on advanced ceramics and technologies for dentistry.  
   

Topics

• Dental ceramics clinically applied: implantology, restoration, regeneration 
• Inert and bioactive ceramics, glass ceramics and ceramic composites for dentistry: new trends  
• Tailoring properties of dental ceramics: biomechanics, bonding, aesthetics, post-processing, reliability, stability 
• Zirconia and zirconia-based dental ceramics  
• Smart surfaces and new functionalities: improving osteointegration, antimicrobial properties, bone regeneration 
• Tissue response to ceramic implants and their bio-engineering  
• Processing technologies: CAD/CAM and subtractive processes, injection moulding and additive manufacturing, digital workflow 
• Digitalisation of the dental ceramic manufacturing workflow 
• Clinical results of ceramics used in implantology and prosthetics   
• Clinical specifications, use and regulations 

   

Centre for functional and surface-functionalized glass is the only research centre in the EU with specific focus on glass and ceramics funded from the EU H2020 programme in the frame of the Teaming scheme. Located in the Slovak republic, it builds on the partnership with four advanced European partners, namely the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Institute of Ceramics and Glass, CSIC Madrid, and University of Padova. The Centre covers a broad range of topics related to structural and functional properties of glass and ceramics, and their surface modifications with the aim of introducing new functionalities. The aim of the Symposium is to provide a thorough overview of research activities and achievements of the Centre and its collaboration with the advanced partners, and to share them with ceramic community.
The call for abstract of this satellite symposium will be open only to FunGlass partners, but the presentations will be open to all registered ECERS 2023 attendees.

 

Topics

• Bioactive glass-containing materials and composites,
• Functional glass and ceramics for various applications, including energy conversion and storage, lighting applications, hydrogen production, and optical thermometry
• Functional coatings on glass
• 2D and 3D structures by additive manufacturing techniques
• Environmental and thermal barrier coatings
• Corrosion and corrosion protection of glass and ceramicsRecycling and upcycling of inorganic (glass) waste