2018 Advanced Course: From Additive Manufacturing to Field-Assisted Sintering – a Road Towards New Discoveries

18 – 20 June 2018 – EPFL, Lausanne

This course introduces the basics behind the processing and sintering of powders, highlighting the use of field and pressure assisted sintering and describing different modelling aspects (MD/FEM). The course will start with an introduction to the synthesis and characterisation of metallic and ceramic powders. Then a basic introduction to forming methods followed by current advanced forming methods, including additive manufacturing. Then we look at the basics of sintering theory and practice, before moving onto the field and pressure assisted methods and modelling aspects. Examples for different materials (ceramics, polymers and metals) and applications will be presented.

Please note that while the theory presented in this course applies to many types of materials, the practical examples concentrate on inorganic materials. Also due to limited time, only a brief overview of the theory can be given although key references for more advanced analysis are provided throughout.

Dates

This course will take place from 18 to 20 June 2018 at EPFL, Lausanne.

Lecturers

Prof. Paul Bowen (EPFL), Prof. Zhe Zhao (KTH Royal Institute of Technology), Dr. Peter Derlet (PSI)

Registration

Please register using the form found here. The course is limited to 16 participants. Registration closes on Friday, 1 June.

Program

Monday 18 June 2018

09:00 Welcome & self-introduction by participants
09:15 Powder Synthesis – generalities: Paul Bowen (EPFL)
10:30 Coffee Break
11:00 Powder Characterisation: Paul Bowen (EPFL)
12:45 Lunch
14:00 Basic forming methods for ceramics and metals: Paul Bowen (EPFL) and Peter Derlet (PSI)
15:30 Coffee break
16:00 Advanced forming methods: Paul Bowen (EPFL) and Zhe Zhao (KTH)
17:30 End of first day

Tuesday 19 June 2018

09:00 Sintering Basics: Zhe Zhao (KTH)   
10:30 Coffee break
11:00 Pressure and field-assisted sintering, spark plasma sintering: Zhe Zhao (KTH)   
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Atomistic scale simulations: Peter Derlet (PSI)
15:30 Coffee break
16:00 Insights into Sintering Mechanisms from Atomistic Simulations: Peter Derlet (PSI) and Paul Bowen (EPFL)
17:30 End of day two 

 

Wednesday 20 June 2018

09:00 Applications of Spark Plasma Sintering: Zhe Zhao (KTH)   
10:30 Coffee break
11:00 More Applications of Spark Plasma Sintering: Zhe Zhao (KTH)  
11:45 Flash Sintering and Cold Sintering: Zhe Zhao (KTH) 
12:30 Lunch 
14:00 Forming and sintering for the future, new perspectives: Zhe Zhao (KTH) and Paul Bowen (EPFL)
15:00 Open book exam for students seeking credit 
16:00 End of course

Credits

This course may be validated for 1 ECTS credit in the doctoral programs of EPFL and ETH Zurich after acceptance by the corresponding institution. The credit will be attributed to students who pass the examination held on 20 June 2018 after the course.

Location

Materials Institute, EPFL – Room MXC320

Who should attend

Academic and industrial engineers, PhD students and researchers with an interest in the field.

Fees

The participation fee is CHF360 for doctoral students from EPFL, ETHZ, PSI, Empa and CSEM; CHF460 for doctoral students from other academic institutions and other academic researchers. The registration fee for all other participants is CHF1500. The fee includes lunches and coffee breaks. We will confirm the participation of students coming from institutions outside of Switzerland after all fees have been paid. Please note that any bank transfer fees must be covered by the participant.