Seminarium Instytutowego Seminarium Mechaniki im. W. Olszaka i A. Sawczuka Glass and glass-ceramic matrix composites: academic curiosity or useful materials? dr A. Boccaccini (gość AMAS) poniedziałek, 12 stycznia 2004, godz. 10:00, sala Aula (II p.)

One of the advantages of glass is the unique ability to vary continuously and gradually its structure and properties through composition. This makes glass an attractive "partner" for the fabrication of composite materials and structures with novel, optimised properties. Glass matrix composites with excellent mechanical properties and high structural integrity are obtained by reinforcing the low-modulus, low-strength glass (or glass-ceramic) matrix with a high-modulus, high-strength and/or high-ductility second constituent in the form of whiskers, platelets, particulates or fibres.

In this presentation, international research on the fabrication, properties and applications of glass and glass-ceramic matrix composites will be reviewed, focussing on both dispersion- and fibre-reinforced systems. The goal is to generate a broader interest in these composites and understanding of their mechanical behaviour, by covering the great variety of glass and glass-ceramic composites developed so far, and highlighting their outstanding thermomechanical properties and high technological potential. The several remaining challenges for the future development of these composites will be discussed, which currently limit the wider commercial exploitation of these materials. These are mainly related to the lack of reliable and cost-effective processing techniques and complete understanding of their high-temperature mechanical properties.

Novel developments in the area of "optomechanical composites" and piezoelectric/glass composites will be presented, focussing on the areas where further R&D work is required in order to transform these "model" systems into useful products with commercial interest.