PDC processing

• Glove box (inert atmosphere)
• Low-temperature cross-linking furnace with inert gas connection
• Dip-coater (Arduino-based)
• Three-zone tube furnace (T_max = 1100 °C) with inert gas purification system

Colloidal and powder processing

• Planetary centrifugal mixer ("Thinky")
• Ball mills
• Attrition mills (with various lining materials)
• Laboratory-scale spray drier (for aqueous and non-aqueous solutions/dispersions)
• Lab press with cold-isostatic tool and various uniaxial dies
• Freeze-casting and freeze-drying setup

Thermal treatment and consolidation

• Hot press (T_max = 2200 °C; vacuum, Ar, N₂)
• various low- and high-temperature box furnaces (T_max = 1700 °C; air)
• various tube furnaces (T_max = 1400 °C; N₂, Ar,...)

Characterization

• Ceramographic preparation and microstructural investigation
• Density determination (helium pycnometry, density and porosity according to EN 993-1)
• Pore size analysis (Mercury intrusion porosimetry)
• Mechanical properties (hardness, micro hardness, 4-point flexural test according to EN 843-1, Young's modulus, K_Ic via indenter method, compressive strength,...)
• Evaluation of gas permeability of tubular and planar specimens
• Determination of thermal shock resistance

as well as further investigational techniques available at the institute (e.g. thermal analysis, dilatometry, surface roughness determination, SEM, XRF, XRD,...)