Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/K56933/01
Title:	CERAMIC FLAKES FROM MELT ROUTES FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE INSULATON
Principal Investigator:	James, Professor P
Other Investigators:	Messer, Dr P Davies, Professor HA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Morgan Matroc Pre Nexus Migration
Department:	Materials Science and Engineering
Organisation:	University of Sheffield
Scheme:	LINK
Starts:	15 January 1996	Ends:	14 January 1999	Value (£):	113,901
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Construction Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The practical aim of the programme is to prepare ceramic flakes for appropriate geometry for use in the manufacture of high temperature insulation materials. Direct solidification methods will be developed to process molten oxides into very thin (<20mm) flakes. The effects of material composition and melt viscosity and of the processing factors, including melting and/or quenching conditions, melt/substrate interaction and heat transfer, on the formation, dimensions and shape of the flake and on its phase constitution and microstructure will be investigated. The Al2O3 - SiO2 system will be studied initially, followed by other selected candidate systems, including ZrO2 -SiO2, Al2O3 - ZrO2, Al2O3 - ZrO2 - SiO2 and pure Al2 O3. In particular, the state of crystallisation of the materials in the as-deposited state and, where appropriate, the evolution and scale of the microstructure on subsequent heat treatment and during extended exposure to high temperature, together with the their effects on the opacity and other factors governing the thermal properties of the flake, will be investigated in detail. This will include characterisation of the tendency for phase separation and of the nucleation and crystal growth behaviour of the materials by high resolution electron microscopy and microanalysis. Optimum composition(s) and processing conditions will be identified for the thermal insulation application.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.shef.ac.uk