Instrumentation Improvement for an Undergraduate Laboratory Dedicated to Advanced Ceramics Processing

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This project offers a new hands-on laboratory course in Advanced Ceramics Processing, to complement the lecture course that is now required. The laboratory offers a distinctly hands-on course as an elective to be taken by over 40 students each year. To accomplish this, three high-quality, durable, user-friendly items of equipment are being acquired. A zeta potential analyzer quantitatively characterizes the interactions between particles. A spray dryer provides experiments in various powder preparation methods and for the preparation of special powders. An injection molding apparatus enables students to explore the variables and fabricate small items using the injection molding process. These experiments are combined with others that can be performed with presently available equipment. This project has two major pedagogical effects: (1) the students are able to extend classroom ideas to a hands-on laboratory experience; and (2) a stronger processing-properties relationship is established.These equipment items bring to a critical mass the amount of equipment needed to offer this important laboratory course in advanced ceramics processing.