20 hod., optionally

1. Diffusion in ceramic materials, ceramics microstructure, imperfections in ceramics, theory of diffusion, examples of diffusion in ceramics, processes involving diffusion.
2. Mechanical behaviour of ceramics: elasticity, monocrystal and polycrystalline ceramics, influence of porosity. Fracture: fracture at the atomic level, crack initiation and propagation, plasticity, slip at the atomic level, dislocation glide in ceramics, high temperature plasticity, creep mechanisms, toughening mechanisms.
3. High temperature engineering ceramics, oxide ceramics (alumina, zirconia, mullite, cordierite), non-oxide ceramics (silicon nitride, silicon carbide, sialons), ceramic matrix composites.
4. Ceramic superionic conductors, theory of superionic conduction, oxygen-ion conductors (doped zirconia, ceria, hafnia, bismuth oxide, pyrochlores, beta-alumina), proton conductors (doped cerate, zirconate, beta-alumina).
5. Ferroelectric ceramics, crystal structure and ferroelectricity, high permitivity dielectrics, pyroelectric devices, piezoelectric devices, electrooptic devices, termistors.
6. Ferrimagnetic ceramics, basic concepts, ferrite crystal structures, microstructure and grain boundary chemistry.
7. Semiconducting polycrystalline ceramics, semiconductivity and grain boundary effects, electrostatic barriers and transport properties.
8. Oxide superconductors, crystal structures (cuprates, bismuth perovskites), properties, thin films.
9. Biomaterials for surgical use, physical properties and physiology of bone, compatibility between bioceramics and the physiological environment, main surgical alloys, biomedical polymers, biological glasses, ceramics (alumina, zirconia, titania, silicon nitride, composite aluminous ceramics, sialons, phosphate ceramics).