UoH Team Gets Patent for Ceramic Process

Hyderabad: A research team from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been granted an Indian patent for a manufacturing process that enables the production of high-strength ceramic components with complex shapes, a long-standing challenge for industries dependent on precision materials.

The patent, granted on January 7, is for a method that allows ceramic parts to be produced with uniform density and strength across the entire component. The work was led by V. Seshu Bai from the School of Physics, along with T. Rajasekharan, P. Jeevan Kumar, Poly Rose, Pawan Kumar Verma and A. Rajanikanth.

Explaining the significance, one of the researchers said conventional ceramic manufacturing often struggles when shapes become complicated. “Ceramics are strong and heat resistant, but when you try to make complex shapes, cracks and weak zones develop. Our method addresses that problem by ensuring uniform properties throughout the component,” the professor said.

The patented process uses gelcasting of ceramic slurries inside expanded polystyrene moulds created from computer-based designs. The moulds can be removed easily without damaging the ceramic body, reducing defects that typically occur during fabrication.

According to the researchers, alumina components made using this process achieve nearly 99 percent uniform density, along with mechanical strength suitable for demanding applications. “Uniform density is critical for parts used in automobiles, aerospace systems and surgical implants, where failure is not an option,” Prof. Seshu Bai said.

He added that the process is not limited to alumina. “The same method can be extended to other ceramics such as zirconia and tungsten carbide, which are widely used in cutting tools, engine components and biomedical devices,” he said.

Researchers involved noted that the method is designed to be low-cost and reproducible, making it suitable for industrial adoption. They said their focus was on developing something that industry can actually use, not just a laboratory process.

The university said the patented method could help manufacturers reduce rejection rates, improve consistency and expand the use of ceramic components in critical engineering and medical applications.