Departement Materiaalkunde - KU Leuven

🎓📊 PhD Day at the Department of Materials Engineering 📊🎓
Our brilliant second and third-year PhD students took center stage, showcasing their cutting-edge research through poster sessions and insightful presentations. From innovative materials to groundbreaking techniques, the breadth of knowledge and dedication was truly inspiring.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated, attended, and supported our researchers. Your enthusiasm and curiosity fuel the spirit of discovery and innovation in our department.
Stay tuned for more updates and breakthroughs from our talented PhD community!

COMPLEXURF KU Leuven organized the COMPLEXURF Day 2024 on April 24, 2024, with above 70 participants from more than 10 research, industrial, and state institutes. The topic theme of the event was "Surface Treatment and Characterization: Shape Does Matter" and it included 7 scientific talks, lab visits, and networking events. COMPLEXURF was funded by Research Foundation Flanders - FWO Middle-scale infrastructure project I009220N (2021-2024). More info and photos: https://complexurf.be/?p=1860

💡 Keuzedag voor Bachelor studenten | 24 april 2024
Na de Infomarkt in het ontvingen wij een volgende generatie studenten aan het departement 💪
Afsluiten deden we met een hapje en drankje🎉

The inaugural lectures of our newly appointed young talents, prof. Fei Zhang and prof. Matthias Bönisch, highlighted their exciting cutting-edge research on dental zirconia development to tooth-inspired reliable ceramics as well as on tailoring thermal expansion of metallic materials, respectively. Both professors took office in September 2023. Prof. Fei Zhang is also affiliated to the department of Oral Health Sciences.

Congratulations, Chengnan!

Delving deep into the microscopic world of moisture storage and transport in building materials, we comprehensively investigate the dominant pore network parameters for hygric property prediction. Our findings revealed that the moisture retention curve closely ties to radius and volume distributions of pore bodies and throats, while the moisture permeability curve is heavily influenced by coordination number distribution.

Collaborating partners and funding:
KU Leuven Civil Engineering
KU Leuven XCT Core Facility
Departement Materiaalkunde - KU Leuven
FWO Project G0A8323N: “Pore-scale modelling of moisture transfer in building materials: fullscale pore network construction and hygric property simulation”.

Read more:
https://kuleuven.xct.be/influence-of-pore-network-parameters-on-hygric-property-prediction-for-porous-building-materials/

During the annual info day on 23rd March, hosted by the Faculty of Engineering Science, students, assistants, and professors from the Department of Materials Engineering enthusiastically shared insights with high school students.
See the fascinating world of materials engineering.
We look forward to welcoming many of you next year!

CMG Awards handed out to Sepehr Simaafrookhteh and Laurens Snels

The second CMG Award event, promoting collaborative work in the group, took place during our mid-term meeting. In total, five candidates participated in this contest, and presented their excellent works. In the end, the CMG Award Committee chose the following as winners:
• Sepehr Simaafrookhteh for Collaborative Science-Engineering work: investigation on the interlaminar fracture toughness of thin unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced/polyamide6 (CF/PA6) thermoplastic composite laminates stiffened with aluminum beams.
• Laurens Snels for Collaborative Outreach work: representing the group and department in the Nerdland festival at the KU Leuven faculty of engineering science booth

Seizing Opportunities with the Roger Dillemans Fund Scholarship! 🎓🌟

The Roger Dillemans Fund Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for ambitious students. Named after the renowned professor Roger Dillemans, this scholarship program supports talented individuals in their pursuit of excellence. 🚀

Whether you aspire to a medical career, want to conduct research, or aim to specialize in a specific field, this scholarship opens doors. Enroll, get inspired, and become part of a community dedicated to progress and innovation! 💡

Congratulations, Thanasis Chatziathanasiou !

Are particle-doped polymers mechanically and rheologically representative of undoped polymers? How does dispersion uniformity and agglomeration tendency influence this representativeness? In our latest publication, we investigate the limits of this representativeness by jointly exploiting X-ray computed tomography and electron microscopy. With the proposed methodology, an optimal matrix material is developed for digital volume correlation studies of fibre-reinforced polymer composites.

Composite Materials Group
Materials Performance and Nondestructive testing
Departement Materiaalkunde - KU Leuven

read more: https://kuleuven.xct.be/material-representativeness-of-a-polymer-matrix-doped-with-nanoparticles-as-the-random-speckle-pattern-for-digital-volume-correlation-of-fibre-reinforced-composites/

Our department had the privilege of hosting a group of 23 undergraduate students and 3 professors from Purdue University for a short visit.
Thank you to everyone who participated, especially those who gave the tour (Hasan, Isidro and Tanmay).

Ontdek je volgende academische avontuur op de Verderstudeerbeurs! 🎓🌟

Op 16 maart 2024 vindt de Verderstudeerbeurs plaats, een infodag voor studenten met een bachelor- of masterdiploma op zak. Hier kun je je laten informeren over meer dan 500 opleidingen aan de KU Leuven, de hogescholen van de Associatie KU Leuven, of andere hogeronderwijsinstellingen. 📚

🗓️ Datum en tijd:
• Datum: 16 maart 2024
• Tijd: 10.00 uur - 16.00 uur

Kom langs en ontdek welke studiemogelijkheden er voor jou zijn! Of je nu wilt specialiseren, een nieuwe richting wilt inslaan, of je kennis wilt verdiepen, de Verderstudeerbeurs biedt een schat aan informatie en inspiratie. 🤩

Meer dan 30 infostanden staan voor je klaar, en je kunt ook deelnemen aan 18 infosessies om een dieper inzicht te krijgen in de verschillende studiegebieden. Schrijf je in en laat je leiden naar een boeiende academische toekomst! 🚀

Meer informatie en registratie vind je op de officiële website van de Verderstudeerbeurs: https://www.verderstudeerbeurs.be/

On Monday, March 18, 2024, there will be a panel discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and gender. Hosted by Lean In Leuven Law, this interdisciplinary event will explore the effects of AI on women from various perspectives, including computer science, philosophy, social sciences, and legal studies. The “Women & AI” event sheds light on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on women’s rights, in the context of International Women’s Day.
This panel discussion is an important initiative to raise awareness about the role of AI in promoting gender equality and safeguarding women’s rights. It brings together experts to discuss how AI can contribute to positive changes for women worldwide. An excellent opportunity for learning and inspiration! 🌟
Here are the details:
• Date and Time: March 18, 2024, from 19:00 to 20:30 CET
• Location: De Valk 3, DV3 01.31, Tiensestraat 41, 3000 Leuven (or via livestream)
• Organizers: Lean In Leuven Law, in collaboration with Leuven.AI and DigiSoc - the KU Leuven Digital Society Institute
• Language: The event will be conducted in English
Programme:
• 19:00: Welcoming by Lean In Leuven Law
• 19:05: General introduction to AI by Tinne De Laet
• 19:15: Panel discussion with the following KU Leuven experts:
o Sien Moens: Computer Science
o Massimiliano Simons: Philosophy
o Bieke Zaman: Social Sciences
o Emine Ozge Yildirim: Legal Studies
• Moderator: Tinne De Laet
• 20:00: Q&A session
• 20:30: Reception
This event is open to anyone interested in the topic, and no prior AI knowledge is required. You can register until March 15 here. If you prefer to participate online, a livestream will be available at livestream.kuleuven.be using the code: 195287.
Join the conversation and explore the fascinating relationship between AI and gender! 🌟🤖👩‍💻

In het licht van internationale vrouwendag, organiseert Lean in Leuven Law een interdisciplinaire paneldiscussie over de impact van AI op vrouwen en gender, inclusief gratis receptie ✨

🗓️ Wanneer: maandag 18 maart 2024, 19-20h30

📍 Waar: DV 01.31, Tiensestraat 41 Leuven (of livestream)

✨Registratie is sterk aangeraden: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8y7SmK58WJADXhAAP3x5NmJX536CEsn8nFudLbF_b4Uj48A/viewform

💁‍♀️Meer info: https://www.law.kuleuven.be/leanin/Lean-In-English/activities-items/18-march-2024-panel-discussion-on-women-and-ai-the-impact-of-ai-on-women-and-gender

Introducing our deep learning pipeline for high-quality instance fiber segmentation from fast time-resolved XCT. (1) Enhanced image quality with unsupervised methods. (2) Robust instance segmentation for precise data extraction.

Composite Materials Group - Materials Engineering - KU Leuven
Division of Synchrotron Radiation Research and NanoLund
Swiss Light Source
Departement Materiaalkunde - KU Leuven

Read more: https://kuleuven.xct.be/deep-learning-image-enhancement-and-fibre-segmentation-from-time-resolved-computed-tomography-of-fibre-reinforced-composites-2/

In our commitment to advance AI in composite materials, we generate realistic 2D microstructures for unidirectional composites based on the GAN model, a framework belonging to GenAI, validated against traditional methods and experimental data.

Composite Materials Group - Materials Engineering - KU Leuven
Move.ai
Departement Materiaalkunde - KU Leuven

Read more: https://kuleuven.xct.be/synthesising-realistic-2d-microstructures-of-unidirectional-fibre-reinforced-composites-with-a-generative-adversarial-network/

“Bloedserieus: Students Saving Lives!” 🩸💪

From March 18 to 21, Bloedserieus takes place in Leuven, organized by Rode Kruis Vlaanderen (Red Cross Flanders). This fantastic initiative calls on students to donate blood and thereby save lives. 🙌

🗓️ Dates and Locations for Blood Collection:
• March 18: 12:30 PM - 8:00 PM | OHL Football Stadium (Kardinaal Mercierlaan 45)
• March 19: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM | OHL Football Stadium (Kardinaal Mercierlaan 45)
• March 20 & 21: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM | Gymnasium (Tervuursevest 101)

In addition to these specific dates, you can visit the Leuven Donor Center throughout the year to donate blood or plasma. A noble gesture that can make a difference! 💙
Not sure if you’re eligible to donate? Take the online donor self-test and find out immediately if you meet the essential criteria. Let’s make a positive impact together! ✨

For more information, visit the official Bloedserieus website in Leuven: Bloedserieus Leuven.

On Friday, the 2nd year master students welcomed over 140 guests to our traditional MTM departmental dinner. We enjoyed tasty food, drinks, small talks, music, dance, and ... a lot of MTM vibes.

Thank you, students, Huberte and Elke, for organising this great evening where we proved that MTM is not only good in education and research, but we also know how to party 🍾💃🏻🕺

Explore Your Future at the VTK Jobfair! 🚀🎓

On March 14, 2024, VTK organizes the VTK Jobfair. This is a unique opportunity for all engineering students to meet their potential future employers or simply explore various sectors! The VTK Jobfair starts at 10:00 AM and runs until 5:00 PM, followed by a networking reception until 7:00 PM. 🤝

Whether you’re graduating this year or still have a few years to go, this fair provides an excellent chance to explore your options. 🌟

For more information about the VTK Jobfair, visit the official website: https://vtk.be/on/jobfair

🍰 Bake your PhD 🍰

Last Monday, our PhD students got the opportunity to present their research topics through some (very tasty) cakes. The cakes were judged by their design, taste, and how well they depict the research.

Congratulations again to Gaëlle Butin for winning the first edition of our bake your PhD competition with her cake presenting freeze linings. First and second runner up were Laurens Snels and Yijie Liang with their cakes presenting coating of aerogel particles in mortar and simulations of melt pools in selective laser melting.

Thermoelectrics make electricity from your daily (hot) coffee - 16 Feb 2024

So-called thermoelectric generators (‘thermoelectrics’) convert ambient heat into electricity. They can be used to power a broad range of applications, from wearables and sensors to remote electronic systems like satellites. But to realize all these applications, thermoelectrics must also be flexible and be available in many different shapes. Moreover, they must be relatively easy to make. Materials researchers at KU Leuven tackled these demands by developing an innovative manufacturing process.

A temperature difference of a few degrees is enough to generate a usable amount of electric current. To turn on a light, for example, or make a small device such as a wearable or a sensor run. Materials that convert heat into electricity are called thermoelectric generators, or thermoelectrics for short. They can be made out of metal or semiconductor material, and they are usually small in size. As a result, thermoelectrics can be used to harness ambient heat that is available all around us, right down to our bodies – which, of course, constantly produce heat. The big advantage of thermoelectrics? They can power devices without the need for power wires or batteries.

But before such wire- and battery-free devices can be built, the right thermoelectrics must first be available. Flexibility and versatility are important here. Thermoelectrics must be made in many different shapes, and they must also be pliable. In particular, the latter is still quite a challenge today: existing thermoelectrics are often very rigid, causing them to break at the slightest deformation.

Not so with the thermoelectrics manufactured by the group of Francisco Molina-Lopez, assistant professor at the KU Leuven’s Department of Materials Engineering. The materials researchers have devised a new method to produce flexible thermoelectrics quickly and relatively easily. They do this by melting metal powder onto a plastic film via additive manufacturing, using laser light. The thermoelectrics are ‘printed’ in this way in the form of flat strips. The strips can be applied with adhesive tape to surfaces that give off heat, and thanks to their pliability, those surfaces may also be curved. The researchers demonstrated this by sticking their thermoelectrics to a coffee mug, with the content giving off enough heat to produce several microwatts of electricity – enough to power a calculator, an electronic watch or an RFID tag. In another demonstration, a researcher attached the strips to his arm, after which he was generating his ‘own’ electricity. The strips are made out of bismuth telluride, a material that’s known for its thermoelectric properties.

One of the advantages of the new process is that large areas of the thermoelectric material can be printed in a relatively short time. ‘Eventually, we want to obtain so-called cuttable power arrays, where we can simply cut the strips from the printed material’, says Molina-Lopez. ‘It’s a bit like pushing out biscuits from a layer of dough.’ Moreover, the remaining printed material on the plastic film can be re-used. ‘So we are not wasting this precious material in the fabrication process.’ Molina-Lopez and his colleagues have shown that they can re-use the leftover material several times without loss in performance. In a next step they want to improve their method and design to even recycle the material from decommissioned thermoelectrics.

The study 'Facile Fabrication of Flexible and High-Performing Thermoelectrics by Direct Laser Printing on Plastic Foil' by Yuan Tian et al. is published in Advanced Materials.

Er waren heel wat projecten van de studenten van de 2e bachelorfase te bewonderen op de demodag van het vak P&O. ROBtv was er bij en filmde ook een van de MTM-projecten.

Ingenieursstudenten KU Leuven presenteren uitvindingen op jaarlijkse demodag Een spons die olie opzuigt, een deur die opengaat zonder sleutel of een apparaat dat de kans op hartfalen vermindert. Het zijn maar enkele van de vele uitvindingen die de tweedejaarstudenten ingenieurswetenschappen van de KU Leuven vandaag gepresenteerd…

Er komt een vernieuwd bachelorprogramma aan. ⚡

Vanaf volgend academiejaar zullen de bachelors burgerlijk ingenieur en burgerlijk ingenieur-architect er anders uitzien.

De invoering van het bachelor-mastersysteem heeft in 2000 het huidige programma grotendeels bepaald. De huidige hervorming speelt in op de evoluties die sindsdien hebben plaatsgevonden.

Ontdek alles over het vernieuwde programma, de achtergrond, de bedoelingen en de grote lijnen van de hervorming in GeniaaL (p8-10) 👇
https://eng.kuleuven.be/over-faculteit-ingenieurswetenschappen/GeniaaL/geniaaljg16/geniaaljg16nr63.pdf

Apply now for The Eos Pipet.

Register now for The Eos Pipet. 🥇🔎

The Eos Pipet rewards young scientists who have made a special scientific achievement in the past year. The breakthrough or discovery must have been published in a professional journal and/or have had international resonance.

Sumbit your application before 18 december. 👇
https://www.kuleuven.be/communicatie/wetenschapscommunicatie/eos-pipet

Wij blikken terug op een geslaagde dag op de KinderUniversiteit. Kinderen kregen de kans om van heel dicht bij kennis te maken met composietmaterialen. De toekomst ziet er goed uit!
📸 Geert Vanden Wijngaert

Als je deze morgen vroeg wakker was, kon je professor Karel Van Acker horen op Radio 1. Hij deelde zijn inzichten over de uitdagingen van duurzame energie en de benodigde grondstoffen. Het Internationaal Energieagentschap organiseerde hierover een wereldwijde conferentie in Parijs. Klik hieronder voor meer.

Eerste wereldwijde conferentie over grondstoffen: wat zal daar besproken worden? | Radio 1 Onze toekomst is er één van windmolens, herlaadbare batterijen en auto's die geen CO2 meer uitstoten. Maar voor die hele omwenteling hebben we ontzettend veel grondstoffen nodig, die niet zomaar voor het rapen liggen. Over die problematiek houdt het Internationaal Energieagentschap vandaag voor he...

Last week we held the inaugural edition of the "Early Bird Awards," celebrating the completion of the students’ thesis defenses. The awards were presented to following students: Wout Mertens, Charlotte Piron, Lara Fadel, and Ashwin Sankar Deepa. This academic year our students showcased their thesis work through posters. These posters were prominently displayed in the Meet & Eat area, allowing fellow students, PhD students, and professors to get a glimpse of the work before the students' thesis defenses.

Nerdland Festival is the largest outdoor science festival in Belgium and the Department of Materials Engineering was present! Visitors enjoyed our demo setups and much more.

Lees in de nieuwe GeniaaL over de VTK Jobfair en meer!

Lees in GeniaaL over
De VTK Jobfair
Two Engineering Students’ Experience at Columbia University
De nieuwe Arenbergers SETtling In
New Year's Lecture & Networking Event: Peter Vetter
FirW PhD Career Day: werken aan je droom
FLORENCE: FLOw boiling REgimes iN microgravity Conditions Experiment
KU Leuven Instituut voor Mobiliteit uit de startblokken
Forumavond: Energiesysteem van de toekomst en gebouwen
Infodag 2023
Geniale idolen: Giovanni Samaey
Balancerend op het grensgebied van kunst en architectuur
R***e 2023
Je pense, donc j’Existenz
https://eng.kuleuven.be/over-faculteit-ingenieurswetenschappen/GeniaaL

De eerstejaars van de Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen kregen gisteren meer informatie over de mogelijkheden voor de keuze van een hoofd- en nevenrichting. Na de infomarkt in de Campus Bibliotheek Arenberg was het tijd voor een rondleiding op ons Departement, met ook een presentatie van alumnus Jeroen Heulens (Umicore) en enkele demo's in onze labo's. Hopelijk tot volgend academiejaar!