logo Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers

Center for Research, Teaching, and Innovation in Glass

CEPID 2013-2024

Website: www.vidro.ufscar.br

Principal investigator: Edgar Dutra Zanotto
Education and knowledge diffusion coordinator: Ana Candida Martins Rodrigues
Technology transfer coordinator: Eduardo Bellini Ferreira

HOST INSTITUTION
Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)
Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais
Rod. Washington Luis, km 235
13565-905 - São Carlos, SP - Brasil
 

ASSOCIATED INSTITUTION
University of São Paulo (USP)

BV-FAPESP: research projects supported in this Center 


CeRTEV in the Media: news about the Center

 

The Center for Research, Teaching, and Innovation in Glass (CeRTEV) seeks to map the glass “genome” and develop new active glass and glass-ceramics with promising applications through fundamental research on structure-property relations using complementary simulation, spectroscopic and functional characterization methods.

The core group of the Center consists of researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR) and the University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos campus – experts in engineering, chemistry and the physics of vitreous materials, glass crystallization, and a wide range of structural and functional characterization techniques. 

The CEPIV research and develops new glass and glass-ceramics, presenting new or improved functionality, such as high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity, biological, optical or catalytic activity, and/or combinations of these properties. It will seek to obtain a fundamental understanding of these properties based on the structural organization of the materials on varying length scales.

The center uses state-of-the-art NMR, EPR, EXAFS, and vibrational spectroscopy to characterize local and medium-range order, as well as the full resolution range of optical and electron microscopes, XRD, and microanalyses for elucidating nano and microstructures. Molecular dynamics simulation complement this comprehensive experimental approach. Using this experimental modeling strategy, the CEPIV further seeks a fundamental understanding of glass sintering and crystallization in terms of mechanisms, thermodynamics, and kinetics of viscous flow, as well as crystal nucleation and growth, enabling it to control these processes by developing an appropriate forming process and thermal treatment protocols.

In a concerted effort, the participating laboratories jointly investigate a number of important benchmark systems, which are deemed particularly promising for applications either as structural reinforcement materials (dental and bioglass-ceramics), optical materials (laser glass), materials for electrochemical energy storage devices (high-temperature electrolyte seals), and catalytically active systems.

This research agenda will be complemented by continuing education and outreach activities at various levels, as well as by technology development and transfer.

 

RESULTS OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT THE CENTER: