The Department of Materials, that employs 30 academic lecturers, associates, and technical staff, has an enormous potential and is the leader in research and teaching in the field of materials science, one of the fundamental engineering sciences, as well as in production engineering, a field of mechanical engineering.

Research in materials science and engineering, which is critical to all other fields of enineering, has always given an impetus to innovative development of new products and processes in many other scientific and engineering fields, such as mechanical engineering, naval architecture, aeronautical engineering, electronics, optics, civil engineering, medicine etc.

Major areas of interest of the Department are: testing of metal, polymer, ceramic and composite materials, improvements in existing material properties, research and application of new materials (shape memory alloys, nanostructured materials and films, composite ceramics, metal foams, etc.) as well as the development and application of heat treatment processes, surface modification and coating (surface engineering).

Keeping up-to-date with the theories in the field allows for accurate interpretations of microstructure, properties and behaviour of materials as the basis for their optimal application. The data obtained by implementing cutting-edge laboratory techniques and equipment for testing material microstructure and properties is then used to solve various problems in research and application of materials by using computer methods. Artificial intelligence methods (artificial neural networks) are successfully applied in predicting material properties and heat or heat-chemical treatment processes.

As part of the curriculum, designed in accordance with the Bologna Process guidelines, the Department initiated the Materials Engineering specialization, the first of its kind in this region, in the 2004/2005 academic year. This enhanced the education in the field of materials development and application, following the proclaimed development priorities in the Republic of Croatia. The Department’s staff teach the undergraduate and graduate studies as well as the postgraduate, both doctoral and professional studies. It comprises eight laboratories and one research centre that are involved in research, teaching and collaboration with industry.

Chairs

Chair of Materials and Tribology
Chair of Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering

Materialography Laboratory

microstructure analysis
fracture cause analysis
qualitative and quantitative analysis of material sample image
optical microscopy
scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS)

Mechanical Testing Laboratory

accredited laboratory for the calibration of force measurement devices
holder of the national standard of force
hardness tester calibration and impact-fracture work
all types of mechanical testing

Metal Analysis Laboratory

instrumental methods: optical emission spectrometry (GDOS); atomic absorption spectrophotometry; UV/VIS spectrophotometry; polarographic and voltametric testing; conductometry
conventional methods: gravimetry, titrimetry, volumetry, electrogravimetry

Polymers and Composites Laboratory

characterisation of polymer materials
chemical resistance
mechanical properties (strength, hardness, toughness, dynamicmechanical properties)
technological and thermal properties
polymer morphology and structure

Tribology Laboratory

abrasive wear resistance
erosive wear resistance
adhesive wear resistance
surface fatigue resistance
ferrographic analysis

Heat Treatment Laboratory

vacuum furnace heat treatment
annealing and hardening (of the surface and the entire volume)
nitriding (salt bath, gaseous atmosphere, plasma)
cementing
boriding
vanadium coating process
PACVD coating (TiN, TiCN, TiBN)

Engineering Ceramics Laboratory

Surface Engineering Laboratory

Reasearch Centre for Metal Heat Treatment Modelling (QRC)

research and development of new quenching tools and new cooling technologies
mathematical modelling and process simulation in heat treatment