Represents one of PM routes to process: composite powders, micro-sized or nano-sized or nano-structured powder particles depending on the technological parameters: powder mixture / milling balls ratio, milling balls size, atmosphere (inert, oxidation, reductive), ambience (dry/wet conditions), rotation speed, milling mode (friction/stroke), milling time. Gas pressure and temperature developed inside the bowl mill during MA process are monitored by GTM device (Fig.2).

(Photos: planetary ball mills and complementary device, Fritsch, Germany, Fig.1. Pulverisette 4 ball mill and Fig.3. Pulverisette 6 ball mill; University of Craiova, Faculty of Mechanics, Department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems)

Represents a new injection system to process small and complex shaped parts in metallic, ceramic or composite materials, for small and large scale production. The feeding assembly (fig.1) is connected to a vacuum system (fig.2), providing an injection pressure of 7...10 MPa. Bulk feedstock (fig.3), heated up at max. 100ºC, is absorbed through the feeding system up to the small metallic die (fig.4).

(Photo: MEDPIMOLD GOCERAM AB, Sweden; Univ. of Craiova, Faculty of Mechanics, dept. of I.M.S.T.)

Represents an advanced sintering route dedicated to ceramic parts as well as metallic and composite products. Plasma heating system provides much lower sintering temperature (Tsps) and time (about minutes) than the classic sintering route, fig.1. Because of these great advantages, SPS allows nanostructures elaboration, too. One of group collaborators, National Institute for Research and Development for Technical Physics, Iasi, Romania, www.phys-iasi.ro, uses (SPS)-FCT-(FAST) HPD5 equipment, working under the following terms: max. current intensity Imax. = 20 kA; max. sintering temperature 2400ºC (working temperature 2200ºC); sintering atmosphere: vacuum; max. load: 50kN, for fundamental and applicative research in advanced materials elaboration.

Represents an advanced sintering route dedicated especially to ceramic parts as well as metallic and composite products. The electromagnetic field of high frequency (2,45 GHz) converts into thermal energy and heats the green compacts. The sintering process develops at lower temperatures (Tmvs < Tcs) and shorter sintering times than in the case of the conventional sintering, fig.1. Because of these great advantages, MWS allows nanostructures elaboration, too.

(Photo: Fig.2 MUEGGE MWS equipment, Germany; Univ. of Craiova, Faculty of Mechanics department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems)
(Photo: Fig.3 Multi-mode MW heating equipment designed at Univ. of Craiova; Faculty of Mechanics department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems)

Represents a modern route to process advanced sintered structures: ceramics, composites (metallics/ceramics) and nanostructured materials, too. tss process is based on two steps, fig.1. The 1st steps consists in heating the green compacts up to a temperature, T1-tss, nearby the conventional sintering temperature and keep it for a very short time (few minutes) just for difussion reactions ignition. Then, the 2nd steps develops by quick temperature decreasing up to T2-tss followed by a long dwell time for material densification. tss could be developed in inert, oxidation or reductive atmosphere

(NABERTHERM furnace, Italy; Univ. of Craiova, Department of Physics)

are machining processes developed at a micro scale focused especially on machining of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems). Among these cutting processes high speed milling was actually introduced as complementary technology for rapid prototyping. High speed milling combines high spindle speeds with increased feed rates. These results in a high chipforming rate and lower milling forces, producing an improved surface quality and closer tolerances The high speed milling process is intended to be applied by tiara-C group mainly on nanostructured biocomposite materials with hydroxiapatite matrix reinforced with metallic powder metals such as Ti. The high speed milling is performed on a vertical CNC centre FADAL, VMC 2216 FX

Fig.1 (Univ. of Craiova, Faculty of Mechanics department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems)

Fig.2 a) Spare part for a MEMS device

Fig.2 b) Flank wear of an end ball mill used for machining of Ti reinforced composite

is an advanced cutting/assembling/coating process, recommended for those materials which are difficult to be processed by conventional processes (drilling, milling etc.), (View Movie). The necessity of LM process is requested by:
—the non-uniform geometrical feature of the product;
—the material structure and properties not allowing the common machining techniques. It could be: high hardness, high porosity, brittleness, nanocrystalline grains in the material structure etc.

LM processing is applied by tiara-C group especially in the case of PM nanostructured biocomposites based on hydroxyapatite, reinforced by metallic powder particles on laser source KLS246 fig.1. The macroscopical aspect of the coarse surface of the laser machined surface is presented in figure 2.

(LASAG laser source KLS246, Switzerland; Univ. of Craiova, Faculty of Mechanics department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems)

Fig. 1 (LASAG laser source KLS246, Switzerland; Univ. of Craiova, Faculty of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems endowment

Fig. 2 LM-ed surface with three different cutting regimes (X8 magnification) of HAP/Ti biocomposites: a)Ra=18.2 µm in R1 regime: voltage = 250 V; pulse frequency = 50 Hz; pulse duration = 0.35 ms; average power = 41 W b)Ra=5.2 µm in R5 regime: voltage = 280 V; pulse frequency = 50 Hz; pulse duration = 0.35 ms; average power = 43 W c)Ra=5 µm in R7 regime: voltage = 310 V; pulse frequency = 50 Hz; pulse duration = 0.35 ms; average power = 58,5 W

are one of the main materials concepts that tiara-C group deals with. The MMCs already developed by tiara-C members and collaborators are:

are one of the main materials concepts that tiara-C group deals with. The CMCs already developed by tiaraC members are lightweight CMCs:

is an important parameter to detect concerning powder particles, especially in the case submicronic powders. Counting, sizing and visualising nanoparticles by light scatter or fluorescent emissions are relevant features to design structural advanced materials for engineered and biomedical applications. tiara-C group performed measurements and imaging on particle size distribution using the following equipments:

of the composite materials are different from the components ones. On the other hand, composites' processing from composite powders (made by Mechanical Alloying or other routes) determines major changes of their thermal properties. Also, nanostructured or nano-sized (composite/metallic/ceramic) powders have different thermal properties than the same "conventional" particles (micronic size or microstructured). Thus, it is critical to determine thermal properties of new powder particles processed by PM routes. The new critical points may have major influence on the values of the composites' synthesis temperatures.

of the advanced composites developed by tiara-C group regards:

imaging of processed materials by:

qualitative analysis by:

X Rays Diffraction (Univ. of Craiova, Faculty of Physics endowment)

of the advanced composites developed by tiara-C group is performed by the MultiGage equipment developed by TESA Technology, fig.1. (Univ. of Craiova, Faculty of Mechanics endowment). It is equipped with 2 spherical tracers: one of 15 mm diameter for gauging and one of 6 mm, in ruby, for measurements. According to ISO10360-2, the measurement precision is 5 µm, the measuring head is TESASTAR-p/ -mp and the software is Micro-Gage, fig.2.

performed by tiara-C group on different materials classes including composites are:

performed by tiara-C group on different materials classes including composites are:

Biocompatibility Testing Concerning the biocompatibility testing of the biocomposites developed by tiara-C collaborators, the main tests are performed as follows:

—in-vitro conditions, coordinated by The University of Medicine and Farmacy - Craiova, Faculty of Farmacy, Prof. Johny NEAMTU
—in-vivo conditions, coordinated by The University of Medicine and Farmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Prof. Mihai IONAC and Ph.D. student Roxana VOISAN

Biomechanical Testing Concerning the biomechanical testing of the biocomposites developed by tiara-C collaborators, the main tests are performed at the Emergency Clinical Hospital "Bagdasar-Arseni", Bucharest, coordinated by Prof. Radu Mircea GORGAN