Research internship at KU Leuven, Belgium
As a contribution to my MAP Additional Qualifications, I was given the opportunity to do a 3-month research internship at KU Leuven starting in May 2023. I had the privilege of being a member in the research groups of Prof. Annabel Braem, who is Associate Professor for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, and Prof. Jef Vleugels as a part of the Advanced Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy team.
Leuven is the capital of the Belgian province Vlaams-Brabant, which is part of the Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium. With its cobbled streets, medieval architecture, and vibrant modern energy, the city of Leuven exudes a unique blend of historical charm and youthful exuberance. Home to one of the oldest universities in the world, KU Leuven, the town’s intellectual atmosphere resonates through its charming squares, cozy cafés, and cultural events and blends into its multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites.
During my internship, I worked on additive manufacturing of Alumina Toughened Zirconia for dental applications, investigating numerous steps in the processing route and influences on mechanical strength. My tasks in this procedure included printing test parts from an aqueous ceramic slurry with hydrogel binder in different printing patterns, or more specifically, different movement patterns of the nozzle from which the paste is extruded. Following the printing step, the parts must be dried without creating too high shrinkage stresses, so I played around with the drying parameters. Finally, the binder is burned away and, the parts are sintered to reach full density, so they can be assessed mechanically and microstructurally.
The Erasmus+ Traineeship program helped me with financing my time in Belgium and enabled me to fully focus on the internship and getting to know the country. I was also lucky enough to get a room in one of the university’s student residences, so I did not have to look for accommodation on the private market.
I would like to thank Prof. Annabel Braem for providing the opportunity to do my internship in her group, as well as Prof. Jef Vleugels and my supervisor, Berfu Göksel, for the excellent supervision and all the help during my internship.
By MAP student Nel Schulte (matriculation group 2021)