A pioneering technology, developed by North Staffordshire-based Lucideon to transform high-energy production methods, has been put under the spotlight in an international podcast series covering innovation in materials science.
From their studio in Utah, Salt Lake City, the team behind the Materialism podcast interviewed the international technology company’s Head of Flash Sintering, David Pearmain, to dig deep into his field of expertise.
Materialism has been developed by Andrew Falkowski and Taylor Sparks to help listeners understand the critical role materials play in society, and what the future might hold for them.
They spoke to David to understand more about how Flash Sintering works and its significant economic and environmental benefits.
The technology, which applies an electric field to a material at specific temperatures, can be used across a wide range of applications including nuclear fuels, Net Zero technologies, and CMCs (ceramic-matric composites).
David leads a team of researchers, engineers and consultants who use resources including two fully-equipped laboratories for prototyping and a unique 25-metre industrial combustion kiln at Lucideon’s Staffordshire headquarters.
Developed with six-figure support from the Regional Growth Fund, the facility is the first in the world to have the capability for this type of technology at a manufacturing scale.
David Pearmain said: “It was a great opportunity to appear on Materialism.
“We’ve been developing Flash Sintering since 2012 and the process has consistently evolved to offer very versatile technology, which can achieve energy savings, as well as improvements in material properties.
“It was a great opportunity to discuss the technology’s development and applications on such a globally-renowned podcast series.”
The podcast also discussed how Lucideon is broadening its capabilities with access to the new AMRICC Centre, developed to put commercialisation in the advanced ceramics sector on the fast-track.
The facility includes adaptable pilot-scale facilities, which offer end-to-end capability through all the steps involved in ceramics and advanced ceramics manufacturing.
The podcast episode can be heard here.
