Inauguration of the the joint laboratory SMILE

On July 28^th, 2022, the Joint Lab SMILE between Centro Ceramico and DICAM Department of the University of Bologna has been officially inaugurated by the Rector of the University of Bologna. The ceremony was also attended by the General Director of UNIBO, the Director of the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), the General Director and the President of Confindustria Ceramica, the President and the Director of Centro Ceramico.
The Joint Lab SMILE “Sustainability of Materials”, operating since last May, is located in the spaces of the Laboratory of Materials Science and Technology at DICAM and is equipped with many and significative instruments for the characterization of materials (optical and electron microscopy, BET surface analysis, thermal analysis, high temperature heating microscope, optical profilometer, climatic chambers, etc.).
In the Joint Lab is also present a brand new Empyrean X-ray diffractometer by Malvern Panalytical, a new generation XRD instrument funded by Centro Ceramico. Besides ceramic materials, which is the main focus of the activities of Centro Ceramico, the Joint Lab deals with the development of innovative and sustainable materials and processes, fundamental issues in the context of circular economy and energy transition.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Joint Lab SMILE: from left to right Roberto Fabbri, President of Centro Ceramico; Giovanni Savorani, President of Confindustria Ceramica, Maria Chiara Bignozzi, Director of Centro Ceramico and professor at University of Bologna; Giovanni Molari, Rector of University of Bologna; Armando Cafiero, General Director of Confindustria Ceramica and Stefano Gandolfi, Director of DICAM.