An ECI Conference Series
April/May 2024
Riga, Latvia
About This Conference
Syntactic foams and multifunctional polymer, metal, and ceramic foams containing a reinforcing and/or functional phase are the intended focus of this conference. These foams are typically used in applications that take advantage of their low density, very high specific properties, tailored pore structure, biocompatibility/absorbable, enhanced energy absorption characteristics, and thermal and flame-retardant properties.
The scope of the conference will include the production and characterization of reinforcing and functional materials specifically used for these foams (i.e., hollow spheres, micro/nanoparticles, particles with specific electric, magnetic, dielectric properties, biological, etc.). Fabrication, characterization, modeling, and applications of the foams will be addressed, as well.
Work in syntactic foams has expanded over the past three decades or so from its inception with two-phase polymer matrix foams based upon hollow glass or polymer spheres for applications in the marine and submarine industry. Today, the field has expanded to include polymer, metal, and ceramic hollow spheres and matrices. In addition, with fibers, nanoparticles and interstitial voids engineered into these materials, three- and four-phase materials are now possible. Composite foams emerged from of conventional blown polymer foams via the addition of diverse functional elements, resulting in complex microstructures that can be engineered to meet specific applications. Also, blown polymer foams are now used as precursor structures for metal and ceramic composite foams and advances in production techniques for the various component materials have resulted in advances in the mechanical, acoustic and thermal properties of these foams that have dramatically broadened their applications.
Thus, by incorporating hollow and solid particles, nanoparticles, fibers, and specialized foaming agents, coupled with novel processing techniques, foams with unique and tailored properties can be attained. Because of such innovations, the role of syntactic and composite foams has expanded into the aerospace, automotive, communications, biomedical, electronics, sporting, and transportation industries.
Conference Organization
Conference Chairs
G.M. Gladysz, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
K.K. Chawla, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
A.R. Boccaccini, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
M. Fukushima, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan
Organizing Committee
Aldo R. Boccaccini (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany)
Lorenzo Bardella (University of Brescia, Italy)
Kipp Carlisle (TOB, USA)
Juan Jose Castellon (Rice, University, USA)
Krish Chawla (University of Alabama, USA)
Sergej Diel (University of Applied Sciences Landshut, Germany)
Manabu Fukushima (IAST, Japan)
Gary Gladysz (University of Alabama)
Nikhil Gupta (Polytechnic University, USA)
Mark Koopman (University of Utah, USA)
Daniel Mendoza (LANL, USA)
Anna Terry (AWE, UK)
Michele Modesti (University of Padova, Italy)
Gary Strickland (Matrix Composite, Australia)
Karana Shah (Dixie Chemical, USA)
Call for Abstracts
Coming in 2022.
Venue Information
Sponsors
General Information about ECI
Engineering Conferences International (ECI) is a not-for-profit, global engineering conferences program, originally established in 1962 that provides opportunities for the exploration of problems and issues of concern to engineers and scientists from many disciplines.
The format of the conference provides morning and late afternoon or evening sessions in which major presentations are made. Poster sessions will be scheduled for evening discussion as well. Available time is included during the afternoons for ad hoc meetings, informal discussions, and/or recreation. This format is designed to enhance rapport among participants and promote dialogue on the development of the meeting. We believe the conferences have been instrumental in generating ideas and disseminating information to a greater extent than is possible through more conventional forums.
All participants are expected both to attend the entire conference and to contribute actively to the discussions. The recording/photographing of lectures and presentations is forbidden. As ECI conferences take place in an informal atmosphere, casual clothing is the usual attire.
Smoking is prohibited at ECI conferences and conference functions.