Student Research at FunGlass: Advancing Protective Coating Technologies

In November, three talented students, Patryk Zając, Wojciech Wieczorek, and Büsra Prill, completed their short-term training at FunGlass. Their research focused on the development of protective coatings based on Polymer-Derived Ceramics (PDCs) for advanced applications.

Patryk and Wojciech are students from AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland. During their stay at FunGlass, they worked to optimize the formation process of PDC-based protective coatings with passive fillers for high-temperature applications.
Additionally, Patryk contributed to the optimization of Polymer-Derived Ceramic–Bioglass hybrid coatings for biomedical applications.

Their first research focus, PDC coatings with passive fillers, was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Milan Parchoviansky from the Department of Coating Processes. The second study, on PDC–Bioglass hybrid coatings, was realized in collaboration with Dr. Martin Michálek, head of the Department of Biomaterials, with significant contributions from Milan.

Their stay in Trenčín was supported by the Excellence Initiative – Research University program at AGH University, under the guidance of Prof. Maciej Sitarz and Dr. Jakub Marchewka.

Büsra Prill is a researcher from the DECHEMA-Forschungsinstitut, Materials and Corrosion Division, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Her work at FunGlass aimed to develop PDC-based protective coatings with passive fillers for Mo-Si-Ti alloys and SiC components used in jet engines. These coatings are designed to withstand testing temperatures exceeding 1300°C, making them suitable for high-pressure parts of jet engines.

Büsra collaborated closely with Dr. Milan Parchoviansky and Prof. Pakseresht during her project. Her research is funded by the GRK 2561 MatCom-ComMat project in Germany.

The collective efforts of Patryk, Wojciech, and Büsra at FunGlass represent a significant contribution to advancing high-performance coatings for challenging applications. At FunGlass, we are inspired by the achievements of our visiting researchers and are committed to fostering future collaborations that push the boundaries of materials science and innovation.