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YCN Newsletter : Women in Ceramics by Karolina Warchal
I am Karolina Warchal and I work as a Process Engineer in NGK Ceramics Europe SA in Baudour, Belgium. NGK site in Baudour produces ceramic catalyst supports for vehicles. My current work focuses on production process optimization as well as product quality improvement.
Prior to that, I had the opportunity to work in two European research centers dedicated to ceramics, i.e. IRCER in Limoges, France and BCRC (Belgian Ceramic Research Center) in Mons, Belgium. My adventure with research on ceramic materials started with my PhD in Limoges. My experimental work was focused on ternary carbides known as MAX phases, i.e Ti3SiC2 and Ti2AlC compounds. The general objective of my dissertation was to determine the correlation between microstructural characteristics of MAX phases as for example the average grain size and their mechanical behavior using Acoustic Emission technique.
At BCRC I had the possibility to widen areas of my research interest as I worked on multiple projects. However, the biggest part of my research was dedicated to optimization of SPS sintering conditions for B4C based composites and SiC composites. Both materials are known for being challenging in terms of sintering conditions.
From my perspective, now we are living in the best time of history for women in science. Nowadays, women are equally present in scientific world as men which is fantastic. Personally, I hope that this trend will continue, and gender will not be a subject of matter in a workplace in general.
Last news
YCN Newsletter 31 - Event Overview - Ceramitec 2026 by YCN Committee member Petar Kotevski
YCN’s participation at ceramitec 2026 in Munich from 24th to 26th of March 2026, represented a key step in strengthening ties between young ceramic professionals, academia, and industry. The exhibition provided an international setting where research, innovation and industrial application converge, enabling meaningful engagements. Our main objective was to position YCN as an active interface connecting early-career professionals with industry leaders.
YCN Newsletter 31 - Research in Spot - Naser Hosseini
Interface Engineering: High-Temperature Interactions Between High-Entropy Ceramics and Metals.
My research explores high-temperature interactions between high-entropy ceramics (HECs) and metals, with a focus on joining strategies for extreme environments. By understanding how metals wet and react with these advanced ceramics, I aim to design reliable interfaces for applications such as composites, coatings, and ceramic joining with functional properties. This work contributes to improving the performance and durability of materials used in demanding industries such as energy, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
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