Focusing mainly on dental and orthopaedic application of biomedical materials, the Department of Biomaterials Laboratory was established in 2000. Despite its short history, the expertise of the Department in characterizing biomaterials and biological materials has being widely recognixed. More than 10 scientists originating from 6 countries have completed their doctorates or monographs in the Department, which maintains active participation in joint projects with leading EU centers in the field.
The facilities of the Department occupy 250 m2 and include: an FTIR spectrophotometer with an FTIR microscope; multifunctional SEM with ESEM imaging capacity and EDS X-ray microanalysis unit; a computerized X-ray microtomography system; various optical microscopes and video-microscopes; servohydraulic testing machine; microhardness tester; profilometer; colorimeter and photo-aging apparatus; specimen preparation machinery; and chemistry tools.
The Department has generated a ratio of over 5.1 publications per staff annually, receiving over 600 citations. The personnel of the Department is included in the reviewers’ lists of 9 journals and editorial board of 3 periodicals, has authored 12 chapters and edited 2 books published by international houses.
EQUIPMENT AND ANALYTICAL CAPACITY
Optical microscopes (9) connected to a digital image processing network (stereo-, transmission-, polarized-, video-, measuring-,metallographic-, fluorescence-)
Variable pressure SEM (ΗV-, LV-, ESEM) with X-ray EDS spectrometer (EDX) and backscattered detectors for all imaging modes
FTIR spectrometer with FTIR microscope for fast molecular mapping, micro-ΑΤR, micro-MIR and angle resolved-ATR systems for surface analysis
UV-Visible spectrometer with integrated sphere and colorimetry software
High resolution computerized x-ray microtomography unit
Universal testing machine, elastic relaxation unit, LVDT for dimensional changes, microhardness and hardness tester, strain gauge measuring system
Portable colorimeter, gloss checker (flat/curved surfaces) and stylus profilometer
Optical profiler
Accelerated aging devices (photoaging, hydrothermal cycling)
Chemical labware (pH-meters, ionometers, balances, ovens, centrifuge)
Specimen preparation devices (microtomes, grinding/polishing systems)
