1、 陶瓷烧结新技术与烧结理论研究
本研究目标主要是发展新的烧结技术与理论。为了制备缺陷少的高性能陶瓷材料，烧结技术至关重要；未来烧结技术的重要方向是“外场与热场耦合相结合的烧结”。近几年来，本课题组在国际上率先研究振荡压力波与热场耦合烧结新技术，采用该技术制备的钇稳定氧化锆陶瓷（3Y-TZP），其密度接近理论密度、抗弯强度达到1600MPa；与传统烧结方法比较，晶粒更加细小均匀、强度提高近一倍，并发现新的烧结机制，显示出这种新型烧结技术的巨大潜力。目前研究重点包括振荡烧结致密化机理、烧结动力学窗口、多种超高强度陶瓷的振荡烧结探索。前期部分工作已发表在J. Am.Ceram.Soc.等刊物；并得到主编高度评价：“这种烧结技术过去从未听说过，是对陶瓷科学的一个新贡献”。
2、极端条件下陶瓷材料的结构性能与服役行为研究
在航天、核能、超导等国家重大工程和许多高技术领域中，陶瓷材料的应用涉及超低温、热冲击、流体介质腐蚀等极端环境。本课题组在国际上率先开展各种陶瓷材料（包括氧化物陶瓷、非氧化物陶瓷、陶瓷基复合材料）在超低温液态环境下的抗弯强度、断裂韧性与断裂机理、裂纹扩展路径、静态与动态疲劳服役行为，热膨胀与热导率变化规律；发现和制备出77K低温环境下断裂强度和断裂韧性比室温下增大30%以上的陶瓷材料。上述工作已发表在Scripta Materialia，J. Am.Ceram.Soc., Ceramics International, Materials Letters等国际学术刊物，并得到美国陶瓷学会主编的高度评价。
3、陶瓷净尺寸胶态成型工艺技术与理论研究
本研究目标主要为提高陶瓷可靠性和产业化应用提供理论指导。
主要包括：（1）陶瓷注射成型（Ceramic Injection Molding，简称CIM），石蜡基体系的溶剂萃取脱脂及塑基体系的催化脱脂两大工艺技术，复杂形状和高精度陶瓷零部件制备；（2）凝胶注模成型（Gel-Casting）；（3）流延成型（Tape Casting）；（4）3D打印光固化成型。上述研究涉及浆料流变性和固相含量调控、浆料凝固过程与计算机模拟优化、脱脂与烧结过程及陶瓷材料内部缺陷控制等工艺与理论。前期主要工作发表在J. Am. Ceram. Soc., Journal of the European Ceramic Society, Materials & Design, American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Materials Science and Engineering A等刊物，已授权十余项国家发明专利。
4、高强度高韧性陶瓷与制备工艺及材料缺陷关联性研究
本研究主要是为下一代超高强度和超高韧性的新型陶瓷材料制备奠定基础。
主要包括：（1）纳米粉末及其多相复合体系的分散与团聚体等缺陷调控；（2）纳米陶瓷材料复合制备技术；（3）陶瓷材料内部缺陷的形成、遗传规律及与不同成型工艺工艺的关联性；（4）应用新型烧结技术控制缺陷制备超高强度陶瓷；（5）高韧性及塑性陶瓷材料制备技术新探索。前期部分工作发表在J. Am. Ceram. Soc., Journal of the European Ceramic Society, Journal of Materials Science Letters等刊物，已授权多项国家发明专利。
5、透明陶瓷及陶瓷致色新技术
本研究主要包括：（1）透明氧化铝陶瓷微量烧结添加剂的引入技术；（2）透明陶瓷部件的注射成型技术；（3）透明陶瓷的烧结技术；（4）氧化锆陶瓷的非均匀沉淀法及液相离子浸渗法致色技术；（5）氧化锆陶瓷的发黑技术。前期部分工作发表在J. Am. Ceram. Soc., Journal of the European Ceramic Society, International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, Science of Sintering, Advances in Applied Ceramics等刊物，已授权多项国家发明专利。
6、高纯超细陶瓷粉末的化学反应法合成研究
本研究目标是为高性能陶瓷材料制备提供最佳的粉末及合成工艺方法。主要针对某些非氧化物和氧化物超细陶瓷粉末，研究其湿化学反应法合成过程，调控粉末一次粒子的大小与分布，探索新的反应合成技术，制备出高纯度、细晶粒、无团聚、良好烧结活性的陶瓷粉末。
【代表性论文】
[1] Z-P.Xie, S. Li, L-N. An；A novel Oscillatory Pressure-Assisted hot pressing for preparation of High-performance Ceramics，被选为“Featured Article”，Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 97[4] 1012-1015 (2014).
[2] S. Li, Z-P.Xie, W-J.Xue, X-D. Luo, L-N. An；Sintering of high-performance silicon nitride ceramics under vibratory pressure，Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 98[3] 698-701 (2015).
[3] S. Wei, Z-P. Xie, W-J. Xue, et al；Fracture toughness of aluminum nitride ceramics at cryogenic temperatures，Ceramics International; [40]13715-13718 (2014).
[4] S. Wei, J. Chen, Z-P. Xie, et al；How Does Crack Bridging Change at Cryogenic Temperatures?; Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 98[3] 898-901 (2015).
[5] W-W. Wu, Z-P. Xie, W-J. Xue, et al；Toughening effect of multiwall carbon nanotubes on 3Y-TZP zirconia ceramics at cryogenic temperatures，Ceramics International; [41]1303-1307 (2015).
[6] W. Liu, Z-P. Xie; Pressureless sintering behavior of injection molded alumina ceramics; Science of Sintering, 46: 3-13 (2014).
[7] J. Chen, Z-P.Xie; The cryogenic mechanical properties of translucent alumina; Ceramics International; [40]13691-13695 (2014).
[8] S. Wei, Z-P. Xie, W-J. Xue, et al；Strengthening mechanism of aluminum nitride ceramics from 293 to 77 K; Materials Letters; 119:32–34 (2014).
[9] W. Liu, Z-P. Xie, L-X.Cheng; Sintering kinetics window: an approach to the densification process during the preparation of transparent alumina; Advances in Applied Ceramics; 114(1)33-38(2015).
[10] X-F. Yang, X-W. Xu, Z-P. Xie, et al; Optimization of the Compositions of PEG/PMMA Binder System in Ceramic Injection Moulding via Water-debinding; Advances in Applied Ceramics; 302:556-560(2013)
[11] W-J. Xue, J. Yi, Z-P. Xie; Fracture toughness of 3mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia at cryogenic temperatures; Ceramics International; 41[3] 3888 -3895 (2014).
[12] L-X. Cheng, Z-P. Xie, G-W. Liu; Spark plasma sintering of TiC-based composites toughened by submicron SiC particles; Ceramics International; 39: 5077–5082 (2013).
[13] L-X. Cheng, Z-P. Xie, G-W. Liu; Spark plasma sintering of TiC ceramic with tungsten carbide as a sintering additive; Journal of the European Ceramic Society ; 33: 2971–2977 (2013).
[14]X-D. Luo, D-L. Qu, Z-P. Xie, et al; Effect of CeO2 on the Crystalline Structure of Forsterite Synthesized from Low-Grade Magnesite; Refractories and Industrial Ceramics, 54(4):291-294(2013).
[15] W-J. Xue, J. Yi, Z-P. Xie, et al; Enhanced fracture toughness of silicon nitride ceramics at cryogenic temperatures; Scripta Materialia; 66: 891-894 (2012).
[16] L-X. Cheng, G-W. Liu, Z-P. Xie, et al; Densification and mechanical properties of TiC by SPS-effects of holding time, sintering temperature and pressure condition; Journal of the European Ceramic Society; 32:3399–3406 (2012).
[17] W-J. Xue, Z-P. Xie, J. Yi, et al; Critical grain size and fracture toughness of 2 mol.% yttria-stabilized zirconia at ambient and cryogenic temperatures; Scripta Materialia; 67:963–966 (2012).
[18] W. Wang, W. Liu, Z-P. Xie; Fabrication of black-colored CuO–Al2O3–ZrO2 ceramics via heterogeneous nucleation method; Ceramics International; 38: 2851–2856(2012).
[19] G-W. Liu, Z-P. Xie, W. Liu, et al; Fabrication of translucent alumina ceramics from pre-sintered bodies infiltrated with sintering additive precursor solutions; Journal of the European Ceramic Society; 32:711–715(2012)
[20] W. Liu, Z-P. Xie, C. JIa; Surface modification of ceramic powders by titanate coupling agent for injection molding using partially water soluble binder system; Journal of the European Ceramic Society; 32:1001–1006(2012).
[21] W. Liu, X-F. Yang, Z-P. Xie; et al;Novel fabrication of injection-moulded ceramic parts with large section via partially water-debinding method; Journal of the European Ceramic Society; 32:2187–2191 (2012)
[22] W-J. Xue, Y. Huang, Z-P. Xie, et al; Al2O3 ceramics with well-oriented and hexagonally ordered pores: The formation of microstructures and the control of properties; Journal of the European Ceramic Society ; 32:3151–3159(2012)
[23] Z-P.Xie, W-J,Xue, H-B. Chen; Mechanical of thermal properties of 99% and 92% alumina at cryogenic temperatures; Ceramics International ;37: 2165-2168 (2011).
[24] W-J,Xue, Z-P.Xie, G-W.Liu; R-curve behavior of 3Y-TZP at cryogenic temperatures. Journal of the American Ceramic Society; 94:2775-2778 (2011).
[25] W-J,Xue, Y. Sun, Z-P.Xie; Preparation and properties of porous alumina with highly ordered and unidirectional oriented pores by a self-organization process. Journal of the American Ceramic Society; 94:1978-1981 (2011).
[26] W-J,Xue,T. Ma, Z-P.Xie; Research into mechanical properties of reaction -bonded SiC composites at cryogenic temperatures. Materials Letters; 65: 3348 - 3350 (2011).
[27] G-W.Liu, Z-P. Xie, W. Wang, et al; Fabrication of colored zirconia ceramics by infiltrating water debound injetion molded green body; Advances in Applied Ceramics; 110(1) 58-62 (2011).
[28] G-W.Liu, Z-P. Xie, W. Wang, et al; Fabrication of ZrO2-CoAl2O4 composite by injection molding and solution infiltration. International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology; 8(6) 1344–1352(2011).
[29] G-W.Liu, Z-P. Xie, Y. Wu; Fabrication and mechanical properties of homogeneous ZTA ceramic via cyclic solution infiltration and in-situ precipitation. Materials & Design; 32(6), 3440-3447 (2011).
[30] W.Liu, Z-P.Xie, G-W. Liu, et al; Novel Preparation of Translucent Alumina Ceramics Induced by Doping Additives via Chemical Precipitation Method, Journal of the American Ceramic Society; 94(10) 3211-3215 (2011).
[31] W.Liu, Z-P.Xie,X-F.Yang, et al; Surface Modification Mechanism of Stearic Acid to Ceramic Powders Induced by Ball Milling for Water-Based Injection Molding; Journal of the American Ceramic Society; 94(5)1327-1330 (2011).
[32] W.Liu, Z-P.Xie, T-Z. Bo, et al; Injection molding of surface modified powders with high solid loadings: A case for fabrication of translucent alumina ceramics," Journal of the European Ceramic Society; 31(9)1611-17(2011).
[33] W.Liu, T-Z. Bo, Z-P.Xie, et al; Fabrication of injection moulded translucent alumina ceramics via pressureless sintering; Advances in Applied Ceramics; 110(4)251-54 (2011).
[34] X-N. Zhang, Y-G Chen, Z-P.Xie, et al; Shape and Doping Enhanced Field Emission Properties of Quasialigned 3C-SiC Nanowires; Journal of Physical Chemistry C; 114(18) 8251-8255(2010).
[35] Z-P.Xie, C-L. Ma, Y. Huang; Effects of additives on alumina sheets forming by a novel gel-tape-casting; Materials & Design, 24:287-291(2003).
[36] Z-P. Xie, J-W. Lu, Y. Huang: Ceramic forming based on gelation principle and process of sodium alginate; Materials Letters, 57:2501-2508(2003).
[37] Z-P.Xie, C-L. Ma, Y. Huang; Gel Tape Casting Ceramic Sheete; American Ceramic Society Bulletin; 81(10) 33-37(2002).
[38] Z-P.Xie, J-W. Lu, Y. Huang, et al; Fabrication of high toughness alumina with eloegated grains; Journal of Materials Science Letters, 20:1425-1427 (2001).
[39] Z-P. Xie, Y-B. Cheng, Y. Huang; Formation of silicon nitride bonded silicon carbide by aqueous gel-casting; Materials Science and Engineering A; 349:20-28(2003).