YCN representative - Czech Republic

Lucie Pejchalová

YCN representative from the Czech Ceramic Society

Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology

Lucie.Pejchalova@ceitec.vutbr.cz

Lucie Pejchalová is a PhD student at Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology. She is studying the programme of Advanced Materials, focusing on advanced ceramics and hi-tech ceramics. She studied the Faculty of Chemistry at Brno University of Technology, in the field of Chemistry for Medical Application.

Since her bachelor’s studies, she has specialized in bioceramic materials, so with materials imitating bones and hard tissues. More specifically, she is dealing with the preparation and also with the testing of bioceramic reactors and scaffolds, which could be used in the field of implantation, namely in the treatment of bone and nervous tissues. For bioreactor and scaffold fabrication she is using a modern technique called freeze-casting, which allows the preparation of complex and porous structures. In the past, she studied the influence of shaping techniques on the final phase composition and microstructure of calcium phosphate ceramics. She also studied the compatibility of freeze-casting with other shaping techniques.

Recently, she is focusing on characterization and biological testing of freeze-cast and additively manufactured scaffolds and bioreactors. For characterization, she usually uses scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, X-Ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. She can also perform bioactivity testing in simulated body fluid or testing in in vivo environment.

Furthermore, she also focuses on ballistic protection, thus she works with bulletproof ceramic materials which could be used for army vehicles and personal protection.

In her free time, she likes to read historical novels, go for a walk, and do pilates.