Prof. Ing. Bedřich SMETANA, Ph.D.
MATERIÁLOVÝ A METALURGICKÝ VÝZKUM s.r.o., Ostrava, Czech Republic, EU
Primary affiliation: MATERIÁLOVÝ A METALURGICKÝ VÝZKUM s.r.o. (MMV s.r.o.)
Secondary affiliation: Nanotechnology Centre (CNT), Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), VSB – Technical University of Ostrava
Field: chemical metallurgy, thermal analysis and calorimetry, thermodynamics and kinetics of materials
Professional profile
Professor Bedřich Smetana specialises in chemical metallurgy, thermal analysis and calorimetry, thermodynamic and kinetic modelling, and phase transformations, with industrial applications in metallurgy, energy and environmental technologies. At MMV s.r.o. and the new CirkArena research centre, he works as an independent and collaborative excellent researcher and is affiliated with CNT, CEET, VSB-TUO.
Academic and professional career
- MSc in Chemical Engineering; Ph.D., Associate Professor and, since 2020, Professor of Chemical Metallurgy at VSB-TUO.
- Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VSB-TUO: academic and research position, 2005–2026.
- Head of the Laboratory of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry at VSB-TUO from 2011 to 2026.
- Head of the Department of Chemistry and Physico-Chemical Processes from 2022 to 2025.
- Head of one MATUR research programme and a REFRESH project research activity, 2023–2026.
- Research activity leader, Advanced Materials for Energy and Environmental Technologies, since 2024.
Main areas of expertise
- Thermophysical properties and thermal behaviour of materials – thermal analysis and calorimetry methods. Thermodynamic and kinetic modelling.
- Hydrogen and thermal energy storage; phase-change and heat-transfer materials; energy materials and waste.
- Steels, superalloys, metallic, oxide and ceramic systems; optimisation of continuous casting, heat treatment and alloying.
- Since 2026, his research has also focused on the circular economy.
Research infrastructure and leadership
With his team, he established VSB-TUO's Laboratory of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. He guaranteed the Chemical Metallurgy doctoral programme, supervised students, and leads research teams and strategic-project work packages.
International and industrial collaboration
Academic collaboration: University of Oxford, University of Michigan, Pohang University of Science and Technology, University of Vienna, Montanuniversität Leoben, Paul Scherrer Institute, Fraunhofer institutes and other institutions in Europe, the USA and Asia.
Study and research stays at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, RWTH Aachen, AGH University of Krakow and the University of Leoben.
Industrial collaboration:
voestalpine Stahl, Třinecké železárny, CeramTec, TDK Electronics, Continental, Vitesco Technologies and other companies.
Publications, awards and professional impact
More than 270 publications; Web of Science: 130+ publications, h-index 19; Scopus: 140+ publications, h-index 21. Author of 41 industrial research reports; journal reviewer and invited conference speaker.
APDIC Best Paper Award 2019 for a Zr-Ni-Sn paper in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds; member of academic, scientific and editorial boards and professional societies in chemistry, thermal analysis, calorimetry and hydrogen.