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AmerICAN CerAmIC SOCIetY

emerging ceramics & glass technology

September 2013

Advanced refractory technology

How nanotechnology, research, and innovation save energy,
preserve the environment, and earn profit

Unifrax: A mid-sized company’s approach to innovation •

Nanotech meets refractory tech •
Better refractories, greener future •
ACerS leaders build international ties •
Meeting previews: UNITECR, MS&T’13, ICACC’14, EMA’14 •
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 contents September 2013 • Vol. 92 No. 7

feature articles
Innovation at Unifrax: A win–win proposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Bruce Zoitos
Unifrax uses a stage–gate system to manage product development projects and meet its goal of
maintaining a new products portfolio valued at 20 percent or more of revenues.

Advances in nanotechnology for refractories: When very small meets hot,

heavy, and large . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Rafael Salomão, Adriane D.M. Souza, Leandro Fernandes, and Cezar C. Arruda
Nanomaterials lead to interesting advances in refractory technology—an overview of recent
developments. cover story
Toward a “greener” future with advanced refractories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Innovation at Unifrax: A win–win
William L. Headrick proposition
Refractory ceramics offer energy savings, but they are not as “green” as grass. (Credit: Unifrax.)

Improved refractories = energy savings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 – page 18

James G. Hemrick
Chronicling some of the Department of Energy’s long history of support for refractories research
and a look at the future.

FIRE: A hot idea for international refractory education and research . . . . . . 36

Michel Rigaud
An innovative international approach to refractory engineering education and research.

meetings
UNITECR 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Welcome reception, keynote and plenary speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Conference dinner, poster session, sponsors, short courses, closing ceremony . . . . . . . . . . 39 ACerS spotlight
Technical sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Euro tour yields new collaborations
Expo preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 for ACerS
Materials Science & Technology 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 (Credit: ACerS.)
Lectures and special events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 – page 8
Plenary session, short courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Calendar of events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
ACerS committee meetings, hotel information, Young Professional programming . . . . . . . . 48
Program-at-a-glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Exhibitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
38th International Conference and Exposition on Advanced Ceramics and
Composites (ICACC 2014). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Electronic Materials and Applications (EMA 2014) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Meeting highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
PACRIM-GOMD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Structural Clay Products Division, Cements Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
ceramics in energy
Oxide nanolayers make colorful
Cover image:
Refractories in a container glass melting furnace. Fused cast alumina-zirconia-silica (AZS) refractories line solar panels
the glass melt contact regions and superstructure walls, and high-silica brick lines the crown. This image (Credit: Fraunhofer IOF.)
shows the beginning campaign operational condition in a furnace expected to run for more than 10
years. Credit: Owens-Illinois Inc. – page 14

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 1

AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
bulletin contents
September 2013 • Vol. 92 No. 7
Editorial and Production
Eileen De Guire, Editor
ph: 614-794-5828 fx: 614-794-5815
edeguire@ceramics.org
departments
Jim Destefani, Associate Editor News & Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ph: 614-794-5853 fx: 614-794-5813 • Reform of DOE National Lab management proposed
jdestefani@ceramics.org
Peter Wray, Contributing Editor
• New Brazilian glass research center
Russell Jordan, Contributing Editor • USGS, DOE ramp up search for domestic RE sources
Tess M. Speakman, Graphic Designer • R&D 100 winners announced
Editorial Advisory Board • Business news
Olivia Graeve, Chair, UCSD ACerS Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Allen Apblett, Oklahoma State University
Andrew Gyekenyesi, Ohio Aerospace Institute
• Euro tour yields new collaborations for ACerS
Joe Ryan, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • NETD student travel stipends available for MS&T’13
Rafael Salomão, University of São Paulo • AACS Division offers free membership for students
Finn Giuliani, Imperial College London • Deadlines: Fellows nominations and Ceramographic Competition
Eileen De Guire, Staff Liaison, The American Ceramic Society • Calling all potential Emeritus Members
Customer Service/Circulation • Student symposium at EMA 2014
ph: 866-721-3322 fx: 240-396-5637 • MS&T’13: Multiple opportunities for student engagement and fun
customerservice@ceramics.org • MS&T’13 registration for Distinguished Life, Senior/Emeritus members
Advertising Sales • PCSA, Ohio State team up for award-winning fair exhibit
National Sales • In Memoriam
Patricia A. Janeway, Associate Publisher • Name in the news
pjaneway@ceramics.org • Education Integration Committee
ph: 614-794-5826 fx: 614-794-5822
Europe Ceramics in Biomedicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Richard Rozelaar • Multilab study to establish uniform nanotoxicity testing protocols
media@alaincharles.com
ph: 44-(0)-20-7834-7676 fx: 44-(0)-20-7973-0076 Ceramics in Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
• Oxide nanolayers make colorful solar panels
Executive Staff • Optimizing coevaporation processes for CIGS PV cells
Charles G. Spahr, Executive Director and Publisher
cspahr@ceramics.org Research Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Teresa Black, Director of Finance and Operations • Nanostructure in BC-era Athenian pottery reveals decorating, firing innovations
tblack@ceramics.org
Megan Bricker, Dir. Marketing & Membership Services
• Boron nitride nanotubes enable room-temperature quantum tunneling
mbricker@ceramics.org
Eileen De Guire, Director of Communications
edeguire@ceramics.org
Sue LaBute, Human Resources Manager & Exec. Assistant
columns
slabute@ceramics.org Deciphering the Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Mark Mecklenborg, Dir. Technical Publications & Meetings Morgan O’Neil
mmecklenborg@ceramics.org Finding real education outside the classroom
Officers
Richard Brow, President
David Green, President-elect
resources
George Wicks, Past President New Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Ted Day, Treasurer Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Charles Spahr, Executive Director
Classified Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Board of Directors Display Advertising Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Keith Bowman, Director 2012–2015
Elizabeth Dickey, Director 2012–2015
American Ceramic Society Bulletin covers news and activities of the Society and its members, includes items of interest to the ceramics
William Fahrenholtz, Director 2009–2013 community, and provides the most current information concerning all aspects of ceramic technology, including R&D, manufacturing,
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ACSBA7, Vol. 92, No. 7, pp 1–64. All feature articles are covered in Current Contents.

2 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

 news & trends
Reform of DOE National Lab
management proposed
The Department
of Energy’s net-
work of 17 national
laboratories and five
related facilities has
been responsible for
(Credit: DOE.)
a multitude of inno-
vations in materi-
Moniz als science and
other fields since World War II. Now
Washington think tanks, Congressional
leaders, and the new Secretary of
Energy are looking at how possible
reforms to the structure and manage-
ment of the labs could bring them into
the 21st century and facilitate transfer of
lab-developed technologies to industry
to boost the US economy.
A joint report from three ideo-
logically disparate think tanks—
the Information Technology and
Innovation Foundation, the Heritage
Foundation, and the Center for
American Progress—got the reform ball
rolling in June. Ernest Moniz, a nuclear
physicist who became energy secretary
in May, drafted a letter in response
to a query from the US House of
Representatives’ Energy Subcommittee
expressing his willingness to consider
reforms, and the subcommittee recently
held a hearing on the possible reform.
The report, entitled Turning the Page:
Reimagining the National Labs in the 21st
Century Innovation Economy, makes sev-
eral recommendations on how the lab
network could be improved to address
changing scientific and technological
challenges and promote closer ties to
industry to move technologies from the
basic research to the industrial imple-
mentation phase.
The national laboratories manage
more than $10 billion of scientific and
national security activities, according to
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
the report, which says, “… As the nature
of technology and the needs of the
nation have evolved, the lab manage-
ment and stewardship model has failed to
keep pace. This report proposes a series
of pragmatic nonpartisan policy reforms
needed to ensure the labs remain effec-
tive and continue to deliver national
benefits to the taxpayers.
“The working group’s policy reforms
described herein have three main goals:
Increasing the effectiveness of each dol-
lar spent on research to get the greatest
benefit to taxpayers; ensuring that labs
are well positioned to leverage private-
sector investment in serving the national
interest; and making lab research more
nimble, relevant, and accessible to public
and private interests.”
More timely and efficient transfer
of lab-developed technologies to the
market is one of the key drivers of the
reform movement. The report also
suggests allowing labs to charge the
market rate, rather than cost recov-
ery, for services; merging the existing
Offices of Science, Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, and
Nuclear into a new Office of Science and
Technology, which would coordinate all
research functions; eliminating top-down
overhead accounting rules; expanding
DOE’s Agreements for Commercializing
Technology program; creating a high-
level task force that would be aimed at
giving the labs greater authority to man-
age themselves; and developing better
technology-transfer metrics. n
New Brazilian glass
research center
New funding from the São Paulo
State Research Foundation (FAPESP)
recently established the Center for
Glass Research, Technology, and
Education in Vitreous Materials
(CeRTEV) an
11-year, approximate-
ly $22 million (USD)
collaborative effort
involving 14 faculty
at two universities
located in São Carlos
plus two more faculty
Zanotto
who are education
and outreach specialists. CeRTEV will
be led by Edgar Zanotto, professor at
the Federal University of São Carlos
and the ACerS GOMD 2012 Morey
Award lecturer.
The funding agency, FAPESP,
awarded 17 new research centers for
support for 11 years each after conduct-
ing a two-year competition that began
with a field of 90 proposals. Funding
for CeRTEV will be about $2 million
per year for five years, after which the
FAPESP will evaluate the program
before authorizing funding for the next
six years.
“We had this strategy of getting 14
researchers from two universities which
were based in the same town. The
whole strategy was to facilitate interac-
tion throughout the 11 years,” Zanotto
says. Seven professors each from the
Federal University of São Carlos and
the University of São Paulo–São Carlos
campus are collaborating. The two
campuses are only four kilometers apart,
and the center will bring together an
interdisciplinary team that includes
experts in vitreous materials like
Zanotto, but also physicists and chem-
ists who specialize in characterization
techniques, such as nuclear magnetic
resonance, Raman spectroscopy, and
extended X-ray absorption fine struc-
ture spectroscopy.
Like the other 16 new centers,
CeRTEV focuses on research to support
Brazilian industries and education and
outreach. The research component will
3
 news & trends
involve a systematic search for new glass
and glass-ceramic compositions with
specified properties, such as bioactiv-
ity, biocompatibility, high mechanical
strength, or desired electrical properties.
“The main idea of the research part
is to develop the genome of different
glasses, from the recognized structure to
special thermal treatments, which may
or may not crystallize these materials,
and then to develop microstructures to
achieve certain properties for applica-
tions,” Zanotto says.
The group targeted five application
areas for initial development: bioactive
materials, dental materials, armor, opti-
cal materials, and catalysts for certain
processes. However, Zanotto says, “We
are not really attached to these five
areas. We are going to start with these
five areas, but we may add some more
during the next few years.”
The education and outreach compo-
nent of the project lends itself naturally
to international exchanges. Zanotto
envisions international exchanges simi-
lar to the IMI-NFG program at Lehigh
University and Pennsylvania State
University as a critical outreach activ-
ity. However, he also expects CeRTEV
to expand beyond traditional approach-
es to education to build more outreach
channels.
“We have to go further than the
traditional education we do at the uni-
versity,” he says, “for example, through
websites, online courses, special short
courses for undergrads, post grads, and
also high schools.”
Considering the size of the award
in terms of funding as well as time,
CeRTEV is likely one of the largest and
longest timeframe research efforts dedi-
cated to glass science. Its impact will
unfold over time, but it is likely to have
a dominant influence on glass research
globally for more than a decade. n
USGS, DOE ramp up search
for domestic RE sources
When it comes to mining rare-earth
minerals, there is no “low-hanging”
4 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
fruit. Their name, “rare earths,” belies REs from the mine tailings from aban-
the truth—they are not so much rare as doned gold, silver, and copper mines.
they are difficult to get at. The USGS Central Mineral and
According to a United States Environmental Resources Science
Geological Survey fact sheet from 2002, Center (Denver, Colo.) is working with
“abundant” REs, such as lanthanum scientists at the University of Nevada–
and cerium, are as plentiful in the Reno and the Colorado School of
Earth’s crust as industrial metals such Mines to evaluate abandoned mine tail-
as chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, ings. The USGS team uses laser abla-
molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and lead. tion combined with plasma mass spec-
The fact sheet notes that the two least trometry to analyze rock chemistries.
abundant of the RE elements—thulium The laser ablation approach deter-
and lutetium—are almost 200 times mines rock chemistry directly and
more common than gold. (Strictly avoids time-consuming or acid-based
speaking, REs comprise the 15 elements extraction methods.
in the lanthanide series of the periodic However, even if mine tailings prove
table. However, scandium and yttrium to have significant RE content, that
are generally included in the RE cat- still leaves the problem of extracting
egory because they tend to be found in the metals—and extraction and refin-
the same deposits and have some simi- ing are key to the economic viability
lar chemical properties.) of any process, whether from ore, like
The problem is that REs tend not Molycorp’s Mountain Pass, or recycling.
to concentrate in easy-to-mine depos- Meanwhile, RE deposits have been
its. The vast majority of RE ores come discovered in the Bokan Mountain
from China, but political and eco- region of Alaska where uranium used to
nomic factors, combined with escalat- be mined. The discovery is significant
ing demand, have led to supply and because of the unusual abundance of
cost instability. Non-Chinese sources heavier REs, which are not only harder
include a large deposit of neodymium to find but more useful for technology.
discovered in Brazil in 2012, and, in the USGS geologists hope their studies of
United States, Molycorp reactivated its the geology of Bokan Mountain will
Mountain Pass mining and ore process- teach them what to look for when hunt-
ing operation. ing for other potential RE deposits.
In an effort to expand sources of REs, Besides finding more naturally occur-
USGS and the US Department of Energy ring RE sources, DOE’s newly estab-
have made RE recovery and recycling lished Critical Materials Institute in
research pri-
orities. They
are devoting
increasing
research
resources to
the search for
alternatives
to RE compo-
nents based
(Credit: Wikimedia Commons.)
on non-RE
compositions.
And, in a new
twist, USGS is
investigating The economic viability of Molycorp’s recently reopened Mountain Pass
the possibility facility will depend on finding new and more efficient ways to extract
of recovering and refine REs.
See us at UNITECR/Booth 21
 news & trends
Ames, Iowa, coordinates research into
alternatives to REs, as well as recycling
technologies. CMI just released its first
report, which outlines its four strategic
thrusts: diversifying supply, developing
substitutes, improving reuse and recy-
cling, and crosscutting research. n
R&D 100 winners announced
R&D Magazine recently announced
the winners of its 51st annual R&D 100
Awards, which recognize the 100 most
technologically significant products to
enter the marketplace over the past
year as selected by its panel of experts.
Following is a quick look at just a few
of the many materials-related innova-
tions honored.
Developed by Argonne National
Laboratory and AKHAN Technologies
Corp., Hoffman Estates, Ill., the Miraj
diamond platform is a low-temperature,
nanocrystalline diamond deposition
technology with potential applications
in telecommunications, defense, and
aerospace electronics. Another winner,
Argonne’s nanonocrystalline diamond
technologies coating, stems from the
same research but uses ultrananocrystal-
line diamonds to produce hard, thin,
low-friction coatings for microscopic
drills used for micromachining.
From Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif., come both
Business news
GE cuts costs, boosts jet efficiency with
ceramic parts (www.wallstcheatsheet.
com)… EU antidumping duties put heat on
China’s ceramics industry (www.global-
times.cn)… TAM Ceramics signs zirconia
deal (www.buffalonews.com)… British
ceramics makers cash in on royal baby
(www.ap.com)… 2013 zircon sales to top
production, Iluka says (www.bloomberg.
com)… EU looks to tighten refractory
ceramic fiber regulations (www.morgan-
thermalceramics.com)… Ceramic nanofi-
ber materials available (www.mempro
.com)… PPG Argentina consolidates opera-
tions (www.ppg.com)… NHBB acquires
6 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
a conducting
polymer binder
for batteries and
a universal smart
window coating
that provides
dynamic control
over heat and
light. The battery
innovation—a
conducting poly-
mer binder anode
material—is said
to boost power
storage capacity
by 30 percent, Universal smart window coating is an inexpensive nanocomposite
stretch during electrochromic coating that allows dynamic control of the amounts of
battery charging, heat and light entering a building’s windows.
and contract dur-
ing discharge to give silicon anodes the
ability to “breathe.”
The universal smart window
coating developed with Heliotrope
Technologies Inc., Oakland, Calif., is
an inexpensive nanocomposite electro-
chromic coating said to allow dynamic
control of the amounts of heat and
light entering a building’s windows.
It blocks near-infrared solar radiation
without blocking visible light, giv-
ing building occupants natural indoor
lighting while minimizing temperature
increases. Windows with the coating
can be switched to block both heat and when machining hardened steels and
European ceramic bearing specialist
(www.nhbb.com)… CoorsTek acquires
Dynamic-Ceramic (www.online.wsj.
com)… Schott offers ultrastrong cover
glass for military display and touch screen
devices (www.us.schott.com)… Cinven
acquires Rockwood’s CeramTec unit (www.
cinven.com)… Global medical ceramics
report available (www.reportlinker.com)…
Startup uses novel materials based on plas- compressor parts. The technology builds
monic effects (www.technologyreview
.com)… Report: Global rare-earth met-
als market $8.19 billion by 2018 (www.
prnewswire.com) n
(Credit: LBNL.)
light or to a fully transparent mode.
Porous Power Technologies,
Lafayette, Colo., worked with Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge,
Tenn., to develop and commercialize
Symmetrix ceramic/PVDF lithium-ion
battery separators. The company says
high ceramic loadings help prevent
hard shorts from forming or spreading
and reduce the likelihood of thermal
runaway.
TuffTek-coated metal cutting inserts
from NanoMech, Fayetteville, Ark., are
said to have life three to 10 times longer
than inserts with conventional coatings
other difficult-to-machine materials. The
company says its patented cubic boron
nitride and other combinatorial coating
technologies can be applied to tungsten
carbide and ceramic cutting tools.
For gas turbine engine hot section
components, BlackGold nanostructured
metallic-ceramic protective coatings,
developed at DOE’s National Energy
Technology Laboratory; MDS Coating
Technologies Corp., St. Laurent,
Quebec; and Delta Airlines, provide
erosion and corrosion protection for
on a previous MDS coating that has
operated successfully for 20 years and
saved users more than $100 million per
year in maintenance, repair/replacement,
and fuel costs over that time. n
China Mineral Processing Ltd
Tel: +86 22 2321 0158 • Fax: +86 22 2313 3085
Website: www.cmptj.com • E-mail: cmpchina@cmptj.com

CMP Sales Europe:

Tel: +44 208 994 9191 Fax: +44 208 995 8128
E-mail: Sales@CMPSales.eu

Mining CMP China

Calcining “The vertically integrated
Processing bauxite producer”
Mixing
Logistics

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See us at UNITECR/Booth 3
 acers spotlight
Euro tour yields new collaborations for ACerS
A recent European trip made by
ACerS president Richard Brow and
executive director Charlie Spahr
proved fruitful in terms of strengthen-
ing ties to other ceramics organizations
around the world.
First stop for the pair was the 13th
International Conference of the
European Ceramic Society in Limoges,
France. They report that the four-day
biennial event was a major success, with
more than 1,000 people in attendance
and an excellent technical program.
A meeting held during the confer-
ence aimed to develop ways for ACerS
and ECerS to cooperate with each other
to benefit the broader ceramics com-
munity, and this, too, proved successful.
The group discussed many ideas, includ-
ing more active cooperation in develop-
ing symposia for each other’s meetings
and promotion of the respective societ-
ies’ activities on each other’s web sites.
“One of the more promising con-
cepts agreed upon was to provide sup-
port for a graduate student exchange,
in which students would travel for a
semester of study and research to uni-
versities in Europe or the USA,” says
Spahr. Both societies committed to
seeking funding to support this impor-
tant initiative.
Several ECerS members, includ-
ing current president Ann Leriche,
ACerS officials and ECerS officials agreed on several intersociety collaborations when
they met recently in Limoges, France, during the ECerS biennial conference. Standing:
ACerS president Richard Brow, Agnes Smith, Stuart Hampshire, and Francis Cambier.
Sitting: Carmen Baudin and ECerS president Ann Leriche.
8 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
will be traveling to Daytona Beach,
Fla., for the ACerS 38th International
Conference on Advanced Ceramics
and Composites for a follow-up meet-
ing and to further strengthen ties
between ACerS and ECerS.
Also on the itinerary was a stop
at the 23rd ACerS International
Conference on Glass meeting in
Prague, Czech Republic. Sponsored
by the International Commission on
Glass, the ICG event occurs every
three years, with annual meetings in
between. In addition to a successful
technical program, the event provided
a venue for meetings between the
leaders of ACerS and the Chinese
Ceramic Society. The two societies
have worked out a plan for yearly visits
and increased collaboration.
While in Prague, the Society
learned that the International
Commission on Glass accepted
ACerS’s bid to host the 2019
Congress. “Good news—ACerS was
designated as the 2019 ICG confer-
ence host by a unanimous vote in the
ICG Council meeting!” Spahr wrote
in an email. That meeting will be
held in Boston, Mass., just across the
Charles River from the extraordinary
glass flowers collection at Harvard
University. The 2016 ICG will be held
in Beijing, China. ■
(Credit: ACerS.)
NETD student travel stipends
available for MS&T’13
Need financial help to attend
MS&T’13? You may qualify for a
travel stipend sponsored by the ACerS
Nuclear & Environmental Technology
Division. Stipends of $250 are targeted
at deserving students with current or
future interests in the nuclear and/or
environmental fields of ceramic and
materials engineering.
Student participation in NETD-
sponsored symposia through an oral or
poster presentation is encouraged but
not required. For the nomination form
and more information, go to www.
ceramics.org/divisions/nuclear-environ-
mental-technology-division. But hurry—
deadline to apply is Sept. 1, 2013. ■
AACS Division offers free
membership for students
ACerS’s newest division, the Art,
Archaeology and Conservation Science
Division, is offering free memberships
to students. The AACS Division’s
mission is to advance the scientific
understanding of the materials found
in ceramic art and to provide informa-
tion that aids in the interpretation and
preservation of traditional ceramic art
and artifacts as well as the techniques
and technologies used in their creation.
Learn more about joining and getting
involved in the Division by visiting
www.ceramics.org/divisions/art-division.
The Division is sponsoring an
upcoming workshop entitled “Using
X-rays to Analyze Cultural Heritage.”
The event will be held Oct. 1–2, 2013
at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation
Lightsource and the Cantor Center for
the Visual Arts at Stanford University.
Materials science students will learn
about the use of synchrotrons to ana-
lyze cultural heritage, obtain hands-on
experience examining and treating
synchrotron-derived data, and have
a tour of the facility with a particular
emphasis on the imaging microscopes at
beamlines 2-3, 10-2, and 14-3.■
Deadlines: Fellows nominations undergraduate student research to EMA 2014 focuses on the basic sci-
encourage innovation and involvement ence, engineering, and applications of
and Ceramographic Competition and to highlight the scientific contri- electroceramic materials for electronic,
Two important deadlines for ACerS butions of undergraduate students to magnetic, dielectric, and optical com-
awards and competitions are coming ceramics research. Interested students ponents, devices, and systems. For more
up soon. must submit abstracts by Sept. 12, information on the event, visit www.
Nominations for the 2014 Class 2013. ceramics.org/ema2014. ■
of Fellows are due Sept. 1, 2013.
Criteria and forms can be found at
www.ceramics.org/acers-community/
award-winners-resources/page/1#sf.
Also upcoming on Oct. 4, 2013,
is the entry deadline for the annual
Ceramographic Competition at
MS&T’13. Sponsored by ACerS Basic
Science Division, the contest is always
a popular feature of MS&T. Complete
rules are available at www.ceramics.org/
acers-community/award-winners-resourc-
es/page/2#snow. ■

Calling all potential

Emeritus Members
Fall is the time of year when ACerS
reaches out to long-time members to
see if they qualify for Emeritus member-
ship. Members qualify for Emeritus rank
if they will be age 65 or older and will
have completed at least 35 years of con- ˜ Porous glasses and ceramics are available in frit,
tinuous Society membership by Dec. spheres, and porous hollow shells. Mo-Sci can
31, 2013.
provide materials that are compatible in acid,
Emeritus members’ dues are waived,
neutral and base environments.
and they are eligible for reduced meet-
ing registration rates. ˜ Mo-Sci specializes in final form manufacturing
Members who believe they are eligi- which includes frit, fiber, ribbon, spheres, cast
ble or who would like more information
objects, and porous materials.
about Emeritus membership can contact
Marcia Stout (mstout@ceramics.org; ˜ The innovative staff at Mo-Sci will work with you to
phone 614-794-5821). ■
design and develop your project.

Student symposium ˜ Mo-Sci is ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100C certified.

at EMA 2014
“Highlights of Undergraduate
Student Research in Basic Science
and Electronic Ceramics” is a special
student symposium at the Electronic
Materials and Applications 2014,
scheduled for Jan. 22–24, 2014, in
Orlando, Fla. www.mo-sci.com • 573.364.2338
The symposium will showcase

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 9

 acers spotlight
MS&T’13: Multiple opportunities
for student engagement and fun
The American Ceramic Society
encourages its Material Advantage stu-
dent members to join fellow Material
Advantage members from around the
world at MS&T’13, Oct. 27–31, in
Montréal, Québec, Canada. Students
are invited to participate in many spe-
cial activities and contests ranging from and Poster Contests, both of which
plant tours to poster sessions to flying
disc competitions, so make your MS&T Deadline for the undergraduate contests
plans today.
There are two poster contests,
one for graduate students and one
for undergraduates. The Material
Advantage Graduate Student Poster
Contest is open to any graduate stu-
dent who has an accepted poster in the the contest offers prizes of $100 for
general poster session at MS&T’13.
Three winners will receive cash prizes
The annual Ceramic Mug Drop is just one of many events
aimed at making MS&T memorable for Material Advantage
student members each year.
10
of $250, $150, and $100 for the first,
second, and third place posters, respec-
tively. Graduate students interested in
having their poster judged should con-
tact Tricia Freshour by Sept. 27, 2013.
Responses should include full name,
title of poster, and school name.
For undergraduate students,
Material Advantage is again host-
ing Undergraduate Student Speaking
have proved very popular in the past.
is Oct. 11, 2013. For rules, visit www.
materialadvantage.org/financial-oppor-
tunities/contests/.
The Ceramic Mug Drop has been a
popular student contest at MS&T for
many years. Organized by Keramos,
the strongest mug and $50 for the best
looking mug. Deadline for entry is Oct.
20, 2013; complete
rules are available
at www.materialad-
vantage.org/wp-
content/
uploads/2009/06/
mug_drop_rules_
revised-2013.pdf.
New for 2013
is the Ceramic
Disc Golf Contest.
Students will create
flying discs meeting
required specifica-
tions from ceramic
or glass materials,
then throw them
into a regulation
disc golf basket.
Each disc will be
judged in the cat-
egories of farthest
distance made and
aesthetics. The disc
that is successfully
thrown into the
(Credit: ACerS.)
basket from the
farthest distance in
the fewest number
of shots will win the
www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
distance contest. For contest rules, visit
www.materialadvantage.org/financial-
opportunities/contests/.
Last but certainly not least, students
will have the opportunity to attend
a plant tour on Oct. 28, 2013. The
tour is organized by ACerS President’s
Council of Student Advisors. Watch
for complete details in ACerS Student
News and the Society’s InFocus mem-
ber newsletter.
Registration for MS&T’13 is now
open, and Material Advantage recom-
mends the Travelodge Montréal Centre
($109 per night) for students. Visit the
MA MS&T’13 website at www.materi-
aladvantage.org/mst-student-activities/
for complete details.
For more information on any of
these student activities, contact Tricia
Freshour (tfreshour@ceramics.org;
phone 614-794-5827). ■
MS&T’13 registration for
Distinguished Life,
Senior/Emeritus members
ACerS Distinguished Life Members
are eligible for complimentary MS&T’13
registration, and Senior/Emeritus mem-
bers qualify for reduced registration fees.
These offers are available only through
ACerS and are not found on the MS&T
registration site. Contact Marcia Stout
(mstout@ceramics.org) for a special reg-
istration form. ■
CeramiC TeCh Today
Why did the executive director of the
Glass Manufacturing Industry Council
bring home 23 tubes of toothpaste from
a trip to Europe? Find out, and get daily
news updates and twice-weekly email
newsletters, at www.ceramics.org/
publications-and-resources/ceramic-tech-
today-2.
PCSA, Ohio State team up for materials science
Students from
lab and demonstra-
award-winning fair exhibit tion kit for teachers
Ohio State’s
Materials Science
Graduate students and recent being developed and Engineering
alums from the Materials Science and by PCSA. Kits are program and
Engineering Department at Ohio State aimed at giving ACerS PCSA
University (Columbus) teamed up students an intro- during a dem-
with the ACerS President’s Council duction to the basic onstration using
of Student Advisors to demonstrate types of materials a space shuttle
materials science concepts at the (metals, polymers, thermal tile at the
recent Ohio State Fair in Columbus. Ohio State Fair.
ceramics, and com- The students’
The group, including MSE graduate posites) through award-winning
student and PCSA president Derek fun and interactive booth highlight-
Miller, graduate students David lessons. Targeted ed materials sci-

(Credit: ACerS.)
Riegner and Ryan Brune, and recent towards 7th–12th ence for young
alumnae Tiffiny Trykowski and Jessica grade students, the students.
West, won an award for Best Tech kits also can be
Exhibit at the fair. simplified for younger students. org/coming-soon-materials-science-
Demonstrations at the ACerS booth More information on the kits, demonstration-and-lab-kits. Kits should
at the Technology Expo in the fair’s including a brief description of each be available this fall. ■
Youth Center showcased ceramic sci- lesson, is available at www.ceramics.
ence and general materials science and
engineering to engage young fairgoers.
Demonstrations included
• Levitating a superconductor;
• Deforming Nitinol shape-memory
alloy wire;
• Heating a space shuttle tile with
a blowtorch to simulate the shuttle’s
thermal protection system during reen-
try;
• Bouncing polymer balls versus no-
bounce balls; and
• Using movement and a piezoelec-
tric ceramic disk to light a LED.
The team demonstrated and
explained materials engineering topics
for more than 100 students and 200
adults.
“The kids were really blown away
by everything,” Miller says in an OSU
news release. “We actually had trouble
finishing on time because people kept
coming over to see the demos.”
Some of the demonstrations per-
formed at the fair are also part of a

In Memoriam
Roger Woodward
Some detailed obituaries can be found
on the ACerS website: www.ceramics.
org/acers-blog/in-memoriam
See us at UNITECR/Booth 17

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 11

 acers spotlight
Name in the news
Risbud elected to
World Academy of Ceramics
The World Academy of Ceramics
has elected Subhash H. Risbud, a dis-
tinguished professor in the Department
of Chemical Engineering and Materials
Science at the University of California,
Davis, as a Professional Member
(Academician) in the Class of “Science.”
Education Integration Committee
Keramos
By Gregory Hilmas
Sometimes mis-
taken as an honor
society, Keramos is the
Ceramic Engineering
Professional
Fraternity. Members
Hilmas
are typically initiated
as students with an interest in ceram-
ics, although honorary memberships
also are bestowed upon established
professionals in the field by the stu-
dent chapters.
Keramos serves as a professional
development resource for ceramic
engineers as students and throughout
their careers. The most visible aspect
of Keramos is its student chapters,
which are currently active at Alfred
University, University of Arizona,
Clemson University, University of
Florida, University of Illinois, Iowa
State University, Missouri University
of Science and Technology, Rutgers,
Ohio State University, Pennsylvania
State University, and University of
Washington. Student chapters engage
in a broad range of activities, including
educational outreach, career prepa-
ration and mentoring, community
service, fundraising, and professional
society participation. Annual student
chapter reports, which are excellent
examples of the vitality of Keramos,
can be viewed at www.ceramics.org/
classes/keramos.
Each year, the organization holds
an Annual Convocation and Business
12
Risbud is a Fellow and Emeritus
Member of The American Ceramic
Society. A member since 1971, he
received the Ceramic Education
Council Outstanding Educator Award
in 1998 and is affiliated with the Glass
& Optical Materials Division. Risbud
will receive a WAC Diploma dur-
ing the inaugural session of the 13th
Conferences Internationales Materiaux
et Technologies (CIMTEC), to be held
Meeting in conjunction with the
MS&T conference. Representatives
from each student chapter, their
advisors, and the Keramos Board of
Directors gather to discuss best prac-
tices, exchange ideas, and conduct the
year’s business. The Board uses frater-
nity funds to support
student travel to par-
ticipate in the con-
vocation and con-
ference. This year’s
convocation also
will feature Wayne
Huebner, department Huebner
chair and professor
of ceramic engineering at Missouri
University of Science and Technology,
who will receive the Greaves-Walker
Role of Honor award.
Keramos, with ACerS and Material
Advantage, also organizes the annual
Ceramic Mug Drop competition at
MS&T.
Education Integration Committee
Subcommittees
CEC reps EIC chair
NICE reps Staff liaison
SAC reps
www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
June 9–13, 2014, in
Montecatini Terme,
Italy.
Risbud’s research
interests include syn-
thesis and processing
of glasses, ceramics,
and gels applicable Risbud
in nanotechnology
and biotechnology. ■
Rules have been modified this year
so that each mug must have been heat-
ed to at least 1000°C during produc-
tion. While the University of Illinois
chapter has been very successful with
their geopolymer mugs in past years—
typically surviving drops of more than
10 meters!—they supported this rule
change and are looking forward to the
challenge.
A new contest sponsored by
Keramos and developed entirely by
student members is the Ceramic Disc
Golf competition scheduled for the
morning of Oct. 29, 2013 in the
Exhibit Hall. More information on
both events is available on page 10 in
this issue.
Keramos would like to thank all
those members who continue to sup-
port the fraternity through their annu-
al dues payments and donations, and
would like to encourage all members
to attend this year’s convocation at
MS&T’13. ■
Representatives
Keramos (pres)
PCSA (chair)
YPN
At-large (optional)
 ceramics in biomedicine
Multilab study to establish uniform
nanotoxicity testing protocols
The nanotech industry is expanding like bread dough on a
hot summer day. The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
(Washington, D.C) maintains an inventory (database) of
products incorporating nanomaterials. At the most recent
update in March 2011, the inventory listed 1,317 consumer
products, which represents more than 500 percent growth in
the five-year period 2006–2011.
Last fall, the Centers for Disease Control and the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (which is part
of CDC) announced an epi-
demiological study to assess
health risk of workers exposed
to carbon nanotubes and
nanofibers.
In work like this, the ques-
tion arises—how are results
evaluated and compared? For
the results to have meaning,
tests must be reproducible across
labs, and labs must be making
apples-to-apples comparisons.
A recent paper out of North
Carolina State University
reports on round-robin testing
of toxicology tests to evalu-
ate pulmonary health effects
of exposure to engineered
nanomaterials. Led by James
Bonner, NCSU associate pro-
fessor of environmental and
molecular toxicology, the study
spanned eight institutions that
used rat and mouse models to
evaluate lung exposure to tita-
(Credit: Bonner; EHP, NIH.)
nia and carbon nanotubes.
The paper notes that, to
this point, toxicity studies
were difficult to compare
Polarized light microscopy because of a lack of standard
shows inflammation of stained protocols and reagents. NCSU
tissue at an alveolar duct bifur- identified five obstacles to
cation caused by TiO2 nanobelt standardizing protocols:
exposure after one day. Arrows • Inconsistency between
indicate nanoparticles found batches of engineered nanoma-
within macrophages at alveolar terials;
duct bifurcations. Labels show
• Inherent challenges with
alveolar ducts (ad), terminal
comparing results from various
bronchioles (tb), blood vessel
(bv), alveolus (a), and airway labs;
epithelium (e). Images C, F, I, • Particle aggolomeration,
and L represent results from which can alter toxicity;
four independent labs. • Method and duration of
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
dosing, as well as dose levels; and
• Handling of engineered nanomaterials prior to testing.
Besides dosage, other material factors, including surface-
characteristics, charge, shape, and size affect toxicity.
The labs studied three polymorphs of titania: anatase–rutile
nanospheres, pure anatase spheres, and anatase nanobelts. Three
variants of multiwalled carbon nanotubes were studied, as well:
“original” MWCNTs, purified MWCNTs (where some of the
metal catalyst was removed), and MWCNTs functionalized
with carboxylic acid to aid their dispersion in bodily fluids.
Both families of nanomaterials caused inflammation and
inflammatory lesions in the lower portions of the rodent lungs.
However, removing the metal catalyst from MWCNT made
them less toxic, and so did functionalizing the surfaces with
carboxylic acid. In the case of titania nanoparticles, belt-
shaped particles caused more lung damage than either of the
spherical compositions.
“The findings are significant, but the real take-away mes-
sage here is that the multicenter consortium concept works
—and that means this is a starting point for assessing nanoma-
terials using this approach,” Bonner says in the press release.
The open access article is “Interlaboratory evaluation of
rodent pulmonary responses to engineered nanomaterials:
The NIEHS Nano GO Consortium,” Environmental Health
Perspectives (DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1205693). n
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13
 ceramics in energy
Oxide nanolayers make colorful solar panels
Until now, covering the roof or
façade of a building with standard solar
photovoltaic cells would change the
structure’s appearance—and not always
for the better. The need to maximize
solar collection efficiency governs the
black or gray color of today’s cell arrays.
Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute
for Applied Optics and Precision
Engineering (IOF; Jena, Germany)
want to change that. “Not enough work
has been done so far on combining
photovoltaics and design elements to
really do the term ‘customized photo-
voltaics’ justice,” says project manager
Kevin Füchsel in a news release.
Füchsel and his team have been
working for four years to develop cost-
effective manufacturing processes to
increase solar panel efficiency design
flexibility for architects and designers.
The work includes developing produc-
tion processes for colored solar cells
from thin-film silicon wafers.
To maximize light incidence on
the silicon substrate, an optically neu-
tral protective barrier that includes a
100-nm-thick conductive oxide layer
covers the semiconductor layer. The
14
TCO acts as a waveguide to transmit
light to the semiconductor layer and
serves as an antireflective coating.
The researchers are working now on
using aluminum-doped zinc oxide for
the oxide layer. The zinc oxide-based
material would be much cheaper than
current indium tin oxide materials, the
release says.
The IOF-developed manufacturing
processes produce PV cells that capture
more light and can be made in various
colors and shapes, according to Füchsel.
“The color comes from changing the
physical thickness of the transparent
conductive oxide layer, or modifying its
refractive index,” he says. “Giving solar
cells color doesn’t really affect their
efficiency. The additional transparent
TCO layer has barely any impact on
the current yield.” However, there are
differences in the amounts of electricity
various colored panels can generate—
according to the news release, red, blue,
and green panels may suffer a slight
decrease in efficiency compared with
other colors.
IOF researchers also are developing
an inkjet printing process to deposit the
www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
conductive TCO layer to further speed
manufacturing and increase design flex-
ibility. Patents already cover the pro-
duction of colored cells and the ability
to integrate design elements into solar
panels and whole modules. “This opens
up numerous possibilities to use a build-
ing to communicate information, dis-
playing the name of a company or even
artistic pictures,” Füchsel says. n
Optimizing coevaporation
processes for CIGS PV cells
Photovoltaic cells based on thin
films of copper indium gallium selenide
are among the most promising and
efficient PV technologies, and coevapo-
ration is a common technique used
for CIGS cell fabrication. The process
involves simultaneous evaporation of
indium or gallium, copper, and sele-
nium to produce a thin crystalline film
with minimal defects.
“Until recently, we did not fully
understand what exactly happens dur-
ing this coevaporation process,” says
Roland Mainz of Helmholtz Zentrum
Berlin Institute of Technology
Artist’s rendering
shows how
the Fraunhofer
IAO building
in Stuttgart,
Germany could
be fitted with a
colorful solar
façade.
(Credit: Fraunhofer IOF.)
 can be accelerated at some stages and that it is sufficient
to slow it down only at points where defects are efficiently
eliminated,” Mainz concludes.
Results of the work were reported in the paper “Formation
of CuInSe2 and CuGaSe2 Thin-Films Deposited by Three-
Stage Thermal Co-Evaporation: A Real-Time X-ray
Diffraction and Fluorescence Study,” Advanced Energy

(Credit: R. Mainz, C. Kaufmann/HZB.)

Materials (DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201300339). n

find your
Polycrystalline film growth during coevaporation in real time
using in-situ X-ray diffraction and fluorescence analysis.

vendors
(Germany) in a news release. Mainz and his research team
worked for three years to solve this riddle before hitting on a
technique that allows real-time observation of chalcopyrite with
formation in CIGS thin films.
Scientists knew that the thin films at the heart of CIGS ceramicSOURCE
PV cells have the chalcopyrite crystal structure. Copper
deficiency in the material allows electrons to flow to the cop- ceramicsource.org
per vacancies, resulting in conversion efficiencies that may
exceed 20 percent. But it took a novel experimental chamber
and exposure to synchrotron light at HZB’s BESSY II elec-
tron storage ring to give researchers a roadmap to coevapora-
tion process optimization.
HZB’s chamber contained evaporation sources for the
CIGS elements, plus heating and cooling elements that
allowed the researchers to control coevaporation. “One
of the main challenges was adjusting the chamber, which
weighs around 250 kg, with an accuracy of 10 μm,” Mainz
says in the release, explaining that thermal expansion of the
film during evaporation requires automatic height adjustment
every few seconds.
The setup allows Mainz and his team to observe real-time
polycrystalline film growth during coevaporation using in-
situ X-ray diffraction and fluorescence analysis. “We are now
able to see how crystalline phases form and transform, and
when defects form during the different stages of evapora-
tion,” Mainz explains. “But we’re also able to tell when these
defects disappear again.”
Defects start to diminish in the second stage of coevapora-
tion, during deposition of copper and selenium. Mainz says
excess copper deposits at the film surface in the form of cop-
per selenide to help reduce defects. “This was already known
before from previous experiments. But now, using fluores-
cence signals and numeric model calculations, we are able
to show how copper selenide penetrates the copper indium
selenide layer,” he explains.
“We now know that for further optimization of the process
it is important to concentrate on the transition point into
the copper-rich phase. Our findings suggest that the process

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 15

 research briefs
Nanostructure in BC-era Athenian pottery reveals decorating, firing innovations
The first ceramic engineers were
potters whose innovations helped
transform ancient cultures from hunt-
er-gatherers to agrarian societies. By
the 6th to 4th centuries BC, the agrarian
lifestyle was firmly established and so
was pottery making as an industry.
The archaeological record emerg-
ing from that time period in Athens,
Greece, suggests a robust industry that
produced about two million fine ceram-
ic pots per year and employed 1–3 per-
cent of the urban Athenian population,
according to a recent article in Archae-
ology, the magazine of the Archaeologi-
cal Institute of America. Even then,
the pots were considered works of art
created by gifted craftsmen.
About 400,000–800,000 artifacts
from the era survive—only 0.25–1
percent of the estimated total produc-
tion. It is enough, though, to pique the
interest of today’s culture sleuths, such
as Marc Walton, associate scientist at
the Getty Conservation Institute in
Los Angeles, Calif., and lead author
of a recent paper in the Journal of the
American Ceramic Society on the science
behind firing the pots.
The imagery on the pottery from
the era tells us much about what mat-
tered to the ancient Athenians, their
mythologies, and how they lived. The
early fineware pottery has distinctive
black figures on a red background. The
black-on-red style emerged around
700 BC. Later, around 530 BC, a new
red-on-black decoration style emerged.
Although the figures, whether red or
black, look painted on, they are not
glazes but clay-based slips.
Key to both styles is how the so-
called black gloss forms, and that
involves some sophisticated materials
science. The black gloss develops in
response to alternating oxidizing and
reducing atmospheres in the kiln dur-
ing firing. The decoration figures are
painted onto dried pots with clay slip,
which has much finer-sized clay plate-
lets than the clay used to make the
body of the pot. During the reducing
16
firings. Walton and his team studied
red-figure pottery sherds with sophisti-
cated materials characterization tools,
analyzing the materials and composi-
tions to gain insights into the ancient
firing processes.
The team worked with Aerospace
Corp., located in nearby El Segundo,
Calif., for scanning transmission elec-
tron microscopy characterization.
“Aerospace was an ideal part-
ner because they have considerable
expertise in reverse engineering of
materials. This is essentially what we
are attempting to do in this project—
reverse engineer ancient Athenian
pottery,” says Walton.
GCI researchers also worked with
scientists at the Stanford Synchrotron
Radiation Lightsource (Menlo Park,
Calif.) to characterize the three types
of black gloss regions using X-ray
microscopy.
(Credit: Walton, GCI; JACerS–Wiley.)
The microscopy showed that the
relief line is iron-spinel nanoscale
crystallites suspended in a silica-rich
glassy matrix, whereas the contour and
background regions have a much higher
degree of crystallinity. According to
Optical images of a red-figure pottery
fragment from Athens circa 700–500 the paper, the microstructure of the
BC. The black gloss results from a clay relief line “suggests that this portion of
slip reaction to alternating oxidizing the decoration underwent a very dif-
and reducing atmospheres during firing. ferent degree of vitrification than the
Black gloss is shown in three regions: the adjacent contour line and background
relief line, the contour line, and the back- slip regions, which exhibit only partial
ground. vitrification of the clay matrix.” How-
atmosphere segment of the firing, red ever, the chemical compositions of the
hematite (Fe2O3) in the clay reduces to relief, contour, and background regions
black magnetite (Fe3O4) and hercynite are very similar, leading the researchers
(FeAl2O4), which is also black. The to conclude that the morphological dif-
slip-painted areas densify more thor- ferences trace back to different thermal
oughly than the coarse-grained bulk histories: “… the different degree of
areas, which makes the slip-painted melting in the relief line seems to indi-
areas impervious to reoxidation. When cate it was subjected to a hotter tem-
the kiln atmosphere is made oxidizing, perature, thus necessitating more than
the less dense regions reoxidize to form one firing of the sherd.”
Fe2O3 and its characteristic red color, Had the Athenian artisans been con-
but the slip-painted regions remain temporary, we probably would refer to
black. them as nanotechnologists. Indeed, the
One unsolved mystery is whether GCI researchers had access to a unique
the pottery was fired in a single, mul- tool to unlock the materials’ nanomys-
tistep firing or subjected to multiple teries—Stanford’s synchrotron.
www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
 The Art, Archaeology and Conservation Science Divi-
sion of ACerS is hosting a workshop Oct. 1–2 at the facility
called “Using X-rays to Analyze Cultural Heritage.” (Walton
is vice chair of AACS.) There will be talks on using X-ray
microscopy to study pigments, hidden layers in paintings,
glazes, and ancient Roman pottery (terra sigillata), as well as
information that will be useful to anyone who uses this tool.
Also, ACerS is offering a free year of membership in the
AACS with new and renewing ACerS memberships. Join
ACerS and the AACS Division to continue the tradition of
ceramic science innovation through art.
Full details of the GCI work are in ”Material evidence for
multiple firings of ancient Athenian red-figure pottery,” by
Walton, et al., JACerS (DOI 10.111/jace.12395). n
Boron nitride nanotubes enable room-
temperature quantum tunneling
Transistors have come a long way since their development
at Bell Labs and first commercial success at the core of inex-
pensive portable radios.
Transistors, of course, also constitute the heart of the
integrated circuits used in any type of computerized device,
and current chipmaking technologies and materials are start-
ing to bump into their lower size limits. This has prompted
many researchers to ask what is next in transistor technology.
One answer comes from a group at Michigan Techno-
logical University (Houghton) that has been collaborating
with workers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop
nanoscale transistor technology.
“The idea was to make a transistor using a nanoscale
insulator with nanoscale metals on top,” says MTU research-
123mm
(Credit: Yoke Khin Yap/MTU.)
Electrons “tunnel” one at a time across a series of gold quan-
tum dots deposited on BNNTs. The room-temperature tunneling
device behaves like a transistor but contains no semiconductors.
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
er Yoke Khin Yap in a news release. The insulator in this
case was boron nitride nanotubes, akin to carbon nanotubes
but more difficult to synthesize and use.
Eventually the MTU lab developed a device that consists
of a “carpet” of BNNTs topped with laser-deposited gold
quantum dots only 3 nm across. When a voltage was applied
to the device, electrons flowed from dot to dot in a phenom-
enon known as quantum tunneling.
According to Michigan Tech physicist John Jaszczak, the
big news is quantum tunneling behavior in the device at
room temperature. Other tunneling devices “only operate at
liquid-helium temperatures,” he says.
Yap has filed for international patents on the technol-
ogy. “Theoretically, these tunneling channels can be min-
iaturized into virtually zero dimension when the distance
between electrodes is reduced to a small fraction of a
micron,” he says.
The work is reported in the article “Room-temperature
tunneling behavior of boron nitride nanotubes functional-
ized with gold quantum dots,” recently published online in
Advanced Materials (DOI: 10.1002/adma.201301339). n
Shandong Shengquan Chemical Co Ltd(SQH )
Leading Phenolic Resin Producer In China
A joint venture between UK Hepworth and China SQ Group.
Sales in 2012 over 148,000 tons and new capacity of
200,000 tons/year to be commissioned by Aug 2013.
Serving most multinational and local refractory companies
for both shaped and monolithic products.
Contact:
Mr. Chris Huang
Tel: +86 531.8898.0618
Email: chris.huang@shengquan.com
Website: www.shengquan.com
Let’s meet at UNITECR 2013.
See us at UNITECR/Booth 19
17
Innovation at Unifrax: A win–win proposition
(Credit: Unifrax.)
A technician conducts a compression test on a catalytic con-
verter mat in the new product development lab at Unifrax.
Innovation at Unifrax:
A win–win proposition
By Bruce Zoitos
With roots dating back to the 1940’s Carborundum Com-
pany, Unifrax’s core products are based on high-temperature
insulation wools and related products. Recent acquisitions
have expanded the company’s scope into strategically
adjacent markets including microfine fibers and polycrys-
talline wool. As the company has grown, the new product
development process has evolved and been refined. Today
all functions in the company understand and participate in a
time-tested stage–gate development process that captures
all aspects of innovation and development.
18
I n the 1960s the popular comic strip
Dick Tracy featured a 1950’s-style
detective who maintained communication
with his headquarters via a wristwatch that
also served as a two-way radio. It was highly
futuristic and far-fetched for the time and
made compelling reading for at least one
particular eight-year-old boy. Today, seem-
ingly without our noticing or taking time
to marvel, similar devices have proliferated
and can be purchased for a few dollars at any
convenience store. And they can reach not
only local police headquarters, but any police
headquarters around the world! Also, con-
sider this—only a dozen generations ago the
chief occupation of our ancestors was meeting
daily needs of food and shelter. This began to
change in the late 1800s with the industrial
revolution. Today, a day’s nutrition costs only
a few dollars to purchase at a conveniently
located grocery store.
These advancements share a common characteristic:
Innovation in farming and communications has advanced the
state of the art with respect to cost, productivity, and perfor-
mance. Indeed, human innovation has been at work since before
the first lithic tools were chipped out of flint. In this article I
review some of the factors that drive innovation in a medium-
sized company and how innovation provides a steady stream
of more effective and useful products to the marketplace. I will
illustrate this with a few brief case studies from the Unifrax
product development files.
Creating value through innovation
Companies engage in product development for new growth
opportunities in a strong economy and to sustain the business
during economic downturns. The effect on company value is
twofold: Sales and bottom-line profits of the company increase;
and the future expectations of earnings are enhanced. A com-
pany with a consistent history of growth through new product
development and a pipeline of new products typically garners a
higher value, increases its staff, and creates a better work envi-
ronment overall.
For new products to add ongoing value to a company, the
commercialization process must be sustained over time. New
products have a finite life cycle and a predictable value and prof-
itability trajectory over that cycle. When first introduced, a new
www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
product offers tangible benefits to the
end user, such as higher performance,
efficiency, cost savings, or regulatory
compliance. Initially, this value is rela-
tively large and represents a potential
shared profitability between the product
developer and the customer or end user.
This is commonly considered in prod-
uct pricing: The developer can charge
a premium for the new product, and
a customer typically is willing to pay
the premium, provided the customer
receives a satisfactory benefit in return.
(My business school colleagues will rec-
ognize this as “value pricing.”)
The dynamics of the marketplace
dictate that this advantage is transient.
Inevitably, competitors enter the mar-
ket with similar products, claiming
their share of the value pool. As time
passes, competition between suppliers
exerts downward pressure on product
prices, driving them lower and encour-
aging more cost-effective production
to maintain profitability. Over time
margins erode and the once-new prod-
uct becomes less profitable and may
ultimately become a commodity, com-
peting for customers in a broad field
of equivalent products, with customers
selecting vendors based solely on lowest
price or convenience.
Although the main driver for prod-
uct innovation is profit, corporate
investment in product innovation
provides a significant benefit to soci-
ety as a whole (along the lines of the
communications and farm examples).
Companies seeking higher profitability
invest in product innovation. Society
benefits from better, more effective
products, and the innovator benefits
from increased revenues.
Innovation can consume large
amounts of cash and human resources.
Companies must manage product devel-
opment activities to ensure maximum
return on investment, similar to any
investment portfolio.
Unifrax strives to maintain a portfo-
lio of new products totaling or exceed-
ing 20 percent of revenues. We manage
our development portfolio through
“design control,” a stage–gate process
encompassing all aspects of activ-
ity and decision making from project
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
identification and product conception
to product launch and market support.
This process brings clarity and visibility
to all stages of the new product devel-
opment process, ensuring that resources
are leveraged effectively.
Project identification
and justification
Identification of potential new
products can occur through a variety
of channels. Most new product needs
become apparent when a customer’s
application evolves and current prod-
ucts cease to meet performance require-
ments. This was the case in the late
1990s when new auto designs called
for the catalytic converter to be moved
closer to the exhaust manifold to allow
more rapid heat-up and catalyst activa-
tion to reduce startup emissions. At
that time, Unifrax refractory fiber mat
wrapped catalytic converter substrates
in automotive emission control system
piping to cushion and hold it in place.
When existing products failed in new
designs because of higher temperatures,
Unifrax worked with OEMs to develop
CC-Max, a product with higher tem-
perature performance specifically
designed for the so-called close-coupled
application.
Government codes and regulations
provide another source of new product
needs. This has been a major driver in
Unifrax’s passive fire protection busi-
ness, for example. Unifrax fiber has
the twin properties of being a superior
thermal insulator and being fully stable
under fire conditions, allowing it to
be used as a barrier to prevent the
A felt-like fibrous refractory mat
holds automotive catalytic converter
(Credit: Unifrax.)
substrates in place during use.
spread of fire in building, maritime, and
aerospace applications. When regula-
tions were instituted for improved fire
protection in passenger compartments
of ships, new products were developed
that stretched the performance enve-
lope to allow the maximum insulation
in the smallest space at the lightest
weight. In 2003 a new regulation
required the installation of a fire-barrier
on the underside of the fuselage in new
commercial passenger aircraft produced
after 2006. Unifrax worked with the
end user to define the requirements for
the product and ultimately developed
and introduced a novel, lightweight
barrier capable of holding off an exter-
nal fire for up to four minutes, adding
additional life-saving minutes for pas-
sengers to escape in the event of a fire.
Occasionally, products may be
developed in anticipation of a market
need without an identified customer.
In such cases, “market pull” is traded
for “market push.” Other development
drivers might include a response to
a competitor’s product introduction,
product cost-reduction initiatives, or a
quality improvement effort on an exist-
ing product.
Unifrax collects new product ideas
from employees at all levels in a cen-
tral database for periodic review and
evaluation. The marketing department
estimates sales from a prospective new
product. Before committing resources,
it is imperative to verify that the return
on the project justifies the investment
and that there are no higher-potential
projects to which the resources would
be better applied. Candidates pro-
19
Innovation at Unifrax: A win–win proposition
In this analysis,
the product is
viewed through
the eyes of the
customer and
the end user, and
all its necessary
functionality
is described.
Properties con-
sidered may
include density,
strength, thermal
(Credit: Unifrax.)
stability, thermal
conductivity,
Aluminosilicate fibers are useable up to 1400°C and provide the color, tactile
basis for Unifrax’s ‘Fiberfrax’ line of products. characteristics,
jecting an acceptable potential return potential for smoke generation, or
are assessed for technical risk and over- other user-specified characteristics.
all “likelihood of success.” At this time, Tests are defined to objectively mea-
other “fuzzy” evaluations are made, such sure these characteristics, and the team
as likely competitor response, barri- (likely in conjunction with the custom-
ers to entry, and ability to protect the er) sets numerical targets for each prop-
technology. After a candidate passes all erty. These values are assembled into a
screening criteria, senior management “design specification” that encompasses
formally accepts the project, and it the full performance requirements of
enters the “pilot development” phase. the product under development. The
development team reviews the specifi-
Pilot development cation for completeness and accuracy.
Once approved, a project team Throughout the development process,
begins development work on the new testing against this specification com-
product. In our experience, cross- prises the pass/fail criterion for all pro-
functional teams have proved particu- totype product designs. After the team
larly useful. Teams typically include a has established the specification, the
development engineer, who assumes fun part of product development can
the function of team leader during the begin!
pilot development phase, and staff from With its homework complete, the
quality, marketing, and manufacturing. development team begins formulating
Other departments, such as purchasing, the product. In most cases, product
health and safety, or project and pro- design evolves, that is, minor adjust-
cess engineering, participate as-needed. ments stretch existing technology in
In this way, all functions with a stake a given direction—rarely does the
in the new product exert influence team start from scratch. But this is
throughout the development process, not to understate the challenge—the
ensuring that all interests (including performance envelope of existing prod-
the customer’s, via marketing) are rep- ucts often represents the real physical
resented throughout the development limitations of melting points, viscosity
effort. values, tensile strengths, or chemical
During pilot design, the team defines reactions. Pushing behavior beyond
the physical and performance require- existing values requires controlling
ments for the product and develops and manipulating the parameters driv-
the process and formulation needed to ing the behavior. Resource constraints
meet those requirements. Product per- (that is, staff, time, money) force strat-
formance requirements are researched egy decisions regarding approaches.
and formally documented via a “failure For example, it is a luxury to be able
mode and effects analysis,” or FMEA. to evaluate properties at a mechanistic
20 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
level, but this also can be highly effec-
tive.
Where expertise exists within the
company, it is certainly brought to bear
on development challenges. (Unifrax
is fortunate to have good employee
retention—a pool of seasoned engineers
is available to speak to such problems.)
If the challenge can be adequately
defined, it also is possible to look for
help outside the company. Unifrax has
had good results using outside consul-
tants as problem-solving resources as
well as university relationships that
have given us access to specialized mea-
surement equipment to develop product
understanding.
Where understanding ends, hard
work begins. A prototype product must
be fabricated and tested. Even when
performance mechanisms are known
(or at least estimated), experimentation
is necessary. Designing simple, effective
experiments that give rapid, definitive
information on prototype performance
controls costs and development time.
The Unifrax development laboratory
is equipped with a full range of pilot
and test equipment to fabricate quickly
any product form needed and mea-
sure all key physical and performance
parameters. In this way, an idea can be
tested quickly. Experiment protocols
range from simple ladders that vary a
single parameter to complex, statistical-
ly driven experiment designs that test
multiple variables simultaneously and
delineate their individual and interac-
tive impact on the product. Failed pro-
totypes are common—and frequent—
until a formulation succeeds.
Developing a workable product is
the goal of the “pilot design” phase. At
this point, the team, exercising caution,
pessimism, and suspicion, repeats the
successful formulation to ensure the
results are reproducible. Also, the team
wants to understand the robustness of
the solution:
• Can it tolerate the normal varia-
tions of a manufacturing environment?
• Is it capable of surviving condi-
tions beyond those expected?
Once a suitable formulation is estab-
lished, senior management reviews all
aspects of product development—per-
formance targets, raw materials, safety,
formulation, specifications, manufactur-
ability, cost, and product performance.
At this time, the original market
assumptions are reviewed to ensure
they continue to be relevant. If all
assumptions are valid and the work has
been thorough and produced a robust
outcome, the new product is approved
and advances to the next stage of the
commercialization process, “manufac-
turing design.”
Manufacturing design
Costs for a project escalate sig-
nificantly in the manufacturing design
phase, where the formulation must be
scaled-up and proved. Whereas the pilot
phase used a few grams to a pound of
raw materials, manufacturing develop-
ment requires quantities of hundreds or
thousands of pounds. Scale-up involves
demonstrating manufacture on produc-
tion equipment and requires time at the
manufacturing plant. Often, production
schedules prevent time from being imme-
diately available or, worse yet, sometimes
trial runs interrupt production.
The production environment can
reveal a number of complex and poten-
tially unexpected influences, and suc-
cessful execution requires dedicated
attention from someone familiar with
the product under development and the
manufacturing system. Typically, the
manufacturing engineer assumes lead-
ership of this critical phase. Immense
detail goes into planning, and every
available operating parameter must
be tracked frequently to document all
potential influences on the product.
The product is measured and tested at
frequent intervals even during stable
production runs to ensure there are no
unexpected deviations. Plant trials ben-
efit from an attitude of “constructive
paranoia.” Product developers need to
think “three steps ahead and four layers
down” to ensure success.
The specific development path of
a new product in the manufacturing
design phase is impossible to chart—it
may be direct and efficient or laden
with unexpected problems. In case of
the latter, standard problem-solving
methods apply. Sometimes, the best
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
option is to return to
the pilot design phase
and rework a product to
address problems identi-
fied in the manufacturing
Technical risk
design phase. Project Thor
Eventually, dili- Project Blue Jay
gent effort prevails and
Project Washington
achieves a successful and
Project July
stable production run.
The products made during Project XL
plant trials also undergo
(Credit: Unifrax.)
full characterization and Months to commercialization
qualification against the
established performance “Bubble chart” for managing product development priorities
targets, and, if all is well, based on development time, technical risk, and market size.
samples are provided to the customer to track and manage. Periodic portfolio
for qualification and acceptance testing. “bubble chart” reviews are very helpful
Along the way, other team members will in this regard.
have developed a product introduction As Unifrax has grown from a
plan, written descriptive product data hundred-million dollar enterprise in
sheets and safety data sheets, selected 1996 to a half-billion dollar worldwide
and qualified raw materials and vendors, manufacturer, the philosophy of aggres-
ordered packaging, and developed pro- sive growth through new products has
duction operating procedures. Senior remained a constant tenet of its strate-
management meets for a final review, gic mission. Since 1996, the stakes have
which may include examining all sup- become higher and the need to “get it
porting documentation of the project right the first time” has grown.
including product design, performance Aggressive and well-executed prod-
characteristics, and customer feedback. uct development benefits not only the
Once again, the marketing and perfor- developer but society as a whole. New
mance assumptions that were made at products developed by Unifrax are
the outset are given a reality check, cost deployed worldwide in diverse appli-
and price are checked, and the market- cations, such as automotive emission
ing plan is reviewed. Provided all items control, industrial thermal manage-
are in order, the managers of each cor- ment, and critical life-safety applica-
porate function grant approval, and the tions involving passive fire protection.
new product is born. As a direct result of Unifrax product
development and introduction, thermal
Benefits of design control processes are more efficient, reduce
Unifrax has codified “design control” fuel consumption, and prevent tons of
procedures into a collection of docu- greenhouse gas from entering the atmo-
ments called the “Product Introduction sphere. Automobile-related pollution
Checklist.” Standard forms, which are is reduced by hundreds of tons per year
collected, stored, and readily accessible and buildings, airplanes, and ships have
through a shared database, document improved fire protection systems, with
each step. Standardizing procedures and added safety for life and property.
actions into a formalized workflow gives
all team members a clear view of the About the author
project’s history, status, and next steps. Bruce Zoitos is manager of new
This helps align priorities and minimizes fiber technology, Unifrax I LLC,
lost productivity. Tonawanda, N.Y. Contact Bruce Zoitos
Design control has the added benefit at bzoitos@unifrax.com.
of making project status immediately Unifrax produces of refractory fiber
visible to management, which, in turn, products at 28 manufacturing locations
makes the development portfolio easier in 13 countries. n
21
Advances in nanotechnology for refractories . . .

Figure 1. The first atomic layers

below the surface of a material
present characteristics different
from its bulk, such as smaller bond-
ing energy and lower melting
temperature. These surface effects
(also known as colloidal or quantum
effects) occur for every material

(Credit: Salomão; USP.)

and geometry but become more
relevant at the nanoscale. For 10 nm
nanoparticles, ~50% of their volume
is considered surface.

D uring the past 11 years, govern-

ments and companies worldwide
have invested an estimated $60–$70 billion in
Advances in nano- nanotechnology research.1–3 Markets for nano-
technology-based products are expected to
technology for grow from $147 billion in 2007 to $3.1 trillion
by 2015. Close to 2,000 companies—mostly
refractories: When in the United States, Western Europe, and
Japan—work exclusively on nanotechnology-
very small meets hot, based products and produced 2,000–5,000 new
patents each year since 2007.4–7 The results of
heavy, and large these efforts are reflected in electronics (thin-
ner flat screens, faster and smaller comput-
ers, more reliable satellite communications),
Rafael Salomão, Adriane D.M. Souza, medicine and cosmetics (more effective drug-
Leandro Fernandes, and Cezar C. Arruda
delivery, fewer side effects, lower costs), food
and agriculture (lower toxicity agrochemicals,
additives, colorants, preservatives), and instru-
mentation techniques (atomic force and high-
Nanomaterials lead to interesting advances in refractory resolution scanning and transmission electron
technology—an overview of recent developments. microscopy). These products significantly
improve the quality of life of the millions of
people who use them.
Despite their significant impact, the benefits of nanotechnol-
ogy in other industrial fields, such as refractories, are less obvious
because of three factors. First, relatively few people have direct
involvement with refractory processes, which means that most
people are unaware of what refractory brick or castables are or
do. Second, numerous variables make measuring the benefit
produced by a single modification in a castable or brick formula-

22 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

tion difficult. Third, confidentiality
issues regarding some developments
and projects preclude information
about them from reaching the media.
Notwithstanding the almost complete
absence of statistics on these factors,
the number of publications and patents,
and the research funding related to
nanotechnology in refractory materials
grows each year, evidence of promising
results and a constant search for inno-
vation and excellence.4,8,9
This paper reviews recent develop-
ments in nanotechnology-based proj-
ects for refractory materials. Because of
the large volume of information avail-
able about nanotechnology in general,
we limited our literature review to
• Studies using nanotechnology
to modify the properties, processing,
or application of a class of refractory
material with changes driven or caused
mainly by the use of nanoscale mate-
rial;
• Studies that tested actual refracto-
ry materials as opposed to experiments
in controlled laboratory conditions; and
• Selected proceeding papers from
the most established conferences on
refractories (UNITECR, Aachen
Refractories Colloquium, ACerS’s St.
Louis Section/Refractory Ceramics
Division meeting, and ALAFAR
Congress).
Why are nanomaterials special?
The physicochemical properties
(melting point, density, thermoelectric
conductivity, diffusion coefficient, and
oxidation-reduction behavior) of the
surface volume (the 10–20 atomic lay-
ers below the outer surface of a given
portion of material) differ from the
bulk.10–12 In this outer region, surface or
colloidal effects result from the coordi-
nation of fewer atoms at the surface and
the consequently lower chemical bond
energy levels and shorter length (Figure
1). These effects occur in every piece
of material, but become more relevant
when the dimensions are reduced to
~100 nm (an arbitrary limit), and the
surface volume represents up to 20% of
the material’s total volume. (For refer-
ence, the surface volume of a 1 cm3
particle is ~0.00005% of its total vol-
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
ume).3,10 Particles with an average
diameter of 5–200 nm have a large
specific surface area because of
their high-surface-area-to-volume
ratio. Typical values range from
10–30 m2/g for the thickest grades
of microsilica to >600–800 m2/g
for carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
and exfoliated graphite. Compare
these with the average particle size
and surface area of the finest cal-
cined aluminas used in refractory
castables—500 nm and 3–7 m2/g,
respectively.5,13 Thus, nanoparti-
(Credit: Salomão; USP.)
cles are a special class of materials
with novel and unique properties
spread over a large specific surface
area. Figure 2: Microsilica particles (D50 ~80–100 nm)
The surface effects of nanoma- increase castables’ flowability and allow a sig-
terials dictate their behavior in nificant reduction in water content and improved
particle packing efficiency and apparent density
refractories.
after drying.
• Nanoparticles fill even
the smallest packing voids of in refractories. Microsilica is an amor-
conventional raw materials used in phous byproduct from the production of
refractories.14–16 Particle packing models elemental silicon and ferrosilicon alloys
(Alfred, Andreasen, or Furnas models) in electric furnaces.14,16,27 At the high
can be helpful in dealing with wide process temperatures, metallic silicon
particle-size distributions. However, to vaporizes and oxidizes rapidly, generat-
achieve a calculated microstructure, ing thin spherical SiO2 nanoparticles
each particle must be individualized with diameters of 50 nm to 1 µm and
(or dispersed in water or resin binder), specific surface areas of 15–30 m2/g.
and the composition must be homoge- The particles are collected by electro-
neous.17,18 static sedimentation.
• Decreased surface energy10 causes Adding up to 5 wt% microsilica to
nanoparticles naturally to agglomerate, castable formulations during mixing
which can be used to strengthen ceram- enhances flowability for the same solid
ic structures (colloidal binders).19–23 load.16,27,28 Two effects explain this
• Nanoparticles have low chemical behavior (Figure 2). The “ball-bearing”
bond energy and high atomic mobility. effect occurs when the spherical shape
Therefore, reactions involving solid- and narrow particle-size distribution of
state diffusion (sintering, spinelization, microsilica act as a lubricant and reduce
mullitization, whisker growth) tend to the frictional forces between the larger
occur more rapidly and at lower tem- particles, facilitating their movement.
peratures than with microparticles and Because of their low density (~2.1–2.4
macroparticles.11,16 g/cm) and small average size, these
• Because they can be grown nanoparticles behave similar to a liquid
bottom-up, interesting microstructures (almost free of mass effects), generating
with outstanding properties can be pro- an apparent reduction of the solid load
duced in-situ.8,9,12,24–26 in the formulation.10,14,18 Also, micro-
silica greatly improves particle packing
Nanoparticle additives efficiency,16 because it can fill the most
and binders diminutive packing flaws and pores
The addition of microsilica (or silica in refractory raw materials. Therefore,
fume or fly ash) to castables was one of controlled addition of microsilica
the first and probably most extensively means significantly denser structures
studied applications of nanoparticles can be obtained.
23
Advances in nanotechnology for refractories . . .

a) Matrix: 100µm > D ≥ 0.1 µm

Part
compounds, solutions, respectively.14,23,34 Refractory
which are highly castables and mortars use CS and CA
insoluble and in their wet form, i.e., they partially
strongly linked or totally replace the water added for
by hydrogen mixing and pumping. As with the
bonds, form on addition of microsilica, these binders
the surface of provide excellent flowability, particu-
MgO particles, larly in high-alumina, silica–alumina,
Colloidal particles: DPart > 0.1 µm
preventing fur- preformed mullite and spinel, and SiC-
ther hydration based systems.22,23,31
b) and strengthens On the other hand, binding ceramic
the structure. fibers requires mixing with CS or
Microsilica CA followed by vacuum molding.33
nanoparticles Destabilizing the colloidal suspension
are among the consolidates and hardens these struc-
largest used in tures. This can be achieved simply
refractories. by drying the material, although it is
However they more common to add a gelling agent
incorporate (usually MgO sinter or magnesium and
even finer calcium soluble salts) at the end of the
c)
colloidal par- mixing step.31 Divalent metal cations
ticles.14,22,23,31,32 (Mg2+ or Ca2+) displace and replace the
Colloidal bind- monovalent cations (usually Na+) from
ers, which are the (SiO3)2– or (AlO2)– groups at the
stable suspen- surface of the particles.14 This reaction
sions of ceramic triggers a fast, irreversible gelling mech-
(Credit: Salomão; USP.)

nanoparticles anism that hinders particle movement

(average particle and strengthens the entire structure. As
size (D50) of it dries, the gel, composed of >90 wt%
Figure 3: Colloidal silica and alumina are the most used colloidal 5–100 nm) con- water, collapses and leaves a large frac-
binders in refractory castables and ceramic fiber board insulators. taining 20–60 tion of interconnected, highly perme-
a) Stable aqueous suspensions of colloidal binders are synthe- wt% of solids, able pores. These pores allow fast and
sized in the initial mixing-casting step for refractory castables. help consolidate safe dry-out of gel-bonded castables but
b) A gelling agent (MgO, MgCl2) destabilizes the system to form
structures, such contribute to their lower mechanical
a strong 3D-network of nanoparticles that strengthens the struc-
as cellulose strength in the green state compared
ture. c) Permeable paths form during drying. During the first
heat-up the pathways promote more intense sintering at lower fibers in paper, with CAC- and HA-bonded castables.31
temperatures than conventional hydraulic binders. yarns in non- Reports indicate that this minor draw-
woven fabrics, back can be overcome by adjusting par-
Reports about self-flowing high-alu- and concrete.5,6,33 Colloidal binders ticle packing and adding small amounts
mina castables and MgO–C brick sug- were first used in castable refractories of hydraulic binder.22,31
gest porosity (in the green state) reduc- to replace conventional hydraulic bind- Nanoparticles become very reactive
es from 20% to 8% in the former and ers, such as calcium aluminate cement at temperatures >400°C, because of
from 7% to 2–3% in the latter, depend- (CAC) and hydratable alumina (HA) increasing surface energy and distorted
ing on the amount of microsilica added to improve particle packing and drying chemical bonds.10,11,35,36 Because of the
and the compacting pressure during efficiency.22,31 In fiber-based insulation reactivity of nanoparticles, combined
forming.14,16,29 In MgO-containing boards, these binders increase the sin- with the accentuated viscous flow
castables, microsilica also behaves terability of the fibers at their joints. afforded by their amorphous structure,
as a binder and as an antihydration In ceramic mold castings, they replace adding microsilica, CS, or CA greatly
agent.29,30 In these materials, the reac- thermosetting resins as alternative improves the driving force for sintering.
tion between MgO and water (hydra- environmentally friendly binders.33 The most common drying mecha-
tion or hydroxylation) causes the pH Colloidal silica (CS) and colloidal nism involves the formation of a small
of castables to increase rapidly—up to alumina (CA) binders are used most portion of transient liquid at the surface
9–11. In these conditions, amorphous widely in refractories (Figure 3). Both of the matrix particles, which rapidly
silica begins to dissolve and react with binders are synthesized in aqueous dissolves and reprecipitates at the neck-
partially hydrated MgO to form other media through controlled precipitation ing points, sometimes as a different
hydrated magnesium silicates. These reactions from Na2SiO3 and NaAlO2 phase (mullite, for instance, in CS +

24 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

high-alumina castables).14 Other pos-
sible mechanisms involve vaporization,
particle sliding, and capillary forces
after viscous creep. These binding–sin-
tering mechanisms have two impor-
tant and useful consequences. First,
gel-bonded castables and fiberboards
possess higher thermomechanical prop-
erties at intermediate temperatures
(300°C–800°C, after drying but before
sintering) than their hydraulically or
organically bound equivalents, because
there are no hydroxylated compounds
(hydrated compounds CAH10, C3AH6,
AH3, AlOOH, and Al(OH)3 found
in CAC- or HA-bonded castables) or
volatile organics (phenolic resin) to
decompose.20,22,32,33 This is the mecha-
nism behind reports of outstanding hot
wear resistance of CA-bonded castables
in petrochemical applications (up to
1,000°C).34 Second, these materials
usually sinter to denser structures at
lower temperatures, thus consuming less
energy and time.36
Modifying microstructures
with nanoparticles
Conventional refractory materials
tend to have a wide particle-size dis-
tribution, from millimeter-sized coarse
aggregates to fine matrix particles,
and a single refractory formulation
comprises several types of raw materi-
als. Introducing minute amounts of
nanoparticles in a preexisting refrac-
tory formulation can cause significant
changes in the product’s microstructure
and properties. These effects are par-
ticularly intense in refractories where
spinel (MgAl2O4) forms in-situ, as a
solid-state reaction that occurs between
Al2O3 and MgO:
MgO + Al2O3 → MgAl2O4
This reaction occurs in several steps
and is influenced by many factors,
such as codiffusion of Mg2+, Al3+, and
O2– ions, temperature, particle size and
surface area, degree of mixing, and the
presence of mineralizers and contami-
nants.37,38 When Al2O3 and MgO par-
ticles come in contact at high tempera-
ture (~1200°C), Mg2+- and Al3+-ion
counterdiffusion reactions occur at the
Al2O3–MgAl2O4 and MgO–MgAl2O4
surfaces in a process known as Wagner’s
mechanism. Differences in the ion-dif-
fusion rate in the spinel layer and the
need to maintain electrical neutrality
cause diffusion to occur more intensely
in the Al2O3 direction. The reaction
consumes MgO particles more rapidly,
generating small pores (Kirkendall
effect), while the Al2O3 particles
undergo an ~10% linear expansion as
their density declines from 4 to 3.2–3.4
g/cm. Depending on the spinel content
that forms, this expansion can compress
the particles slightly, favoring their
thermomechanical behavior and reduc-
ing sintering shrinkage or, if excessive,
severely damaging the structure (Figure
4). Because spinel is one of the leading
raw materials in the refractory industry,
numerous recent investigations have
focused on controlling this expansion.37
The first attempts to minimize spi-
nel expansion in-situ added 1–3 wt%
of microsilica to formulations,21,27,29,39
reasoning that forming a small amount
of low-melting compounds, such as
cordierite (2MgO·2Al2O3·5SiO2,
Tmelting ≈1365°C), would accommodate
the extra volume generated during
spinelization. However, this proved
to be a limited solution, because it
also affects the thermomechanical
behavior of the entire material during
service, particularly formulations of
castables bonded with CAC.39 Better
results were attained using MgO and
MgO–Al2O3 nanoparticles (obtained
by high-energy milling of MgO sinter
and calcined alumina) combined with
CA.24,32,39–41 Reducing these particles to
the nanoscale led to several benefits,
including
• Spinelization at lower tempera-
(1) tures and achieving controllable expan-
sion by varying particle sizes;
• Lower porosity from consumption
of MgO particles; and
• Outstanding thermomechanical
properties, such as higher hot modulus
of rupture, refractoriness under load,
thermal shock, and corrosion and hot
wear resistance.
Similar benefits occur for castables
containing nanoparticles of preformed
spinel.42–45 In these cases, the spinel
particles were prepared mechanically by
alloying aluminum and magnesium or
their salts and hydroxides or by copre-
cipitating magnesium and aluminum
soluble salts. Calcination at 900°C
led to the formation of 30–50-nm
nanoparticles. Adding 10 wt% of these
nanoparticles to castables contain-
ing MgO or to mullite-based castables
resulted in lower porosity after firing,
longer service life at higher tempera-
tures, and greater thermal shock resis-
tance.
Additionally, nanoparticles have a
strong potential to modify the sinter-
ing behavior of macro- and micropar-
ticles. The use of a few ppm of MgO
to prevent grain growth in high-purity
α-Al2O3 through grain-boundary imped-
iment is a classic example. Similarly,
recent research demonstrated that
adding nano-Cr2O3 particles improves
the densification of MgO brick.46 The
authors of this paper synthesized 10–20-
nm Cr2O3 nanoparticles and dispersed
them in water to form a sol containing
2 wt% of solids that was mixed with
MgO sinter particles (Dpart < 45 µm)
and calcined at 650°C. An equivalent
system containing coarser particles
of Cr2O3 (Dpart = 2 µm) was prepared
under similar conditions to serve as
reference. Nano-Cr2O3 was much more
effective than the reference sample in
forming a solid solution (MgCr2O4)
at the surface of MgO grains, favoring
densification at lower temperatures
(~800°C).
Carbon-containing refractories
also benefit from nanotechnology. In
MgO–C bricks, for instance, adding
10–20 wt% of crystalline graphite (Dpart
< 200 mesh) reduces their wettability
by slags and molten metal and improves
thermal shock resistance through
increased work of fracture and thermal
conductivity.47 However, many stud-
ies have successfully substituted regular
carbon for other nano-carbon sources.8,9
The main alternative is carbon black,
an amorphous nanosized (10–100 nm)
carbon byproduct from incomplete
acetylene pyrolysis. Compared with
conventional MgO–C brick (with 20
wt% of <200 mesh graphite flake), brick
containing 3 wt% of carbon black with
an average particle size of 50 nm exhibit

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 25

Advances in nanotechnology for refractories . . .
refractory formula-
tion consumes time
and energy. Most
researchers agree that
forming nanostruc-
tures in-situ is more
effective for refrac-
tory materials.
Compared with
the addition of
ready-made nanopar-
ticles to the refrac-
(Credit: Salomão; USP.)
tory composition,
the bottom-up,
in-situ approach is
Figure 4. The volumetric expansion that follows spinel thermodynamically
(MgAl2O4) formation can be modified by varying the average favorable,5,10,11 prob-
particle diameter of MgO and Al2O3. a) The use of micrometric ably cheaper, and, in
MgO particles (D90 < 45 µm) in high-alumina castables usually most cases, represents
leads to excessive expansion and formation of cracks and the last alternative
pores. b) When nano-MgO (10–20 nm) particles are added,
to improve these
the spinel expansion is more uniform and controlled and, in
some cases, occurs at lower temperatures. materials. Using
chemical vapor depo-
similar cyclic thermal shock resistance sition, gas phases react with the solid
but much lower thermal conductiv- substrate.11,56,57 Gaseous atoms penetrate
ity, wear, and oxidation rates. These 8,48
interior surfaces (pores, cracks, and
results are attributed to three effects: grain boundaries) to form nanostruc-
carbon black reacts rapidly with anti- tured features(whiskers and nanotubes).
oxidant additives (silicon, aluminum, (Figure 5).
and B4C) to produce whiskers of Al4C3, Researchers first reported observing
SiC, carbon fiberlike whiskers, and oth- in-situ CNTs and whiskers in carbon-
ers, that fill the pores and increase the containing brick bonded with phenolic
structure’s toughness; the small size pre- resin and pitch.8,25,26,55,58,59 The environ-
vents particles from forming a percolat- ment inside the pores of these brick is
ing network (as large graphite particles similar to that reported in other studies
would do), so the brick’s thermal con- that produced CNTs in the laboratory:
ductivity does not increase excessively; • A reducing atmosphere (gener-
and in the case of complete oxidation of ated by large quantities of carbon in the
the carbon black particle, the remaining form of graphite and coke flakes);
pores are so small that sintering quickly • A source of elemental carbon
closes them and preserves the product’s (decomposing unsaturated phenolic
permeability and wear resistance. polymers); and
• Catalytic metal particles (silicon
In-situ nanotechnology from the antioxidant additives and iron
to achieve refractoriness from the steel melt).11
Reaping the full benefits of nano- Under these conditions, elemental
technology in refractories requires that carbon dissolves in the metallic par-
the nanostructures survive the aggres- ticles and rapidly reaches saturation.
sive manufacturing processes to which The excess carbon is expelled from the
they are subjected. Unfortunately, particle and forms a crystallized nucleus
submicron materials and nanomateri- of pure carbon (CNT), intermetallic
als are by nature thermodynamically compounds (Fe 3
C and Al4C3), or SiC
unstable and prone to agglomerate crystal nuclei. 11,56,57
As the process con-
and merge or fuse into aggregate par- tinues, more carbon penetrates into the
ticles.4,10,11,36,40,48,49–55
Dispersing and metallic particles and joins the nuclei,
homogenizing nanoparticles in a resulting in elongated structures (nano-
26 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
tubes or whiskers).
Researchers have investigated
routes for controlled formation of
whiskers inside the pores of refractory
brick intensively during the past five
years.19,20,25,26,55,58,59 The authors of these
studies highlighted two main aspects.
First, the refractory composition must
favor the formation of whiskers and be
such that a small portion of low-melt-
ing-point compounds form, particularly
in systems where SiC and mullite whis-
kers are desired. Second, whiskers or
nanotubes usually originate from metal-
lic particles, and, the smaller these par-
ticles, the finer and more abundant will
be the nanostructures. Nanoparticle
additions that induce whisker forma-
tion include silicon, aluminum, TiO2,
ZrO2, WO, and AlF3.
One of the most interesting aspects
of in-situ whisker formation is their
dumbbell shape, which favors their
anchoring and enhances their tough-
ness and improves thermal shock and
corrosion resistance.55 However, based
on three-point bending tests, the work
of fracture does not increase significant-
ly. This suggests that the interactions
between cracks and the nanotoughened
matrix may be complex and is not yet
fully understood.60
Environmental, health and safety
Ceramic nanoparticles (CNPs) are
extremely stable and can persist and
accumulate in certain environments
or organisms for years.1,2,4,61 Some types
of nanoparticles such as CNTs, can
accumulate in specific organs and cel-
lular structures, where they may cause
genetic damage as well as allergies and
tumors.1,61,62 According to reports, high
zeta-potential (concentration of surface
charges), solubility, and photocatalytic
behavior under ultraviolet or visible
light makes CNPs, such as Al2O3,
SnO2, ZnO, TiO2, and CuO, highly
toxic to aquatic life.4,63–65 Therefore,
besides the technological aspects of
these materials, it is just as important to
study their environmental,66,67 human
health, and safety (EHS) impacts.
The refractories community has
specific concerns regarding EHS issues,
most of which relate to breathable
nanoparticles. Unlike other classes of
products that benefit from nanotech-
nology (electronic devices, cosmetics,
and medicines), refractory materials are
produced in controlled and confined
environments, usually far removed from
most of the population. However, most
of the raw materials for manufactur-
ing brick and linings are powdered.
As these materials are transported and
processed, the equipment generates dust
and scatters particles that may affect
many people.
A common misconception is that in-
situ production of nanostructures avoids
particulates. Also, all refractory materi-
als are sintered during use. Therefore,
some believe that nanoparticles and
other nanostructures remain imprisoned
in the main product. However, refrac-
tory end-of-life issues must be kept in
mind—from time to time, spent lin-
ings and parts must be discarded and
replaced with new ones. This knockout
process and milling to recycle wastes
can generate considerable quanti-
ties of dust, including nanoparticles.
Another concern involves the water
used to wash mixers and molds contain-
ing residual colloidal particles. Unlike
microparticles or macroparticles, these
particles require special treatment prior
to disposal, because they cannot be fil-
tered or precipitated easily.
There are no easy answers, and solu-
tions must be adapted to each particular
case. We recommend several resources:
• The 27th Report of the Royal
Commission on Environmental
Pollution, “Novel materials in the envi-
ronment: The case of nanotechnology,”
2008 (http://www.official-documents.
gov.uk/document/cm74/7468/7468.pdf,
accessed on 15 June 2013) discusses
potential environmental pollution
and human health risks posed by new
nanobased technologies as well as other
social and economic aspects, includ-
ing the excessive appeal of the prefix
“nano,” which automatically connotes
better technology;1
• “The National Nanotechnology
Initiative: Over-view, reauthorization,
and appropriations issues,” published
by the Congressional Research Service
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
as an EHS strat-
egy, which offers
suggestions and
protocols for health
risk research associ-
ated with exposure
to nanoparticles in
general;
• The United
States Centers for
(Credit: Salomão; USP.)
Disease Control
and Prevention
National Institute
for Occupational Figure 5. Whiskers, nanotubes, and other nanoparticles can great-
Health and Safety ly improve refractories’ rigidity, toughness, and thermal shock
and corrosion resistance. They can be added to the formulations
has a nanotechnol-
or formed in-situ. In the first case, highly intensive mixers are
ogy task force that required. In the latter, chemical vapor deposition uses the refrac-
provides resources tory raw materials and the vapors and high temperatures that
for working with naturally occur in that environment.
nanomaterials. On
a voluntary basis, a NIOSH team will 3
National Research Council, “A research
work with manufacturers to identify strategy for environmental, health, and
risks and develop mitigation proce- safety aspects of engineered nanomaterials,”
dures. Visit www.niosh.gov for more The National Academy Press, Washington,
information. See also "NIOSH research DC, 2012.
and resources for safe handling of
4
M.H. Wakamatsu and R. Salomão,
nanomaterials," ACerS Bulletin, August “Ceramic nanoparticles: What else do we
have to know?” Interceram, 59 [1] 28–33
2013, p. 29.
(2010).
Acknowledgments
5
M.H. Wakamatsu and R. Salomão,
“(Unintentional) Synthesis of ceramic
The authors acknowledge the
nanoparticles,” Interceram, 60 [6] 364–68
Brazilian research foundations CAPES,
(2011).
CNPq, and FAPESP (2010/19274-5) 6
O. van der Biest, “Nanoceramics: Issues
for supporting this research.
and opportunities,” Int. J. Appl. Ceram.
Technol., (2013) DOI: 10.1111/ijac.12074.
About the author 7
S.M. Johnson, “Nanoscale ceramics:
Rafael Salomão is lecturer and
Environmental, health, and safety (EHS)
researcher in the Materials Engineering
implications,” Int. J. Appl. Ceram. Technol.,
Department of São Carlos School of (2013) DOI: 10.1111/ijac.12079.
Engineering, University of São Paulo, 8
S. Tamjra, T. Matsui, T. Ochiai, and K.
Brazil. Contact Rafael Salomão at rsalo-
Goto, “Technological philosophy and per-
mao@sc.usp.br. spective of nanotech refractories,” Nippon
Steel Technical Report 98, 18–29, 2008.
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27b
Toward a “greener” future with advanced refractories

E very day, we are inundated

with new announcements
about energy savings, reduced greenhouse
emissions, global climate change, and so
on. Radio and television advertisements
bombard the country touting the Nissan
Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, and other electric
and hybrid cars. These cars get 50+ miles
per gallon of gasoline, and in some cases,
such as the Leaf, leave the US govern-
ment struggling to determine an mpg
rating.
Toward a “greener” The hype about “green” materials also continues to
grow. But, are the new “green” materials really “green,” or
are good old refractories the kings of “green”?

future with advanced What is “green”?

Before proceeding, it might help to come up with a def-
refractories inition of “green.” Green is a color. Green means covered
with foliage. Green means immature or not fully devel-
oped. Green is used in slang to denote money. Green is
used in the refractories and concrete industries to denote
cement-bonded materials that have not reached full
By William L. Headrick design strength. Green also refers to a dry, unfired ceramic
object. Green can be used as an adjective to describe the
uninformed or not ready for use.
But a definition of “green” having anything to do with
Refractory ceramics offer energy savings, but they are
fuel efficiency, cost of manufacture, or overall energy use is
not as “green” as grass. not readily available. Maybe it is just a politically and envi-
ronmentally correct term that some in industry have grabbed
onto for marketing reasons to sell something that is green
(immature), to make some green (money), at the expense of
green (uninformed) consumers. For purposes of this article,
it will be assumed to be a political term, and, when used in
that context, will be surrounded by quotation marks.

Refractories as enablers of civilization

Refractories have been around since the transition from
the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. If clay pots are consid-

28 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

ered to be refractories,
refractories were avail-

Embodied energy, primary production (BTU/lb)

able in the Stone Age
and led to the Bronze
Age. It is difficult, if not
impossible, to smelt cop-
per without refractories
to contain the heat and
smelted metal.
Schoolchildren learn
that the important tech-
nological innovations
were stone, bronze, and
iron, and these three
materials define historic
periods in the devel-
opment of mankind.
Price (USD/lb)
Perhaps history—and
schoolchildren—would Figure 1. Embodied energy of production versus price for a variety of materials.1
be better served by a
two-stage system of historic periods: to meet the demands of growing indus- energy cost in manufacturing.
Green Age and Fire Age. Before fire, tries, especially the steel industry. As A look at Figure 1 provides insight
people were hunter gathers. Ancient a response to this need, high-purity into the dilemma of higher-efficiency,
peoples used stone and wood tools to silica brick and magnesite brick were green materials. The lower left side of
cut items such as leather and plant fiber. introduced in the mid-1800s, and the chart shows materials that require
From a political and environmental per- carbon and carbon-bonded brick were the least amount of energy to pro-
spective, society truly was “green.” introduced in the late-1800s. In 1898, duce and have the lowest final cost.
After fire, people began to industrial- The American Ceramic Society was The lowest-energy-cost materials on
ize. Tools made from fired clay in turn founded in part to meet the demands the chart are nontechnical ceramics.
led to bronze, iron, steel, and, eventu- of industry for improved refractories. Refractories are a subsection of non-
ally, composite tools. During the pro- Further developments included the technical ceramics. The only cheaper
duction of these tools, wood and coal introduction of synthetic raw materials and less-energy-intensive material to
provided the heat needed for pyro pro- in the late-1800s and dolomite brick in produce is clay, the primary feedstock
cessing. Burning wood and coal led to the early-1900s, although their use was for most refractory production. Clay
waste heat, carbon dioxide, and other limited until the mid-1900s. is perhaps the least-expensive mate-
emissions. Refractories were needed Synthetic raw materials have since rial to produce, because it needs only
to contain the heat and increase pro- enabled the production of improved to be mined to have a usable product.
ductivity. The discovery of electricity refractories, but at a higher cost than However, most clays are mined, benefi-
met the demand for increased energy refractories produced from mineral ciated, blended, and sized before being
to make more efficient tools. Demand raw materials. Today, refractories are transformed into a useful product.
for electricity led to coal and nuclear produced from mineral, synthetic, and Hybrid and electric cars operate more
power plants. Power production needed combinations of mineral and synthetic efficiently than conventional gasoline
more refractories and better tools. Thus raw materials, but, as shown in Figure 1, and diesel-powered vehicles. But, these
the industrial age was born, along with none approach technical refractories in more efficient vehicles require advanced
pollution. embodied energy or price. materials to meet the light weight and
Naturally occurring rocks and clays Simply put, embodied energy is the power required for high efficiency. The
served as refractories for thousands sum of all the energy required to pro- advanced materials used in “green”
of years. Refractories were first used duce any good, considered as if that manufacturing are located from the
for ovens in China in about 30,000 energy was incorporated or embodied center to upper right side of Figure 1.
BC. The earliest fired clay refractories in the product itself. Concerns for Currently, the embodied energy to pro-
appeared much later, around 4,000 BC. the environment have led society to duce a high-efficiency vehicle is greater
These materials met man’s needs until want more efficient cars, power, and than the energy savings over the life of
the 19th century, when the advent of manufacturing. This desire has led to the vehicle. Thus, these vehicles are
the industrial revolution occurred. advanced ceramics, advanced steels, green in the sense of not being mature
This technological transition cre- more use of plastics, and better bat- technology, although they and other
ated a need for improved refractories teries, all of which have a very high “green” technologies are a good start

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 29

Toward a “greener” future with advanced refractories
Mining,
beneficiation,
calcining, and
sieving
Add water
and wet
additives
Figure 2. General
production pro-
cesses for refrac- Ramming
mixes,
tory ceramics mortars
toward a more efficient, less polluting
long-term solution.
How refractories are “green”?
Refractories line furnaces, kilns,
smelters, chemical reactor vessels, and
gasifiers. By definition they are resis-
tant to heat, chemical, and mechanical
attack. Refractories meet the needs of
many industries with various classes and
grades of materials produced to meet
each industry’s demand. Important prop-
erties of refractories include
• Heat resistance;
• Chemical inertness;
• Resistance to mechanical and
thermal stress and strain (especially
thermal shock);
• Resistance to corrosion and ero-
sion by solids, entrained particulates,
liquids, and gases;
• Resistance to impact;
• Permeability; and
• Many other properties whose
importance varies according to the use
of the refractory.
Refractory materials, and the pro-
cesses used to produce them, are clas-
sified according to forming technique
and chemistry. General production
follows the steps shown in Figure 2.
Those materials that do not pass quality
checks at any point in the process are
crushed and sieved to form synthetic
raw materials. Each step in the process
requires additional embodied energy
and, in turn, adds to the price.
30
water-rich environments of these alter-
Castables and native refractories has resulted in energy
gunning
mixes
savings through increased production
for the same energy input. The devel-
opment of many refractory ceramic
Process to Blend dry compositions, which have received
form ingredients limited evaluation and have not reached
synthetic and
materials additives
maturity or production status, such as
microporous refractory aggregate, can
lead to energy savings through decreased
Slop cast, heat loss and decreased material use. All
extrude, or Machining Burn or fire of these improvements can be accom-
press plished through advances in refractory
materials, yet additional improvements
remain possible that could lead to sub-
Shapes stantial energy savings in various indus-
Unburned
Plastics tries, making them more “green.”
shapes
(brick)
An even “greener” future
Many industries use refractory mate-
Bond type also impacts embodied
rials as insulation or containment vessel
energy and price. Cement and other
linings in high-temperature and corro-
chemically bonded materials have a
sive environments. They must perform
higher embodied energy and cost than
these tasks at elevated temperatures
clay-bonded materials, because cement,
and may need to bear mechanical and
a synthetic material, costs more and
thermal loads. It would be difficult to
requires more energy to produce than
identify an industrial process that does
clay, a mined and beneficiated material.
not use refractory materials in one
More synthetic materials lead to higher
aspect or another. Figure 3 shows the
embodied energy and cost. Price and
ranges of use temperatures for numerous
embodied energy of refractories depend
industrial applications of refractories.
on the price and embodied energy of
Insulating refractories increase
their ingredients combined with the
efficiency through reduced heat loss.
forming technique used to produce
Insulating refractories include fiber,
them.
fiber mat, paper, insulating fire brick,
Substantial changes in refractories
castables, and gunning mixes—wet
technology during the past 25 years
(shotcrete) and dry. Insulating refracto-
have impacted a number of indus-
ries range in density from 0.1 g/cm3 to
tries. For example, using fibrous and
just less than 2 g/cm3. Thermal conduc-
high-strength porous insulation in
tivity trends with density—i.e., lower
heat-treating furnaces leads directly to
densities in general lead to lower
reduced heat loss and, thus, energy sav-
thermal conductivity, ranging from
ings. Slag splashing and resin-bonded
0.5 W/(m·K) to 0.8 W/(m·K), respec-
MgO-C-metal linings in basic oxygen
tively. Using lower-density refractories
furnaces in the steel industry greatly
with improved insulating properties
extend the number of heats between
leads to energy savings by reducing the
relinings, resulting in energy savings
amount of heat lost through a vessel’s
through reduced downtime and fewer
walls and roof. Insulating refractories
refractories used. The same is true for
are generally more thermal-shock resis-
silicon carbide-based refractories in
tant and easier to dry out than dense
steel blast furnaces.
refractories. This allows much faster
In the glass industry, the advent of
initial heating, saving energy that
oxy-fuel melting led to renewed inter-
would be wasted by slowly heating an
est in alternative refractory materials,
installation.
which, in turn, allowed processing at
There are drawbacks to insulating
higher temperatures. The higher cor-
refractories. They often have lower
rosion resistance in high-alkali and
www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
 Approximate temperature range of industrial processes
resistance to corrosion, erosion, and
Refractory metal
penetration than dense refractories. Graphite and SiC

As density decreases, porosity must Baking of carbon

Phospates decompose
increase. As porosity increases, metal Portland cement
can penetrate more easily into the open Sintering of carbides

porosity in metal containment furnaces. Sintering of oxides

Fusion process

Metal generally conducts heat much Smelting of oxides

better than oxide refractories. Metal Sulfates decompose

Carbonate calcining
penetrating the insulating refractories Al and Mg

dramatically increases thermal conduc- Heat-treating and annealing

Salt glazing of ceramics
tivity. If molten metal penetrates to the Sulfide ore roasting

point that it reaches the furnace shell, a Metal carbide and nitride
Glass melting and forming
leak is sure to occur. Carbon combustion

This problem makes it critical that Steam boilers

Hydroxide calcining
an experienced engineer check furnace Petrochemical operations

design and heat flux before adding more Industrial drying

insulating refractories in metal con- 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200
tainment applications. The engineer Temperature (°C)
will design the lining such that molten
Figure 3. Temperature ranges of industrial processes.
metal always freezes in dense refracto-
ries rather than insulating refractories, Just looking at the change in thermal can improve energy efficiency and,
thus providing a safety factor even at conductivity, microporous refractory thus, decrease emissions in many indus-
the end of the lining’s service life. technology achieves a decrease in heat trial applications.
Microporous refractories such as loss (energy) of approximately three
SLA-92 and Bonite LD from Almatis times. Only two-thirds as much mate- Author’s Note
can be used to produce insulating rial needs to be installed on a mass This article is based with permission
refractories with the corrosion, erosion, basis to fill the same volume. Engineers on a presentation by Kent Peaslee, F.
and penetration resistance of dense can design a thinner lining with the Kenneth Iverson Steelmaking Chair
refractories. Manufacturers in Europe same distance from the metal freeze at the Missouri University of Science
and Japan, where energy cost is much plane to the cold face if they take into and Technology (Rolla) and former
higher than in the US, use these mate- account increased insulating capac- president of the Association for Iron &
rials widely. Working with industrial ity. The thinner metal contact lining Steel Technology.
partners, the US Department of Energy leads to increased capacity, and it can Unfortunately, Kent will not be able
has developed refractories based on reduce the amount of microporous to read this article. Kent Peaslee died
microporous aggregates that can serve refractory to one-half the mass of a May 17, 2013. I dedicate this paper
as the hot face material for molten iron conventional metal contact refractory. to him. In my opinion, he was one of
or aluminum and last longer than cur- This would mean that a microporous the most knowledgeable and respected
rent dense refractories. refractory that costs twice as much as experts on steel refractory interactions
These microporous refractories a conventional material is actually a in the world.
have a density of less than 1.6 g/cm3, money-saving solution, without con- I also would like to thank James
as opposed to densities greater than sidering energy savings. The cost of Hemrick of Oak Ridge National
2 g/cm3 for conventional metal con- microporous refractories is two to four Laboratory and William Davis of Alsey
tact refractories. The drop in thermal times that of traditional insulating and Refractories for help with the figures.
conductivity is greater than expected dense refractories, limiting their present Much of the information in this paper
based only on the decrease in density. use in the Americas, but can achieve comes from regular communication
A 1.6 g/cm3 microporous refractory has a positive cost benefit analysis. As the with these knowledgeable friends.
a thermal conductivity of 0.5 W/(m·K). cost of energy increases, expect more And finally, thank you to Missouri
A conventional insulating refractory widespread use of microporous materi- Refractories for supporting my efforts.
at that density would have thermal als, a “green” material. Contact William Headrick at bill@
conductivity of 1.0 W/(m·K) and would To summarize, refractory materials refractories.net.
not be able to withstand metal contact. are required to produce almost every-
The lightest available conventional thing required by modern society, thus Reference
medium-weight 2.1 g/cm3 metal contact making them an enabling technology 1
K. Peaslee, “Steel: A key to a greener and
castable has a thermal conductivity for most other industrial processes. sustainable future,” AIST Midwest Chapter
of approximately 1.5 W/(m·K), all at Happily, refractories also are among the Meeting, March 12, 2013. n
600°C. “greenest” of industrial materials—they

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 31

Improved refractories = energy savings

Figure 1. Cathodoluminescence image of mullite refractory.

The material is used in borosilicate-glass furnace crowns,
superstructures, and sidewalls, as well as for replacing tra-
ditional silica refractories in oxy-fuel furnace environments.

(Credit: MS&T.)
F
or many years, the United States
Department of Energy supported
refractory-related research to enable greater
efficiency in energy-intensive industries, such
Improved as iron and steel, glass, aluminum and other
nonferrous metal production, petrochemical,

refractories =
and pulp and paper.
Much of this support came through research projects funded by
the former DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office
of Industrial Technologies under programs such as Advanced

energy savings
By James G. Hemrick
Chronicling some of DOE’s long history of support for
refractories research and a look at the future
Industrial Materials, Industrial Materials of the Future, and the
Industrial Technologies Program. Under such initiatives, work
took place at national laboratories (such as Oak Ridge National
Laboratory), at universities (such as West Virginia University
and the Missouri University of Science and Technology), and at
private companies engaged in manufacturing areas once labeled
“industries of the future” by DOE because of their strategic and
economic importance to American industry.
This article summarizes examples of such projects. This is a
sampling of efforts funded only by the DOE in which ORNL has
been involved since 1996. The department also funded efforts
during this time at various other national laboratories, universi-
ties, and private companies. I chose the projects here because I
was an active participant in them, and this article is meant to
give a sampling of the magnitude of DOE investments in refrac-
tory-related research over this time.

The search for dimensional stability

“Compressive creep performance and high-temperature
dimensional stability of conventional silica refractories”1 was
funded in 1996 under the DOE AIM Program to investigate the
long-term mechanical performance and corrosion resistance of
commercially available conventional silica refractories like those
found in traditional float-glass furnace superstructures. Work
at ORNL and MS&T examined compressive creep resistance
at temperatures ranging from 1550°C to 1650°C and stresses
between 0.2 and 0.6 MPa, and studied dimensional stability,
phase content, microstructure, and composition as a function of
temperature.

32 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

 The result was a methodology for
characterizing the mechanical and
corrosion performance of refractory
materials for use in high-temperature
industrial processes and installation of
infrastructure to conduct such analysis.
The work also identified the complex
nature of the mechanical deformation
of these materials: Concurrently active
mechanisms other than those respon-
sible for compressive creep deformation
resulted in larger or completely differ-
ent dimensional changes than those
expected (i.e., sample expansion as
opposed to contraction).
Another outcome of this project was
formation of a Glass Industry Advisory
Committee composed of representatives
from academia and industrial glass and
refractory companies. This group guided
subsequent refractory-related projects
undertaken at ORNL and facilitated
distribution of information generated
under these projects to industry.
“Compressive creep and thermo-
physical performance of mullite refrac-
tories”1 followed the study of conven-
tional silica refractories starting in 1998
at ORNL and MS&T. As with the pre-
vious project, this research examined
dimensional stability, phase content,
microstructure (Figure 1), and composi-
tion as a function of temperature.
This project showed the differences
in compressive creep behavior of the
various refractory materials tested,
classifying behavior in three catego-
ries (low, mild, and significant) with
identification of associated creep rates,
rate-controlling mechanisms, and acti-
vation energies for each material. The
contribution of matrix porosity and
composition to creep behavior also was
identified, with the key finding that
glassy phases in these materials have a
significant effect on their overall creep
behavior.
“Compressive creep and thermophys-
ical performance of fusion-cast alumina
and spinel refractories”1 was funded
at ORNL and MS&T in 1999 by the
DOE IMF and ITP Programs. The work
examined the compressive creep and
corrosion behavior of commercially
available fusion-cast alumina and spi-
nel refractories used in oxy-fuel-fired
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
furnace crowns,
Accumulated strain (%)
superstructures,
and sidewall appli-
cations at tempera-
tures ranging from
1450°C to 1650°C
and stresses from
0.6 to 1.0 MPa.
(Credit: ORNL.)
Other properties
tested included Time (h)
dimensional stabil- Figure 2. Characteristic creep curves for fusion-cast spinel refracto-
ity, phase content, ries. Even at stress of 8.5 MPa, the materials had negligible creep
microstructure, and rates at temperatures to 1650°C.
composition as a
function of temperature. in the pulp and paper industry for
Results from this project showed dif- high-temperature and low-temperature
ferences in behavior of the microstruc- gasification processes using a byproduct
tures of fusion-cast refractories because of paper production, and investigated
of their processing (i.e., columnar primary and secondary lining systems
structure at the block surface caused by for these processes.
rapid cooling and equiaxed structure We evaluated numerous refractory
found in the more slowly cooled block compositions for high-temperature gas-
center). The work also identified unre- ification lining materials and selected
coverable expansion effects because of optimized materials. This resulted in
thermal expansion hysteresis associated development of a new immersion test
with microstresses and microcracking, system and protocol, which was found
which resulted in growth as opposed to to be highly accurate for predicting
contraction of samples under creep test- behavior of refractory lining materials
ing and the definition of nontraditional in actual service. We also identified
creep behavior in fusion-cast alumina and developed in collaboration with
materials. Other outcomes were devel- industrial partners new materials with
opment of optimized procedures for improved lifetimes in this environment.
creep testing and characterization (e.g., As a result, the service life of primary
thermal conductivity) and comparison and secondary lining systems used in
of various test and sensor strategies.2,3 commercial high-temperature gasifiers
As shown in Figure 2, we found was extended from several months to
that, even at elevated stresses of 8.5 several years. The work produced a pat-
MPa, fusion-cast spinel materials had ented primary lining system, and a sec-
negligible creep rates at temperatures to ond patent is pending for the secondary
1650°C—performance far superior to lining system.
conventional silica brick under normal For low-temperature gasification
furnace conditions. Corrosion resis- applications, work concentrated on
tance also was superior to conventional evaluation of current refractory materi-
silica refractories under simulated oxy- als and recommendation of alterna-
fuel combustion environments. tive materials. Candidate alternatives
were identified based on chemical
Industry-specific research composition, temperature rating, and
“Improved materials for black liquor microstructure. After initial laboratory
gasification”4 started in 2001 with testing, we installed the most promis-
work at ORNL, MS&T, and industrial ing materials in commercial units for
paper companies Weyerhaeuser and evaluation during subsequent process
Georgia Pacific that aimed to identify shut downs. Through this process, we
and develop improved materials for identified alternative materials with
use in black liquor gasification systems. improved service life.
The research supported new technol- DOE funded a report in 2004 enti-
ogy being developed and implemented tled “Report on refractory opportunities
33
Improved refractories = energy savings
developed and applied
to industrial galvanizing
rolls, and new alloys and
dross-cleaning procedures
for Galvalume coating
processes resulted in 1.5
times better dross removal
than then-current prac-
tices. Several patents
resulted from this project,
and a new software model
developed at WVU used
energy cost, equipment
(Credit: ORNL.)
energy consumption,
materials life, and produc-
Figure 3. Example of cup test for sample from Novel tion/rejection information
Refractory Project in contact with lime mud. The work to predict potential energy
aimed to develop new spinel-structured or alumina-based and cost savings resulting
castable, gunnable, and shotcrete materials. from use of new materials.
in industrial processing” highlighting
5 A new method for measuring corrosion
the extensive use of refractory materials behavior of metal bath hardware also
in high-temperature industrial process- was developed.
es. The report identified two aspects The team developed two new refrac-
of refractory materials that qualified tory compositions for use in molten
them as strategic materials in support aluminum processing. A bonite mate-
of American industry: their ability to rial developed with industrial partner
contain heat, chemicals, and melts; and Morco (Pevely, Mo.) led to improved
the crosscutting nature of their applica- corrosion resistance in the molten
tions. The report estimated that refrac- aluminum environment and also was
tory improvements could lead to poten- applicable in other high-alkali envi-
tial energy savings of more than 400 ronments. The other material was an
trillion Btu/year and identified possible alumina/silicon carbide composite
crosscutting research pathways leading material developed with one of the
to improved energy efficiency. project industrial partners. This mate-
Also in 2004, DOE IMF and rial showed superior wear resistance
ITP awarded another project, and good corrosion resistance, and was
“Multifunctional metallic and refrac- used in subsequent projects. Project
tory materials for energy efficient scientists successfully tested both mate-
handling of molten metals,” to a team
6 rials in industrial environments and
composed of WVU, ORNL, MS&T, developed a new thermal conductivity
Energy Industries of Ohio, and Secat measurement technique for full-sized
Inc., with support from more than 25 refractory brick.7
industrial partners from the refractory,
galvanizing, steel, aluminum, and metal The search for new materials
support technologies industries. “Novel refractory project,”8 funded
This project resulted in many by DOE ITP in 2006, involved research
advances in metallic and refractory by a team composed of ORNL, MS&T,
technology for molten-metal-handling and industrial refractory producer
applications and several new protocols Minteq International (Easton, Pa.) to
for corrosion testing. On the metal develop novel MgO–Al2O3, MgAl2O4,
side, new families of materials with or similar spinel-structured or alumina-
more than five times the resistance based refractory castable, gunnable,
to degradation in hot-dip galvanizing and shotcrete materials that used
bath conditions were developed and new aggregates, bond systems, coat-
validated in industrial settings, a new ings, and phase formation techniques.
weld overlay material and process were This family of refractory compositions
34 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
would then be tailored for use in high-
temperature, high-alkaline industrial
environments like those found in the
aluminum, chemical, forest products,
glass, and steel industries (Figure 3).
The project led to development of
seven new shotcrete materials based on
aluminosilicate-, magnesia-, and spinel-
forming systems for primary and repair
applications in molten aluminum,
black liquor, coal gasification, and lime
kiln environments. One of the materi-
als was an insulating shotcrete for use
behind the high-conductivity spinel
linings developed under this project.
Fundamental research work at MS&T
provided support for the materials
developed.
Industrial trials of the insulating
shotcrete and the material for alumi-
num rotary furnaces validated their
commercial potential, and Minteq
commercially released the magnesia-
rich spinel formulation for use in black
liquor and lime kiln/cement applica-
tions. More than 160 tons of refractory
for use in aluminum furnaces and 60
tons of the lightweight backup refrac-
tory material were installed in commer-
cial furnaces. In all cases the materials
exceeded customer expectations.
“Nanoscale interpenetrating phase
composites (IPCs) for industrial and
vehicle applications”9 was funded at
ORNL under the DOE ITP program in
2008 to explore the technical and eco-
nomic feasibility of producing compo-
nents for testing and use as high-wear,
corrosion-resistant refractory shapes
for industrial applications, lightweight
vehicle braking system components, or
lower-cost, higher-performance military
body and vehicle armor. Such materials
had been demonstrated at the lab scale
but had been limited in size. The aim
was to scale up the laboratory produc-
tion processes by scaling traditional
processes and using an alternative high-
temperature process.
The project focused on traditional
low-temperature processes for produc-
ing IPC materials and identified ways
to improve infiltration and wetting of
metal into nanoporous ceramic sub-
strates to decrease porosity and increase
performance. This work pursued pro-
cessing of room-temperature electroless
infiltration, preparing nanofoams for
low-temperature electrochemical infil-
tration, and producing low-temperature
routes for cocontinuous interpenetrat-
ing ceramic-metal nanocomposites.
In collaboration with industrial
partner Fireline (Youngstown, Ohio),
the second part of the project focused
on a high-temperature process for IPC
production and investigated reduction
of materials produced by this process
from the microscale to the nanoscale.
Metallic additions (Al-Si, Al-Fe,
Al-Ti, and Al-Mg) were investigated
with changes in preform choice (fused
quartz, Vycor glass, and clay) and
alteration of processing conditions. The
work showed that improved nanoscale
IPC materials can be produced using
optimized low-temperature metal
infiltration methods and wetting tech-
niques as well as the alternative high-
temperature process with select metallic
additions to produce intermetallic com-
pound (IMC) or solid-solution phases.
It also demonstrated the feasibility of
size scaling of materials produced by the
improved low-temperature methods and
the use of alternative preform materials
for the high-temperature process.
The future of DOE
manufacturing-related research
From 1996 to 2011, DOE invested
roughly $10 million in the projects
already described. But a transition has
occurred in the DOE oversight, and
funding of research related to heavy
manufacturing in the US has resulted
in a change in the funding opportuni-
ties offered and limited the availability
of federal funds for research, specifically
on refractory materials.
The last DOE solicitation that
addressed refractories was 2011’s
Innovative Manufacturing Initiative,
which sought “Thermal and degradation
resistant materials” that would last lon-
ger and operate in higher temperatures
than traditional materials with a goal
of a 10-fold increase in lifetime. Under
this funding opportunity, 13 projects
were awarded in 2012, and five addi-
tional projects were selected for award
negotiation in 2013. Unfortunately,
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
none of the projects funded was directly
related to the topic of refractories.
Currently active and recently closed
DOE solicitations as found on www.
grants.gov show a shift away from sup-
porting the development of traditional
manufacturing technologies to more
emphasis on renewable or alternative
energy research and nontraditional
manufacturing methods. Of the 72
opportunities listed, there are two
requests for information (RFI) related to
wind technologies, 11 funding solicita-
tions related to solar technologies, three
opportunities each related to energy
storage and carbon dioxide mitigation,
seven solicitations related to nuclear
technologies, and 10 solicitations
related to advanced or alternative fuels.
Two funding opportunities deal with
metal production for lightweighting of
automobiles, and none have specific
ceramic- or refractory-related topics.
One solicitation that appears to be
of interest to more traditional indus-
tries aims to establish a Clean Energy
Manufacturing Innovation Institute
to support US prosperity and security
and contribute to the creation of the
National Network for Manufacturing
Innovation. The primary goals of the
Institute are to revitalize American
manufacturing and support domestic
manufacturing competitiveness by driv-
ing innovation, and to develop and
accelerate adoption of next-generation
manufacturing technologies with
increased energy productivity; improved
product quality; and reduced cost, waste,
or pollution. Yet, in the final descrip-
tion of the institute established through
this FOA, it is stated that it will be
focused on wide-bandgap semiconduc-
tors for power electronic devices.
There also are solicitations (such
as DE-FOA0-0000784) related to
advanced gasification technologies
and the Advanced Research Projects
Agency (ARPA-E) open funding call
(DE-FOA-0000670) that have issues
that may be addressed through the use of
improved refractory or ceramic materials
but that do not specifically have topics
aimed at these areas of research. Under
the advanced gasification call, advanced
technologies are sought that will require
materials advances, although the process
is of more interest in this call as opposed
to materials enabling the improvement
of the process.
For many years DOE provided much
support for refractory-related research
in support of energy-intensive manu-
facturing industries, but there remains
a great need for research on innovative
ways to improve thermal conductivity,
corrosion resistance, and strength, and
to incorporate new approaches, such
as integrated computational materials
engineering, into refractory design. But,
at least for the time being, it appears
that projects focused on improving the
energy efficiency and cost competive-
ness of traditional heavy manufacturing
are of lower priority for current federal
funding opportunities.
About the author
James G. Hemrick is a research staff
member in the Mechanical Properties
and Mechanics Group, Material
Science and Technology Division, Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge,
Tenn. Contact James Hemrick at
hemrickjg@ornl.gov.
References
1
M.K. Ferber, A.A. Wereszczak, and J.G. Hemrick,
“Compressive creep and thermophysical performance of
refractory materials,” ORNL Rept. No. TM-2005/134, 2006.
2
J.G Hemrick and A.A Weresczcak, “Creep measurement and
analysis of refractories”; in Fundamentals of refractory technol-
ogy, Ceramic Transactions, Vol. 125. Edited by J.P. Bennett
and J.D. Smith. American Ceramic Society, Westerville,
Ohio, 2001.
J.G Hemrick, C.W. Kistler, A.A Wereszczak, and M.K.
3
Ferber, “Thermal conductivity of alumina measured with
three techniques,” J. Test. Eval., 31 [4] 438–42 (2003).
4
J.R. Keiser, J.G. Hemrick, J.P. Gorog, and R. Leary,
“Improved materials for high-temperature black liquor gasifi-
cation,” ORNL Rept. No. TM-2006/71, 2006.
5
J.G. Hemrick, H.W. Hayden, P. Angelini, R. E. Moore,
and W.L. Headrick, “Refractories for industrial processing:
Opportunities for improved energy efficiency,” Prepared for
the DOE-EERE Industrial Technologies Program, 2005.
6
X. Liu, B. Kang, B. Gopalakrishnan, J. Hemrick, V. Sikka,
and C. Irwin, “Multifunctional metallic and refractory mate-
rials for energy efficient handling of molten metals,” DOE
Project Final Rept. No. DE-FC36-04GO13038, 2009.
7
J.G Hemrick, R.B. Dinwiddie, E.R. Loveland, and A.
Prigmore, “Development of a test technique to determine the
thermal diffusivity of large refractory ceramic test specimens,”
Int. J. Appl. Ceram. Technol., 9 [1] 108–14 (2012).
8
J.G. Hemrick, J.D. Smith, K. O’Hara, A. Rodrigues-Schroer,
and D. Colavito, “Novel refractory materials for high-
alkali, high-temperature environments,” ORNL Rept. No.
TM-2012/245, 2012.
9
J.G Hemrick, M. Hu, K.M. Peters, and B. Hetzel, “Nano-
scale interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) for industrial
and vehicle applications,” ORNL Rept. No. TM-2010/80,
2010. n
35
A hot idea for international refractory education and research

Figure 1. Logos of FIRE’s academic institutions (left) and industrial partners (right).

T he Federation for International

Refractories Research and
Education—FIRE—incorporated as a non-
profit organization in May 20051,2. Organized
as an outsourcing network of academic and

FIRE:
industrial partners, its mission is to train
highly qualified engineers for the refractory
industry. Initially comprising four academic
institutions in Austria, Brazil, France, and
A hot idea for the United States and three refractories com-
panies—RHI, Magnesita, and Pyrotek—the

international
Federation has grown into a collaboration
of 10 academic groups from eight countries,
which now include Germany, Japan, China

refractory
and Canada (the last to join), supported by
17 industrial companies from 11 countries
(Figure 1). Today, FIRE is a multinational

education and
group representing the refractory world con-
stituency and working in a common language:
English.

research Hot spots—International education and research

By Michel Rigaud
An international network of universities and industry partners
crafts an innovative approach to graduate refractory
engineering education while leveraging research funds.
To promote the education system in refractory materials
engineering education at the MS and PhD levels, FIRE offers
graduate students the opportunity to acquire an international
perspective through international study programs and student
exchanges. To meet the cultural, educational, and research
needs of the refractory industry, FIRE has established education
programs based on research programs under the direction and
approval of its board members3. Research programs center on
selected themes and last three to four years. Plans for 2012–2015
will be described in detail at the upcoming United Technical
Conference on Refractories (UNITECR 2013) in Victoria,

36 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7


Figure 2. The first FIRE school took place in Orléans, France, June 16–21, with 64 registrants from 11 countries.
British Columbia, Canada, September
10th–13th, 2013.4 To meet its education
mission goals, FIRE recently undertook
two recent initiatives—organization
of FIRE schools and launching of the
FIRE Compendium Books series.
The FIRE school format is similar
to a Gordon Conference. Students,
alumni, and research associates from
academia and industry gather for one
week to develop a common understand-
ing through lectures by FIRE profes-
sors. Professors review fundamental
principles and define key challenges
that need to be addressed by a younger
generation of researchers. For example,
during the recent inaugural week-
long “school,” discussions centered on
fracture mechanics; design of thermal
shock resistance materials; multiscale
composite approaches to effective
mechanical properties, from grains to
material level; modeling and design of
refractory lining masonries; refractory
corrosion and the relationship between
phase transformations and thermo-
mechanical behavior; and, finally, use
of Fact Sage thermodynamic calcula-
tions to understand chemical corrosion
of refractories. It was full week of dis-
cussion, believe me!
The second education initiative that
eventually will be tied to the FIRE
schools and courses (to be offered at
UNITECR meetings) is a series of
books presenting fundamental concepts,
which are essential to a comprehensive
knowledge of refractory engineering.
The first book on refractory castables
will be published in late 2014. Its
coauthors are FIRE faculty member
Victor Pandolfelli (professor at Federal
University of São Carlos, Brazil), and
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
two FIRE PhD alumnae, Mariana
Braulio and Ana Paula Luz. The book
will present the basic principles needed
to obtain the desired characteristics of
castable materials with a strong empha-
sis on structures (micro-macro-texture)
and their influence on service proper-
ties. The content will be conceptual
rather than descriptive, covering the
traditional families of castables as well
as basic (MgO) and carbon-containing
castables.
Catching FIRE—Joining the network
Students wishing to obtain a degree
in refractory engineering must enroll
first at one of the FIRE network institu-
tions at the MS or PhD level3 and qual-
ify to become a FIRE student. Students
obtain a FIRE fellowship to travel
abroad to Austria, Brazil, Canada,
China, France, Germany, Japan, or the
United States, where they complete a
six-month internship at another univer-
sity. When they fulfill all the require-
ments dictated by their home institu-
tion, FIRE issues a certificate testifying
that the student has studied in at
least two different countries and been
“coached” by two interacting groups of
researchers in the FIRE network. Since
2007, 40 students have graduated from
the program.
Industrial members wishing to join
the FIRE network are asked to sup-
port FIRE’s mission with entrance fees
of $15,000 per year for three years.
After joining, they can participate in
technical research themes, which may
include providing extra funding accord-
ing to the needs of the research efforts.
Industrial partners have benefited from
FIRE’s ability to leverage $40 worth of
(Credit: Rigaud; FIRE.)
research for each $1 invested, per year,
in the last three years.
The initiative taken by FIRE mem-
bers to train refractory engineers with
international experience has been
accepted well so far. Globalization, a
large factor in the refractory industry
evolution in the last 25 years, has now
reached the academic institutions.
FIRE’s refractory engineering educa-
tors lead the way to adopting a new
paradigm for graduate education, which
is in the best interest of the students
involved and the industrial partners
that support them and, later, hire them.
About the author
Michel Rigaud is professor at
Université de Montréal, Ecole
Polytechnique, Montréal, Canada, and
executive secretary of FIRE.
Contact Michel Rigaud at
michel.rigaud@polymtl.ca.
References
1
S. Pirker, C. McFarlane and M. Rigaud:
“FIRE: Federation for International
Refractories Research and Education.” RHI
Bulletin, Vol. 1, pp 43-45, 2006.
2
M. Rigaud, “An International Education
for Refractories Engineers: The FIRE’s
Experience”, Proceedings, 5th International
Symposium on Advanced in Refractories
V, The Michel Rigaud Symposium, COM
2010, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Ed. By G.
Oprea and L.G. Hemrick, pp 3-8.
3
http://www.fire.polymtl.ca /FIRE
4
M. Rigaud: “Graduate Programs in
Refractory Engineering: What is duly
needed?” Proceedings, UNITECR 2013,
Victoria, B.C., Canada, September 10th-
13th, 2013, to be published. n
37
13th Biennial Worldwide Congress on Refractories

Unitecr 2013
2013 UNITECR Organization
Louis J. Trostel Jr., President
Rob Crolius, Treasurer
The Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories Jeffrey Smith, N.A. UEB Chair
Dana Goski, Technical Program Chair
Nancy Bunt, Social Program Chair
Mike Alexander, N.A. UEB Member

T he Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories is a

biennial international conference that advances the progress and
exchange of industrial knowledge and technologies concerning refractories.
UNITECR’13 is designed for manufacturers, scientists, engineers, and
industry professionals interested in the science, production, and applica- Register now!
tion of refractory materials. Attendees are involved in materials development,
formulation, production, and engineering of refractories for ferrous and nonferrous
metals industries as well as the minerals-processing, glass, cement, and petrochemical
www.unitecr2013.org
industries.

Welcome reception
UNITECR welcome receptions are events to be remembered. With hundreds of artifacts, specimens, and dramatic displays Scan for
of British Columbia’s natural and human history, the Royal BC Museum is sure to capture your attention. Add in food, UNITECR’13 app
beverages, and your fellow UNITECR attendees, and you have the making of a truly memorable event. Museum docents
will be on hand to share their knowledge and answer questions. Totem Hall is the central exhibit in the First Peoples
gallery, and the perimeter of the hall is surrounded by examples of masks, regalia, and modern works. The display unites
old and new works, which is appropriate in an exhibit that emphasizes the continuing artistic traditions of the Northwest Coast First Nations.
The reception includes food and beverage stations highlighting local cuisine. Thank you to Kerneos for sponsoring this event.

Keynote Speaker
Remco De Jong
Vice president and general manager, Refractory Minerals Division, IMERyS
Title: Minerals to materials: The changing face of the global refractory
industry

De Jong

Plenary Speakers
Tom Vert
General manager of primary manufacturing, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
Title: How do steelmakers pick refractories—Logic, emotion, or dartboard?

Vert

Charles E. Semler
President/consultant, Semler Materials Services
Title: Trends for the world’s most important, but least known, products

Semler

38 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

 SePT. 10-13, 2013
Sponsors

THE REFRACTORIES INSTITUTE

Conference dinner Closing ceremony

The UNITECR’13 conference dinner is your opportunity to celebrate Friday’s lunch and closing ceremony take place in the Palm Court/
the refractory industry in the company of nearly 800 of your closest Crystal Ballroom from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. UNITECR organizers
UNITECR friends. The 2013 conference dinner is hosted in the iconic will be raffling off prizes, but you must be present to win.
Crystal Gardens, which was Victoria’s first convention center.
The facility also has been an arboretum, restaurant, art gallery, and
swimming pool. This unique structure is the ideal setting for a lively
evening of good food, good drink, good friends, and live jazz music.
A highlight will be the induction of the 2013 class of UNITECR Dis-
UNITECR exhibit
tinguished Life Members, in addition to other award presentations. More than 30 companies will showcase their products and services
Thank you to The Refractories Institute (TRI) for sponsoring the in the UNITECR exhibit, which is open from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm
conference dinner. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, and from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on Thurs-
day, Sept. 12. Conference breaks and lunches will be held in the
exhibit hall on both days.
Poster session
UNITECR’13 introduces its inaugural poster session, hosted
Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Palm Court
Ballroom. This session will feature 32 presentations. Meet with
authors to discuss their research over light refreshments. Please
attend and cast your vote for Attendee’s Choice Best Poster win-
ner. Thank you to The Technical Association of Refractories,
Japan (TARJ), for sponsoring the poster session.

Short courses Sponsored by ANH Refractories

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Early-Bird Rate: $595 | Regular Rate: $745
Dispersion and Packing of Ceramics Particles for
Advanced Refractory Castables
Instructors: Ana Paula Luz, Mariana A. Braulio, and
Victor C. Pandolfelli, Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil
Fundamentals on Corrosion Behavior of Refractories
Instructors: Christos Aneziris, Technical University Freiberg, Germany, and
Jacques Poirier, University of Orléans, France

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 39

 Unitecr 2013
Technical Sessions
Sessions Date Time Location
Opening Ceremony and Keynote Speaker Wednesday, September 11 8:40 – 10:00 a.m. Lecture Theatre
Plenary Session I Thursday, September 12 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Lecture Theatre
Plenary Session II Friday, September 13 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Lecture Theatre
Poster Session Wednesday, September 11 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Palm Court (Hotel)
Advanced Installation Techniques and Equipment
Advanced Installation Techniques and Equipment Wednesday, September 11 10:40 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Sidney
Cochairs: Jim Stendera, Vesuvius, USA; Hirohide Okuno, Taiko Refractories, Japan

Advanced Testing of Refractories

Advanced Testing of Refractories I Wednesday, September 11 10:40 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Oak Bay
Advanced Testing of Refractories II Wednesday, September 11 1:40 – 4:20 p.m. Oak Bay
Advanced Testing of Refractories III Wednesday, September 11 4:20 – 5:40 p.m. Oak Bay
Advanced Testing of Refractories IV Thursday, September 12 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Oak Bay
Advanced Testing of Refractories V Thursday, September 12 11:20 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. Oak Bay
Cochairs: Len Krietz, Plibrico Company LLC, USA; Nigel Longshaw, Ceram, UK

Cement and Lime Refractories

Cement and Lime Refractories I Thursday, September 12 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Esquimalt
Cement and Lime Refractories II Thursday, September 12 2:20 – 4:40 p.m. Esquimalt
Cochairs: Fielding Cloer, Spar Refractories, USA; Swapan Das, Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute, India

Developments in Basic Refractories

Developments in Basic Refractories I Wednesday, September 11 10:40 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Esquimalt
Developments in Basic Refractories II Wednesday, September 11 1:40 – 4:20 p.m. Esquimalt
Developments in Basic Refractories III Wednesday, September 11 4:20 – 5:20 p.m. Esquimalt
Cochairs: Dominick Colavito, Minerals Tech, USA; Andrie Garbers-Craig, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Energy Savings through Refractory Design

Energy Savings through Refractory Design I Thursday, September 12 11:20 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Sidney
Energy Savings through Refractory Design II Thursday, September 12 2:20 – 4:40 p.m. Sidney
Cochairs: James Hemrick, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA; Valeriy Martynenko, The Ukrainian Research Institute of Refractories, Ukraine

Global Education in Refractories

Global Education in Refractories I Friday, September 13 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Sidney
Global Education in Refractories II Friday, September 13 11:20 a.m. – Noon Sidney
Facilitated Discussion on Global Education in Refractories Friday, September 13 Noon – 12:40 p.m. Sidney
Cochairs: George Oprea, University of British Columbia, Canada; yawei Li, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China

Iron & Steelmaking Refractories

Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Coke Ovens Wednesday, September 11 10:40 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Saanich
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Continuous Casting Wednesday, September 11 4:20 – 5:40 p.m. Colwood
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Submerged Entry Nozzles Thursday, September 12 9:20 – 10:40 a.m. Saanich
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Ladles Thursday, September 12 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saanich
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - BOF Thursday, September 12 2:00 – 4:20 p.m. Saanich
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - RH Snorkels Thursday, September 12 4:40 – 5:40 p.m. Esquimalt
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Spinel Castables Friday, September 13 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Lecture Theatre
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Magnesia–Carbon I Wednesday, September 11 1:40 – 4:20 p.m. Saanich
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Magnesia–Carbon II Wednesday, September 11 4:20 – 5:40 p.m. Saanich
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Blast Furnace and Troughs I Thursday, September 12 4:20 – 6:20 p.m. Saanich

40 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

Technical Sessions
Sessions Date Time Location
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - Blast Furnace and Troughs II Friday, September 13 11:20 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lecture Theatre
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - General Session I Thursday, September 12 4:40 – 5:40 p.m. Lecture Theatre
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - General Session II Thursday, September 12 4:40 – 5:40 p.m. Sidney
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - General Session III Friday, September 13 9:20 –11:20 a.m. Colwood
Iron and Steelmaking Refractories - General Session IV Friday, September 13 11:20 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saanich
Cochairs: Mike Alexander, Riverside Refractories, USA; Patrick Tassot, Calderys, Germany

Modeling and Simulation of Refractories

Modeling and Simulation of Refractories I Wednesday, September 11 1:40 – 4:20 p.m. Colwood
Modeling and Simulation of Refractories II Thursday, September 12 2:20 – 4:20 p.m. Oak Bay
Modeling and Simulation of Refractories III Thursday, September 12 4:20 – 5:40 p.m. Oak Bay
Cochairs: Bill Headrick, MORCO, USA; Harald Harmuth, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria

Monolithics
Monolithics I Wednesday, September 11 10:40 a.m. – Noon Lecture Theatre
Monolithics II Wednesday, September 11 1:40 – 4:20 p.m. Lecture Theatre
Monolithics III Wednesday, September 11 4:20 – 5:40 p.m. Lecture Theatre
Monolithics IV Thursday, September 12 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Lecture Theatre
Monolithics V Thursday, September 12 11:20 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lecture Theatre
Monolithics VI Friday, September 13 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Saanich
Cochairs: Dale Zacherl, Almatis, USA; Goutam Bhattacharya, Kerneos, India

Nonoxide Refractory Systems Thursday, September 12 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Colwood

Cochairs: Dave Derwin, Superior Graphite, USA; Marcus Vinicius Moraes Magliano, Morgan Advanced Materials, Brazil

Petrochemical Thursday, September 12 2:20 – 4:20 p.m. Colwood

Cochairs: Don McIntyre, ANH, USA; Ken Moody, Refractory System Solutions, USA

Raw Materials Developments and Global Raw Materials Issues

Raw Materials Developments and Global Raw Materials Issues I Thursday, September 12 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Sidney
Raw Materials Developments and Global Raw Materials Issues II Thursday, September 12 11:20 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. Esquimalt
Raw Materials Developments and Global Raw Materials Issues III Friday, September 13 9:20 – 10:40 a.m. Esquimalt
Cochairs: Shane Bower, Christy Minerals, USA; Phil Edwards, Imerys, France

Refractories for Chemical Processes Thursday, September 12 2:20 – 4:40 p.m. Lecture Theatre
Cochairs: James Bennett, National Energy Technology Laboratory, USA; Matthias Rath, Rath, Austria

Refractories for Glass Wednesday, September 11 10:40 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Colwood
Co-chairs: James Bennett, National Energy Technology Laboratory, USA; Matthias Rath, Rath, Austria

Refractories for Non-ferrous Metallurgy

Refractories for Non-ferrous Metallurgy I Wednesday, September 11 4:20 – 5:40 p.m. Sidney
Refractories for Non-ferrous Metallurgy II Friday, September 13 9:20 – 11:20 a.m. Oak Bay
Cochairs: Rick Volk, United Refractories, USA; Angela Rodrigues-Schroer, Wahl Refractory Solutions, USA

Refractories for Waste to Energy Processing and Power Wednesday, September 11 1:40 – 4:20 p.m. Sidney
Cochairs: Ben Markel, Resco, USA; Andy Wynn, Morgan Advanced Materials, China

Safety, Environmental Issues, and Recycling Solutions for Friday, September 13 11:20 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Oak Bay
Refractories
Cochairs: Jason Canon, Christy Refractories, USA; Leonardo Curimbaba Ferreira, US Electrofused Minerals/Electroabrasives LLC, USA/ Brazil

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 41

 Unitecr 2013 SePT. 10-13, 2013
UNITECR 2013 expo preview
ALTEO Floor plan
Booth No. 21
Alteo is a fully integrated supplier of specialty
aluminas. Production facilities in France and
Germany produce a range of products that
includes calcined, reactive, tabular, fused, and
zirconia aluminas. Supported by a global sales
network and an expanding research and develop-
ment facility, Alteo welcomes you to a New World
of Alumina.
specialtyaluminas-marketing@alteo-alumina.
com
www.alteo-alumina.com
    
BassTech International
Booth No. 17
BassTech International supplies performance
additives to the refractory, coating, and ceramic
industries, including a full line of metal phos-
phates for high-temperature binders and defloc-
culants, glass and polymer fibers, sodium silicate
powders, silicon metal, low-temperature thermo-
polymer binders, and green strength enhancers.
We offer technical support through offices in the
United States, China, Europe, and India. Our
customers also benefit from just-in-time deliveries
from inventories in North America, Europe, and Companies Booth Companies Booth
worldwide.
info@basstechintl.com ALTEO 21 Laeis GmbH 13
http://www.basstechintl.com BassTech International 17 Laser Distance Spectrometry 8
     Blastcrete Equipment Co. 31 Orind Special Refractories Ltd. 29
Blastcrete Equipment Co. China Mineral Processing Ltd. 3 Putzmeister Shotcrete Technology 18
Booth No. 31 Claisse, Corporation Scientifique 24 Refmin China Co. Ltd. 9
Blastcrete Equipment Co. designs and manufac-
tures refractory mixing and placement equipment. Curimbaba Group: Electro Riedhammer GmbH 12
Products include the Blastcrete gun, featuring Abrasives 25 Rütgers Basic Aromatics GmbH 2
the genuine Piccola clamping system; and the Curimbaba Group: Elfusa 26 Shengquan Hepworth Resin Co.
Dampcon rig for gunnite applications. Our 2200- Curimbaba Group: US Ltd. 19
lb capacity refractory mixer is the fastest in the
industry, while the MX-10 mixer/pump placement Electrofused Minerals, Inc. 25 Steuler-KCH GmbH 16
rate is up to 13 tons per hour. Our new two-stage Eirich, Maschinenfabrik Gustav Sub-Floor Science LLC 30
continuous mixer will be officially introduced at Eirich GmbH & Co KG 11 Superior Graphite 28
UNITECR 2013. Elkem 10
tripp@blastcrete.com
Swindell Dressler International Co. 27
http://www.blastcrete.com Fibercon International Inc. 4 Syrah Resources Ltd. 23
    
Huang He Minerals Co. Ltd. 22 VELCO GmbH 1
China Mineral Processing Ltd. Imerys Refractory Minerals 15 Verband der Deutschen Feuerfest
Booth No. 3 Kerneos 14 Industrie 20
CMP group has focused on development and uti- Kyanite Mining Corporation 6 Washington Mills Electro Minerals 5
lization of mineral products since it was founded
in 1993. Now it has expanded to a large enter-
prise group with eight mineral-processing plants,
solution preparation. Claisse provides CRM and Curimbaba Group: US Electrofused
fusion monitors in addition to analytical consulting Minerals/Electro Abrasives
containing four large business categories, and
and platinum polishing/scrap services. Booth No. 25
producing more than 300,000 metric tons of min-
carsenault@claisse.com | www.claisse.com Producers of fused minerals, including alumina,
eral products annually.
lily@cmptj.com | http://www.cmptj.com      mullite, black and green silicon carbide, boron
Curimbaba Group: Elfusa carbide, magnesia spinel, magnesia–chrome,
    
Booth No. 26 chrome–alumina, calcium aluminate cement, and
Claisse, Corporation Scientifique Producers of fused minerals, including alumina, more for use in refractories, ceramics, abrasives,
Booth No. 24 investment-casting, friction, and other applications.
mullite, magnesia spinel, magnesia–chrome,
Providing sample preparation by fusion for X-ray brian@electroabrasives.com
chrome–alumina, calcium–aluminate cements,
fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma, and www.usminerals.com
and more for use in refractories, ceramics, abra-
atomic absorption spectrometry, Clarisse offers gas
sives, investment casting, friction, and many other     
and electric multiposition automatic fusion instru-
applications. Eirich, Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich
ments, fused borate fluxes with integrated non-wet-
jaime.splettstoser@grupocurimbaba.com.br
ting agents, and platinumware for glass disk and
www.elfusa.com.br/
GmbH & Co. KG
Booth No. 11
www.eirich.com

42 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

UNITECR 2013 expo preview
Elkem
Booth No. 10
Elkem produces high-quality microsilica and
metallurgical silicon for refractories and ceramic
applications. We have three production plants in
Norway (Bremanger, Salten, and Thamshavn) as
well as a network of sales offices covering the
most important markets in Europe, Americas, and
Asia.
elkem.materials@elkem.no | www.elkem.com
     Laeis manufactures high-performance hydraulic
Fibercon International Inc.
Booth No. 4
Manufacturers of ASTM Type II (slit/cut sheet) and
Type III (melt extract) steel reinforcing fibers for
the refractory and civil industries. Check out our
special Type II alternative to cold-drawn (Type I)
fiber recently approved by a major refining com-
pany.
info@fiberconfiber.com
www.fiberconfiber.com
     Booth No. 8
Huang He Minerals Co. Ltd.
Booth No. 22
Huang He Minerals manufactures and supplies a
wide range of refractory raw materials, including
brown- and white-fused alumina,
calcined bauxite, high-density alumina aggregate,
silicon carbide, fused and sintered mullite, fused
and sintered spinel, fused silica, graphite, dead-
burned magnesite, fused magnesite, and various
refractory additives.
Fax: 86-22-27463966, 23558601
huanghetj@hotmail.com
http://www.huangheminerals.com
    
Imerys Refractory Minerals
Booth No. 15
Imerys Refractory Minerals manufactures and
supplies minerals for refractory, investment cast-
ing, and other industrial applications. Our broad
product range includes calcined aluminosilicates,
chamottes, andalusites, fused silicas, refractory-
grade clays, metakaolins, and fused minerals.
Through our extensive global sales network, we
offer local commercial, technical, and supply
solutions to meet the needs of the refractory and
investment casting markets.
inquire@ceminerals.com
www.ceminerals.com
     Steuler supplies refractory systems worldwide.
Kerneos
Booth No. 14
Kerneos manufactures calcium aluminate
cements, aggregates, and specialty additives.
karine.vaher@kerneos.com
www.kerneos.com
    
Kyanite Mining Corporation
Booth No. 6
Throughout North America, South America, and
in much of Europe and Asia, kyanite is used in
many monolithic refractory mixes with alumina
content between 45 and 85 percent. Whether the
monolith is a mortar, castable, plastic, ramming
mix, company gunning mix, or coating, kyanite
is used to minimize firing shrinkage and reduce
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
cracking during initial heat-up. An added benefit the shotcrete via hoses over long distances to the
of using kyanite is that it results in a mullite phase exact point of placement.
after decomposition, imparting refractoriness, pmr@putzam.com
thermal shock resistance, and strength to the www.PutzmeisterShotcrete.com
product.
hankjamerson@kyanite.com     
www.kyanite.com Refmin China Co. Ltd.
     Booth No. 9
Refmin processes and distributes Chinese refrac-
Laeis GmbH tory raw materials, including flake graphite, baux-
Booth No. 13 ite, fused magnesite, tabular alumina, brown- and
white-fused alumina, and silicon carbide. Last
presses for refractories, advanced ceramics, car- year we supplied more than 100,000 metric tons
bon products, and special applications. Presses of various materials to customers around the
with up to 4500 metric ton capacity can be world.
equipped with vacuum systems for delicate materi- info@refmin.com.cn | www.refmin.com.cn
als. Grain heaters, mixers and robotic systems,
plant engineering, and research and development     
round out our services. Riedhammer GmbH
fournier@laeis.eu | www.laeis.eu Booth No. 12
     Riedhammer is a global manufacturer of kiln
plants. Located in Nuremberg, Germany, the
Laser Distance Spectrometry company offers new and innovative kiln technol-
ogy for the refractory industry. Riedhammer is the
The MAYA real-time laser elemental analyzer now perfect partner for customers requiring advanced
makes it possible to know the chemical com- and reliable technological solutions for all thermal
position of a mineral raw material moving on a processes, including complete plant solutions,
conveyor belt, in a falling stream, slurry pipeline, upstream and downstream, with worldwide installa-
or an open-pit mine in real time, giving users an tion capabilities.
opportunity to batch sort ore or make correc- ernst.hartung@riedhammer.de
tive additions to raw mix chemistries before it is www.riedhammer.de
too late. The instrument involves no sampling
and runs continuously under harsh conditions     
in mining, metallurgy, refractories, fertilizer, and Rütgers Basic Aromatics GmbH
other applications with no hazardous gamma or Booth No. 2
X-ray radiation. Quality improvement, improved Producer of binders for refractories.
customer satisfaction, and reductions in energy jens.stiegert@ruetgers-group.com
and materials consumption can result in payback www.ruetgers-group.com
periods of three to six months.
    
alex@laser-distance-spectrometry.com
www.laser-distance-spectrometry.com Shengquan Hepworth Resin Co. Ltd.
Booth No. 19
    
Founded in 1997 as a Sino-UK joint venture, SQH
Orind Special Refractories Ltd. is a Chinese phenolic resin manufacturer with
Booth No. 29 total capacity of 350,000 tons annually. We serve
Orind Special Refractories is a refractory compa- customers in the refractories, friction materials,
ny in India. We supply the entire range of refrac- foundry, abrasives, electronic materials, and other
tories required in steel melt shops. Some of our industries.
major products include magnesia–carbon brick chris.huang@shengquan.com
and monolithics for basic oxygen and electric arc http://e.shengquan.com/news_508
furnaces and ladles, and alumina–magnesia–car-
    
bon and alumina-enriched–spinel brick for ladles,
alumina–silicon–carbide carbon brick for torpedo Steuler-KCH GmbH
and hot metal ladles, and magnesite and high- Booth No. 16
alumina brick for permanent linings.
siddharth@orindref.com | www.orindref.com The company produces shaped and unshaped
nonbasic refractory products, and it provides
    
refractory engineering, research and develop-
Putzmeister Shotcrete Technology ment, production, and turnkey installation of
Booth No. 18 refractory systems for iron and steel, cement and
A provider of refractory placement technology, lime, chemical and petrochemical, non-ferrous
Putzmeister delivers dependable, high-perfor- metals, and waste incineration applications.
mance equipment backed by the industry’s best ulf.frohneberg@steuler-kch.de
service. Putzmeister offers a wide variety of equip- www.steuler.de
ment geared for use in the refractory industry.
    
Small gunning machines easily accomplish patch
work without disruption to operations. Mid-sized Sub-Floor Science LLC
trailer-mounted units feature small footprints that Booth No. 30
allow them to easily navigate the refractory plant Sub-Floor Science LLC proudly represents
to the placement location, while larger units can Walter+Bai AG in North America. Visit our booth
be stationed outside and have the power to pump to see a SWG-H-400 for measuring dimensional
change. Other instruments available include
43
 Unitecr 2013
UNITECR 2013 expo preview
equipment for static tension, compression, flexure
and shear, low- and high-cycle fatigue, compo-
nent life, fatigue crack growth, fracture toughness,
tensile and ultimate strength testing, creep and
viscoelastic characteristics, modulus of elasticity,
and Poisson’s ratio.
bill@subfloorscience.com
www.subfloorscience.com
     www.swindelldressler.com
Superior Graphite
Booth No. 28
Headquartered in Chicago, Superior Graphite was
founded in 1917. Superior Graphite specializes in
thermal purification, advanced sizing, blending,
and coating technologies, providing value-added
graphite and carbon-based solutions globally. We
serve a wide range of markets, including agri-
culture, battery, fuel cells, ceramic armor, carbon
parts, ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy, friction
management, hot metal forming, polymer and
composites, powder metals, lubricity, and perfor-
mance drilling additives.
cbaer@superiorgraphite.com
www.superiorgraphite.com
     VELCO
Swindell Dressler International Co.
Booth No. 27
Swindell Dressler has serviced the ceramic indus-
try for nearly 100 years. The company custom
SePT. 10-13, 2013
designs tunnel, shuttle, bell, and roller hearth kilns
that are heated by either natural gas or electricity.
Our customers include the structural clay, white-
ware, refractory, technical ceramics, and carbon
graphite industries. We also design kiln-car-
handling equipment and can provide a turnkey
solution to your project.
dbuszinski@swindelldressler.com
    
Syrah Resources Ltd.
Booth No. 23
Syrah Resources is an Australian resource com-
pany focused on developing its core Balama
Graphite Project in Mozambique. The project is
the world’s biggest flake graphite resource, with
1.15 billion metric tons available and more than
10 percent fixed carbon content. The company
aims to produce 200,000 metric tons of concen-
trate with more than 96 percent fixed carbon con-
tent concentrate and very low impurities.
s.uysal@syrahresources.com.au
www.syrahresources.com.au/
    
Booth No. 1
VELCO supplies stand-alone refractory gunning
machines as well as engineered gunning manipu-
lators for the hot repair of electric arc furnaces,
ladles, RH-snorkels, and so on. Our patented
Gunmix moistening system makes it possible to
process LC/ULC concretes using a dry gunning
procedure.
info@velco.de | www.velco.de
    
Verband der Deutschen Feuerfest
Industrie
Booth No. 20
Founded in 1949, the German Refractories
Association (GRA) represents the interests of
German refractory products suppliers to all institu-
tions and social groups. The GRA is one of the
four founding members of UNITECR and will
organize the 14th UNITECR Worldwide Congress
on Refractories in the Hofburg in Vienna, Austria,
from September 15 to 18, 2015.
info@vdffi.de | www.vdffi.de
    
Washington Mills
Booth No. 5
Washington Mills produces abrasives and fused-
mineral products, offering an exceptionally wide
line of standard abrasive grain and specialty elec-
trofused minerals from multiple plants worldwide.
info@washingtonmills.com
www.washingtonmills.com

Materials Challenges In Alternative & Renewable Energy

February 26-March 1, 2012 | Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort | Clearwater, Fla., USA
www.ceramics.org/mcare2014 TH !
R 1 9
BY SE P TEMBE
R A C T
T YO U R ABST
S UBMI

GEN
HYDRO

T H E M E S SOLAR
FUELS
POWER
AND C O N C ENTRAT
GY STO
RAGE
ORS
ALS
SOLAR
N D E N E R
W I R E S MATERI GIES
A NANO O
Organized by: BATTER
IES
E S A N D N I C T E CHNOL
IT O
OMPOS D PHOT
NANOC TOVOLTAIC AN
O
FOR PH
R
NUCLEA ES
Co-organized by: Endorsed by:
I C A L R ESOURC
CRI T EAS
R E N E RGY AR
OTHE

44 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

 october 27-31, 2013 | Palais des congrès de Montréal | Montréal, Québec, Canada

Materials Science & Technology 2013 premeeting planner

www.matscitech.org

Join us for the ACerS 115th Annual Meeting!

Lectures
Sunday, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Oct. 27 ACerS Frontiers of Science and Society: ACerS Edward Orton Jr. Memorial Lecture
Rustum Roy Lecture Sheldon M. Wiederhorn, National Institute of Standards & Technology, “Griffith
Larry Hench, Florida Institute of Technology, “Affordable Health- Cracks at the Nanoscale”
care? Role of Bio-Ceramic Technology, Socio-Economic, and Ethical Issues”
Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Monday, 8:00 – 10:20 a.m. ACerS Robert B. Sosman Lecture
MS&T’13 Opening Plenary Session Oct. 30
Oct. 28 Nava Setter, École Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne, Swit-
Kevin G. Bowcutt, Senior Technical Fellow, Chief Scientist of zerland, “Structure and Functions of Ferroic Domain Walls”
Hypersonics, The Boeing Co.
Tresa M. Pollock, Alcoa Professor at the College of Engineering, Materials Depart-
ment, University of California, Santa Barbara
John Sarrao, Associate Director for Theory, Simulation, and Computation, Los
Alamos National Laboratory
Special events
2:00 – 4:40 p.m.
ACerS Richard M. Fulrath Session Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
2:00–2:40 p.m. Japanese Academic: Yuji Noguchi, University of Tokyo Welcome Reception
2:40–3:00 p.m. Japanese Industrial 1: Yuji Kintaka, Murata Manufacturing Co. Network with your colleagues, meet new people, and learn about the exciting mem-
3:00–3:20 p.m. American Industrial: Michael Halbig, NASA Glenn Research Center bership offerings of the organizing societies.
3:40–4:00 p.m. Japanese Industrial 2: Jun Tsutsumi, Taiyo Yuden Co.
4:00–4:40 p.m. American Academic: Pelagia-Irene (Perena) Gouma, SUNY - Stony Monday, Oct. 28, 2013
Brook ACerS 115th Annual Meeting | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Be there as newly elected officers take their positions during the Annual Member-
2:00 – 5:10 p.m. ship Meeting. All ACerS members and guests are welcome.
ACerS Cooper Session Women in Materials Science Reception | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Distinguished Lecturer: Alexandra Navrotsky, University of California, Davis,
Enjoy the chance to network with professionals and peers in a relaxed environment.
“New Frontiers in the Thermochemistry of Glassy, Amorphous, and Nanoscale
Materials” ACerS 115th Annual Honors & Awards Banquet | 7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Enjoy dinner, conversation, and the presentation of Society awards. Purchase tick-
Cooper Scholar Lecturer: Maxwell Marple, Iowa State University, “Thermal
ets for $90 via the conference registration form.
Behavior of Mechanically Milled Chalcogenide Glass Na2S+P2S5 Through DSC
Studies”
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. MS&T’13 Exhibit Happy Hour Reception | 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Network with colleagues and build relationships with attendees, buyers, and
Oct. 29 ACerS Arthur L. Friedberg Ceramic Engineering prospects!
Tutorial and Lecture
Greg E. Hilmas, Missouri University of Science and Technology, MS&T Young Professional Reception | 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
“Engineered Structural Ceramic Materials: Novel Methods for Increasing Tough- Attend this reception to meet and network with fellow young professionals.
ness, Wear Resistance, and Thermal Shock”

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 45

october 27-31, 2013 | Palais des congrès de Montréal | Montréal, Québec, Canada

Materials Science & Technology 2013 register at www.matscitech.org today!

Plenary session Oct. 28, 2013, at 8 to 10:20 a.m. | Rm 517

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Extreme Environments
Kevin G. Bowcutt, Senior
Technical Fellow, Chief
Scientist of Hypersonics,
The Boeing Company
Hypersonic Flight: The
Final Frontier of
Bowcutt Aeronautics
John Sarrao, Associate
Director for Theory,
Simulation, and Computa-
tion, Los Alamos National
Laboratory
The Codesign of Experi-
Sarrao ment and Theory at the
Mesoscale: A MaRIE
Perspective
Tresa M. Pollock, FASM,
ALCOA Professor, Univer-
sity of California, Santa
Barbara
Materials in Turbine
Engine Environments
Pollock

ACerS short courses

Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 Fundamentals of Glass Science and Technology
Sunday, Instructor: Arun K. Varshneya, Saxon Glass Tech-
Oct. 27
nologies, Alfred University
Description: The course covers basic glass science and technology
in order to broaden or improve one’s foundation in the understanding
of glass as a material of choice. Topics include glass science (com-
mercial glass families, glassy state, nucleation and crystallization,
phase separation, glass structure); glass technology; batch calcula-
tions; glassmelting and glass forming; glass properties and engineer-
ing principles; and elementary fracture analysis. At the end of the
course, the attendee should
• Know the various commercial oxide glass families, their nominal
chemical composition, and their key properties that are important
for applications;
• Understand the physical relationship of glass to liquids and solids;
• Have a general idea of key physical and chemical properties that
lead to common applications; and
• Know the basics of glassmelting and glass forming, including
annealing of the more common commercial glass products.
Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 31 Sintering of Ceramics
Friday, Instructor: Mohamed N. Rahaman, Missouri University
Nov. 1 of Science and Technology
Description: The course reviews sintering basics: characterization of
sintering (methods used to measure/monitor the progress of sinter-
ing); driving forces; diffusion and defect chemistry; solid-state and
viscous sintering; microstructure development and control; liquid-
phase sintering; special topics; effect of homogeneities on sintering;
constrained sintering of composites, adherent thin films, and multi-
layers; solid-solution additives (dopants); reaction sintering; viscous
sintering with crystallization; sintering practice; “how to do” sintering;
effect of various materials and processing parameters on sintering;
and case studies. The attendee will develop sufficient background in
the principles and practice of sintering to be able to
• Sinter to achieve specified target microstructures;
• Understand the difficulties encountered in practical sintering; and
• Take practical steps to rectify the problems encountered in
producing required target microstructures.

Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 31 Electroceramics Basics: Applications and
Devices
Instructor: R.K. Pandey, Texas State University
Description: Electroceramics have become an integral part of
modern microelectronics because of advancements made in the past
decade and the advent of multifunctional oxides, multiferroics, spin-
tronics, radhard electronics, bioelectronics, detectors and sensors,
etc. The objective is to review the current state of knowledge in this
field and emphasize practical applications and potential for inventions
as well as prospects for commercialization. Key topics include
• Introduction to electroceramics suitable for microelectronic
applications;
• Introduction to the interacting forces that result in some unique
phenomena found in electroceramics;
• Processing and characterization of materials for low-cost R&D;
• Physical basis for multifunctional materials and multiferroics, and
their applications;
• Nonlinear dielectrics, magnetics and their applications;
• Oxide-based hybrid structures for novel microelectronic devices;
and
• Detectors and sensors.

46 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

 Organizers:
Calendar of events
(Information subject to change)
Event Time Location
SATuRDAY, OCT. 26
Educational Courses
Fundamentals of Glass Science and 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. HR
Technology
SuNDAY, OCT. 27
Conference Activities
Technical Programming Support Desk Noon – 5:30 p.m. PDC
Registration 2:00 – 7:30 p.m. PDC
Society Member Lounges 2:00 – 7:30 p.m. PDC
ACerS Basic Science Division Ceram- 2:00 – 7:30 p.m. PDC
ographic Exhibit & Competition
Welcome Reception 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. PDC
Educational Courses
Fundamentals of Glass Science and 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. HR
Technology
Lectures
ACerS Frontiers of Science and Society: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. PDC
Rustum Roy Lecture
Material Advantage Student Functions
Material Advantage Chapter Leadership 10:00 a.m. – Noon PDC
Workshop
Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDC
Semifinals
Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Finals
Undergraduate Student Poster Contest 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. PDC
Display
Student Networking Mixer 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. PDC
MONDAY, OCT. 28
Conference Activities
Authors’ Coffee 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. PDC
Technical Programming Support Desk 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Registration 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Society Member Lounges 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
ACerS Basic Science Division 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Ceramographic Exhibit & Competition
Lectures
MS&T’13 Opening Plenary 8:00 – 10:20 a.m. PDC
ACerS Richard M. Fulrath Session 2:00 – 4:40 p.m. PDC
ACerS Cooper Session 2:00 – 5:10 p.m. PDC
Material Advantage Student Functions
Undergraduate Student Poster Contest 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Display
ACerS Student Tour 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Social Functions
Guest Tour: Bonjour Montréal City Tour 9:00 a.m. – Noon PDC
Women in Materials Science Reception 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PDC
ACerS Banquet Reception 6:45 – 7:30 p.m. HR
ACerS Annual Honors & Awards Banquet 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. HR
Annual Meetings
ACerS 115th Annual Membership Meeting 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDC
TuESDAY, OCT. 29
Conference Activities
Authors’ Coffee 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. PDC
Technical Programming Support Desk 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Registration 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PDC
Society Member Lounges 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PDC
ACerS Basic Science Division 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PDC
Ceramographic Exhibit & Competition
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
Cosponsor:
Legend: HR- Hyatt Regency PDC- Palais des Congrès
Event Time Location
TuESDAY, OCT. 29
Poster Installation 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PDC
General Poster Viewing 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. PDC
MS&T’13 Exhibit
Mini–Materials Camp® 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. PDC
Show Hours 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PDC
Professional Recruitment & Career Pavilion 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PDC
MS&T Food Court Noon – 2:00 p.m. PDC
Mini–Materials Camp® Noon – 2:00 p.m. PDC
Happy Hour Reception 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. PDC
Lectures
ACerS Arthur L. Friedberg Memorial Lecture 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDC
ACerS Edward Orton Jr. Memorial Lecture 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDC
Material Advantage Student Functions
Undergraduate Student Poster Contest 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PDC
Display
Mug Drop Contest 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. PDC
Disc Golf Contest 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. PDC
Student Awards Ceremony 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDC
Social Functions
ACerS Companion Breakfast 7:30 – 10:00 a.m. HR
Guest Tour: Bernard Seguin Poirier 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. PDC
Enamel on Copper
Young Professional Reception 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. PDC
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30
Conference Activities
Authors’ Coffee 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. PDC
Technical Programming Support Desk 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Registration 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Society Member Lounges 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
ACerS Basic Science Division 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Ceramographic Exhibit & Competition
Poster Session with Presenters 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. PDC
Poster Dismantle 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PDC
MS&T’13 Exhibit
Mini–Materials Camp® 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDC
Show Hours 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PDC
Professional Recruitment & Career Pavilion 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PDC
MS&T Food Court Noon – 2:00 p.m. PDC
Mini–Materials Camp® Noon – 2:00 p.m. PDC
Lectures
ACerS Robert B. Sosman Lecture 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDC
Material Advantage Student Functions
Undergraduate Student Poster Contest 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDC
Display
THuRSDAY, OCT. 31
Conference Activities
Authors’ Coffee 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. PDC
Technical Programming Support Desk 7:00 a.m. – Noon PDC
Registration 7:00 a.m. – Noon PDC
Society Member Lounges 7:00 a.m. – Noon PDC
Educational Courses
Electroceramics Basics: Applications and 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. HR
Devices
Sintering of Ceramics 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. HR
FRiDAY, NOV. 1
Educational Courses
Sintering of Ceramics 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. HR
47
october 27-31, 2013 | Palais des congrès de Montréal | Montréal, Québec, Canada

Materials Science & Technology 2013 register at www.matscitech.org today!

ACerS Committee Meetings Legend: HR- Hyatt Regency PDC- Palais des Congrès
(Information subject to change)

Event Time Location Event Time Location

FRiDAY, OCT. 25 MONDAY, OCT. 28 (continued)
ACerS Executive Committee Meeting Noon – 5:00 p.m. HR ACerS Meetings Committee Meeting 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. HR
ACerS NICE Business Meeting 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. PDC
SATuRDAY, OCT. 26 ACerS GOMD General Business Meeting 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PDC
ACerS President’s Council of Student 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. HR
ACerS NICE Order of Engineer Ceremony 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PDC
Advisors Business Meeting – Day 1
ACerS Board of Directors Meeting 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. HR ACerS NETD General Business Meeting 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. PDC

SuNDAY, OCT. 27 TuESDAY, OCT. 29

Keramos National Board & Business 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. HR ACerS Past Presidents Council Meeting 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. HR
Meeting ACerS International Journal of Applied 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. HR
Keramos Student Chapter Business 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. HR Glass Science Associate Editors Meeting
Meeting ACerS AACS General Business Meeting Noon – 1:00 p.m. PDC
Keramos Convocation and Business 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. HR ACerS Panel of Fellows Meeting 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDC
Meeting ACerS Books Subcommittee Meeting 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. HR
ACerS Board and Division Leaders 9:00 a.m. – Noon HR
Roundtable WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30
Keramos Career Speaker 11:00 a.m. – Noon HR ACerS Strategic Planning & Emerging 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. HR
Keramos Board, Student Opportunities Committee Meeting
Representative, & Chapter Advisors Noon – 1:00 p.m. HR ACerS Nominating Committee Meeting 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. HR
Meeting
ACerS Publications Committee Meeting 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. HR
ACerS Electronics Division Executive 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. HR
Committee Meeting
ACerS BSD Executive Committee 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. HR
Meeting
ACerS NETD Executive Committee 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. HR
Hotel Information
Meeting Reserve your room through reservation@tourisme-montreal.org at one of the
ACerS ECD Executive Committee 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. HR official conference hotels.
Meeting
Hyatt Regency – ACerS Headquarters Hotel
ACerS President’s Council of Student 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. PDC
Advisors Business Meeting – Day 2 Le Westin Montréal – ASM Headquarters Hotel
ACerS GOMD Programming & Executive
Committee Meeting 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. HR intercontinental Montréal – TMS and AIST headquarters hotel
Travelodge Montréal Centre
MONDAY, OCT. 28
ACerS BSD General Business Meeting Noon – 1:00 p.m. PDC Holiday inn Select Montréal
ACerS ECD General Business Meeting Noon – 1:00 p.m. PDC
ACerS ED General Business Meeting Noon – 1:00 p.m. PDC
Reserve your room online at www.matscitech.org.
ACerS EIC Business Meeting 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. PDC

Young Professional Programming at MS&T’13

Monday, Oct. 28 | Noon – 4 p.m.
Student Plant Tour – Hosted by AIST

Tuesday, Oct. 29 | Noon – 2:00 p.m.

Young Professional Tutorial Luncheon – Hosted by TMS

Tuesday, Oct. 9 | 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Young Professional Reception – Hosted by ACerS

48 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

Program-at-a-glance Mon Mon Tue Tue Wed Wed Thu
a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m.
BiOMATERiALS
Bioinspired Materials Engineering • • •
Next-Generation Biomaterials • • • • • •
Surface Properties of Biomaterials IV • • • • •

CERAMiC AND GLASS MATERiALS

Amorphous Materials: Common Issues within Science and Technology • •
Ceramic-Matrix Composites • • • • •
Glass and Optical Materials, Including the Cooper Award Session • • • • • •
Innovative Processing and Synthesis of Ceramics, Glasses, and Composites • • •
Multifunctional Oxides • • • • • • •
Solution-Based Processing for Ceramic Materials • • • •
Robert B. Sosman Award Symposium •
Richard M. Fulrath Award Session •

ELECTRONiC AND MAGNETiC MATERiALS

Advances in Dielectric Materials and Electronic Devices • • • • • •
Pb-Free Solders and Advanced Interconnecting Materials • • • •
Recent Advances in Low-Temperature Processes for the Development of rf,
EO, Magnetic, and Electronic Bulk and Thin-Film Crystals •

ENERGY iSSuES
Energy Storage III: Materials, Systems, and Applications Symposium • • • • • • •
Hybrid Organic – Inorganic Materials for Alternative Energy • •
Materials Development and Degradation Management for Nuclear Applications • • • • • •
Materials for CO2 Capture and Conversion • • •
Materials Issues in Nuclear Waste Management in the 21st Century • • • •
Thin-Film Structures for Energy-Efficient Systems • •
Water and Energy in Mineral Processing • • • • •

FuNDAMENTALS AND CHARACTERizATiON

Applied Neutron Scattering in Engineering and Materials Science Research • • • •
Boron, Boron Compounds, and Boron Nanomaterials: Structure, Properties, • •
Processing, and Applications
Deformation and Transitions at Grain Boundaries III • • • • • • •
Failure Analysis and Prevention • • • • • • •
First Symposium on Computational Materials Design – CMaD I • • •
International Symposium on Defects, Transport, and Related Phenomena • • • • • • •
Material Data and Software Tools Needed to Make MGI and ICME a Reality • • • •
Materials Tribology: Fundamentals, Applications, and Solutions • • •
Mechanical Properties of Thermoelectric Materials • • •
Multiscale Modeling of Microstructure Deformation in Material Processing • • •
Multiscale Perspectives on Plasticity in BCC Metals • • • • • •
Optical and X-ray Imaging Techniques for Material Characterization • • • • •
Phase Stability, Diffusion, Kinetics, and Their Applications (PSDK-VIII) • • • • • • •
Recent Approaches and Challenges in Smart Coatings • •
Scanning Probe Techniques for Functional Materials • • • •
Semiconductor Heterostructures: Theory, Growth, Characterization, and Device • •
Applications
Synthesis and Structural and Functional Characterization of Thin Films and
Self-Assembled Nanostructures • • • • • •

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 49

 october 27-31, 2013 | Palais des congrès de Montréal | Montréal, Québec, Canada

Program-at-a-glance Mon Mon Tue Tue Wed Wed Thu

a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m.
iRON AND STEEL
Materials
Advanced Science
Steel Metallurgy: & Technology
Design, 2013
Processing, and Technological register at www.matscitech.org today!
Exploitation • • • • • • •
Tubular Processing and Technology •

MATERiALS PERFORMANCE
Light Metals for Transportation • • • • • •
Magnesium Technology • • • • • •
Measurement and Modeling of High-Strain-Rate Deformation • •
Particulate Composites • •
Surface Protection for Enhanced Materials Performance: Science, Technology,
and Application • •
Titanium and Titanium Alloys: Processing, Deformation Behavior, Properties,
and Applications • • • •

MATERiALS–ENViRONMENT iNTERACTiONS
Advanced Materials for Harsh Environments • •
Coatings for Corrosion and Wear-Resistance Applications • • •
Environmentally Assisted Cracking (EAC): Laboratory Research and Field
Experiences • •
High-Temperature Corrosion and Oxidation of Materials • • • • •
Predicting and Combating Corrosion and Degradation of New Coating and
Material Technologies •

NANOMATERiALS
Commercial Production and Applications of Nanomaterials • •
Controlled Synthesis, Processing, and Applications of Structural and
Functional Nanomaterials • • • • •
Nanostructured Magnetoelectrics and Multiferroics • • • •
Nanotechnology for Energy, Environment, Electronics, and Industry • • •
Optical Nanomaterials for Photonics/Biophotonics • • • •
Structure–Property Relationships in Low-Dimensional Metallic Nanostructures • • • •

PROCESSiNG AND PRODuCT MANuFACTuRiNG

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies • • • •
Advanced Materials, Processes, and Applications for Additive Manufacturing • • • • •
Advanced Materials, Processes, and Evaluation Methods for Aerospace and
Defense Applications • • • • • • •
Advances in Hydroelectric Turbine Manufacturing and Repair • • • • •
Advances in Metal-Casting Technologies • • •
Green Composite Materials: Development, Manufacturing, and Testing •
Green Technologies for Materials Manufacturing and Processing V • • • • •
Hydrometallurgy: Materials and Equipment • • •
Joining of Advanced and Specialty Materials (JASM XV) • • • • • • •
Metal- and Polymer-Matrix Composites • • • •
Powder-Based Processes and Products for Advanced Applications • • •
Rare-Earth Elements • • • • • • •
Sintering and Related Powder-Processing Science and Technologies • • • • •

SPECiAL TOPiCS
ASM/TMS Distinguished Lecture Symposium •
Continuous Improvement of Academic Programs (and Satisfying ABET
Along the Way): The Elizabeth Judson Memorial Symposium • •
Ensuring Safety in Academic and Industrial Lab Settings •
Perspectives for Emerging Materials Professionals • •
Ralph Lloyd Harris Memorial Symposium • • • • • •
Rustum Roy Memorial Symposium • •
Technology Cross-Pollination • •

50 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

MS&T’13 Exhibitors (As of 8/1/13)

Booth# Company Booth# Company Booth# Company

1504 Accutek Testing Laboratory 1316 Hitachi High Technologies America Inc. 1301 Proto Manufacturing
800 Across International LLC 1414 Hockmeyer Equipment Corporation 1107 PTX-Pentronix / Simac Ltd.
1117 Activation Laboratories LTD (ACT Labs) 1303 Horiba Scientific 707 Pultrusion Technique Inc.
1307 AdValue Technology LLC 1305 Hoskin Scientifique LTEE 1313 Quinn Process Equipment Company
1000 Agilent Technologies 1011 Hysitron Inc. 1410 Rigaku Americas Corporation
1006 Air Liquide Canada 923 IMS Metallographic Contest Display 903 Romquest Technologies
1007 Aldrich Materials Science 1026 International Metallographic Society 1506 RPS Composites Inc.
1100 Alfa Aesar, a Johnson Mathey Company 1400 IMR Test Labs 1206 Sente Software Ltd.
1115 Alfred University 1317 INNOVNANO S.A. 1023 Shape Memory & Superelastic Tech.
1104 Allied High Tech Products Inc. 1101 JEOL USA Inc. Society
1105 American Stress Technologies Inc. 1507 Keyence Canada Inc. 700 Springer
1116 Angstrom Scientific Inc. 1201 LECO Corporation T17 SSAB
1311 Applied Test Systems, Inc. 1100 Leica Microsystems 901 Strem Chemicals Inc.
1510 Ashland Inc. 917 Maney Publishing 1111 Struers Inc.
1419 Blasch Precision Ceramics 900 Metal Samples Company 1018 Surface Combustion Inc.
1312 Brim G&H Fluid Handling Products Inc. 1207 Metcut Research Inc. 1517 Swiss Pavilion
911 Buehler 1319 Micro Materials 1102 TA Instruments
1304 Carbolite 1500 Micromeritics Instrument Corporation 1019 TEC
1001 Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC 919 Momentum Press 1300 Tescan USA
T13 Carpenter Technology Corporation 1118 MTI Corporation 1025 Thermal Spray Society
1407 Centorr Vacuum Industries Inc. 1110 MTS Systems Corporation 1204 Thermcraft Inc.
1411 Clemex Technologies 807 NANOVEA 907 Thermo-Calc Software
1406 CM Furnaces Inc. 1200 Netzsch Instruments North America LLC 1122 TSI Inc.
1214 CompuTherm LLC 1210 NIST 1114 UES, Inc.
701 CSM Instruments Inc. 1219 Ocean Optics 1401 Union Process Inc.
1205 Delong America Inc. 1217 Olympus Canada Inc. T9 United States Steel
T16 Dispersion Technology Inc. 1511 OSIsoft Canada ULC 1016 University of California, Davis
1418 Edax Inc. 1310 Oxford Instruments 806 Watson Valve Services Inc.
1024 EDFAS Society 1005 PANalytical 1202 Wiley
T18 Euraxess Links North America T12 Photon etc
1013 Evans Analytical Group
1211 FEI Company
801 GEA Westfalia Separator Contact Pat Janeway to reserve your booth space at
1119 Goodfellow Cambridge Ltd. MS&T’13.
906 Granta Design
1022 Heat Treating Society pjaneway@ceramics.org or 614-794-5826

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 51

 registration coming soon!

38th InternatIonal ConferenCe and exposItIon on

ADvAnCED CErAmICS
ww
w.c
era
AnD CompoSITES
m January 26–31, 2014
i
hilton daytona Beach resort and ocean Center
cs
.or

daytona Beach, florida, Usa

g /ica
cc20

organized by:
14

InTroDuCTIon ICACC’14 SympoSIA

The 38th International Conference & Exposition
on Advanced Ceramics & Composites (ICACC)
continues the strong tradition as the leading
international meeting on advanced structural
and functional ceramics, composites, and other
emerging ceramic materials and technologies.
Since its inception in 1977, this prestigious
conference has been organized by ACerS
Engineering Ceramics Division and ACerS.
Since then, the conference has experienced
tremendous growth in interest and participation
from ceramic researchers and developers
from national, regional, and global technical
communities.
The technical program consists of oral and
poster presentations and provides an open
forum for scientists, researchers, and engineers
from around the world to present and exchange
findings on recent advances on various aspects
related to ceramic science and technology.
Michael Halbig
2014 ICACC program Chair
nASA Glenn research Center
21000 Brookpark road,
mS 106-5
Cleveland, oH 44135 uSA
Tel: +1-216-433-2651
Fax: +1-216-433-5544
E-mail: michael.c.halbig@nasa.gov
S1 Mechanical Behavior and Perfor-
mance of Ceramics & Composites
S2 Advanced Ceramic Coatings for
Structural, Environmental, and
Functional Applications
S3 11th International Symposium on
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC):
Materials, Science, and Technology
S4 Armor Ceramics
S5 Next-Generation Bioceramics and
Biocomposites
S6 Advanced Materials and Techno-
logies for Energy Generation and
Rechargeable Energy Storage
S7 8th International Symposium on
Nanostructured Materials and
Nanocomposites
S8 8th International Symposium on
Advanced Processing and Manu-
facturing Technologies for Struc-
tural and Multifunctional Materi-
als and Systems (APMT8) in Honor
of Professor Stuart Hampshire
S9 Porous Ceramics: Novel Develop-
ments and Applications
S10 Virtual Materials (Computation-
al) Design and Ceramic Genome
S11 Advanced Materials and Innova-
tive Processing Ideas for the
Industrial Root Technology
S12 Materials for Extreme Environ-
ments: Ultra-High-Temperature
Ceramics (UHTCs) and Nano-
laminated Ternary Carbides and
Nitrides (MAX Phases)
S13 Advanced Ceramics and Compo-
sites for Sustainable Nuclear
Energy and Fusion Energy
FS1 Geopolymers, Chemically Bonded
Ceramics, and Eco-friendly and
Sustainable Materials
FS2 Advanced Ceramic Materials and
Processing for Photonics and
Energy
FS3 Rare-Earth Oxides for Energy,
Optics, and Biomedical Applica-
tions
FS4 Ion-Transport Membranes
3rd Global Young Investigator Forum
2nd Pacific Rim Engineering Ceramics
Summit

52 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No.7

HIlTon DAyTonA BEACH rESorT
100 north Atlantic Avenue Rates
Daytona Beach, Fla. one to Four occupants $149
phone: 1-386-254-8200 Students $123
Fax: 1-386-253-8841 uS Government Employee prevailing rate
mention The American Ceramic Society to obtain the special rate. room rates are effective until
December 13, 2013, and are based on availability.

TEnTATIvE SCHEDulE oF EvEnTS

Sunday – January 26
Welcome reception 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Monday – January 27
opening Awards Ceremony and 8:30 a.m. – noon
plenary Session ExHIBITIon InFormATIon
Concurrent Technical Sessions 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. reserve your booth space today for the premier advanced ceramics
and composites event. This event offers an exceptional opportunity
Tuesday – January 28 to present your company’s latest products, services, and technology
Concurrent Technical Sessions 8 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. to a sophisticated audience sharply focused on this market.
Exposition and reception 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
poster Session A 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Exhibits Open:
Wednesday – January 29 Tuesday, January 28, 2014, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Concurrent Technical Sessions 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2014, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Exposition and reception 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
poster Session B 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Exposition Location:
ocean Center Arena
Thursday – January 30 101 north Atlantic Avenue
Concurrent Technical Sessions 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Daytona Beach, Fla.

Friday – January 31 visit www.ceramics.org/icacc2014 for more details or contact

Concurrent Technical Sessions 8 a.m. – noon patricia Janeway at pjaneway@ceramics.org or at 614-794-5826.

Exhibitor Booth No. Exhibitor Booth No. Exhibitor Booth No.

Alfred university 315 Heraeus Thick Film Division 212 premaTech Advanced Ceramics 210
American Ceramic Society (The) 101 Hockmeyer Equipment Corp. 205 process Design & Innovation 302
Carbolite Inc. 206 Innovnano 204 pTx-pentronix (Gasbarre products) 207
Cm Furnaces Inc. 311 Keith Co. 220 r.D. Webb Co. 216
Deltech Inc. 326 laeis GmbH 321 robocasting Enterprises 200
Dorst America 303 linseis Inc. 304 Sonoscan Inc. 221
Evans Analytical Group 412 mTI Corp. 222 Swindell Dressler International 301
Furuya metal Co. ltd. 223 nabertherm 307 TEAm by Sacmi 321
H.C. Starck 305 nETZSCH Instruments nA llC 300 TevTech 214
Haiku Tech Inc. 313 new lenox machine Co. Inc. 306 Thermal Wave Imaging 323
Harper International 317 nIST 111 Watt Fuel Cell 203
Harrop Industries Inc. 201 oxy-Gon Industries Inc. 320

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 53

 www.ceramics.org/ema2014

E lEctronic MatErials and applications 2014

Jan. 22–24 | DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at Sea World® | Orlando, Fla., USA

Call For Papers Submit your abstracts by Sept. 12, 2013

introdUction
Electronic Materials and Applications 2014, jointly
programmed by the Electronics Division and Basic
Science Division of The American Ceramic Society,
is the fifth in a series of annual international meet-
ings. EMA 2014 will be held January 22–24, 2014,
at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at Sea World.
EMA 2014 focuses on the basic science, engineer-
ing, and applications of electroceramic materials
for electronic, magnetic, dielectric, and optical
components, devices, and systems. Don’t miss
this year’s plenary speakers: James Bray, GE
Global Research; Joseph V. Mantese, United
Technologies Research Center; and Jürgen Rödel,
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany.
We are pleased to build on the previous successes
of this conference series in providing a distinctive
forum to address emerging needs, opportuni-
ties, and key challenges in the field of electronic
materials and applications. We anticipate that this
meeting will continue to highlight the most recent
scientific advances and technological innovations
in the field and to facilitate the interactions and
collaborations that will help to shape its future.
Please join us in Orlando, Fla., to participate in this
unique experience.
– EMA 2014 Organizing Committee
organizing coMMittEE
Tidrow Rossetti Wang
Steven C. Tidrow, ED
The University of Texas – Pan American
sctidrow@utpa.edu
George A. Rossetti Jr., BSD
University of Connecticut | rossetti@ims.uconn.edu
Haiyan Wang, ED
Texas A&M University | wangh@ece.tamu.edu
EMa 2014 syMposia
S1 Functional and Multifunctional Electro-
ceramics for Commercialization
S2 Multiferroic Materials and Multilayer
Ferroic Heterostructures: Properties and
Applications
S3 Structure of Emerging Perovskite Oxides:
Bridging Length Scales and Unifying
Experiment and Theory
S4 LEDs and Photovoltaics—Beyond the
Light: Common Challenges and
Opportunities
S5 Structure and Properties of Interfaces in
Electronic Materials
S6 Thermoelectrics: Defect Chemistry,
Doping, and Nanoscale Effects
confirMEd plEnary spEakErs
James Bray, GE Global Research, USA
Joseph V. Mantese, United Technologies
Research Center, USA
Jürgen Rödel, Technische Universität
Darmstadt, Germany
2012–2014 division officErs
Basic Science Division Officers
Chair: Jian Luo
Chair-Elect: Wayne Kaplan
Vice Chair: Eduardo Saiz
Secretary: Bryan D. Huey
Programming Chairs: Karren More and
George A. Rossetti Jr.
Electronics Division Officers
Trustee: Dwight Viehland
Chair: Quanxi Jia
Chair-Elect: Steven C. Tidrow
Vice-Chair: Tim Haugan
Secretary: Haiyan Wang
Secretary-Elect: Geoffrey Brennecka
Programming Chair: Tim Haugan
S7 Computational Design of Electronic
Materials
S8 Advances in Memory Devices
S9 Thin-Film Integration and Processing
Science
S10 Ceramic Composites for Defense
Applications
S11 Failure: The Greatest Teacher
S12 Recent Developments in High-
Temperature Superconductivity
S13 Highlights of Undergraduate Student
Research in Basic Science and Electronic
Ceramics
Students—submit your presentation for
judging in the Best Student Presentation
competition.
HotEl inforMation
DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at
Sea World
10100 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32821
Phone: 407-352-1100 or 800-327-0363
Fax: 407-352-2632
Rate: Single/double/triple/quad–$149.00
US Government Employee–current
prevailing rate*
*Limited number of available rooms

54 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

Are You Graduating Soon and Wondering What to Do?

Sign up for a FREE year of membership in The American Ceramic Society!

ACerS can help you succeed by offering you a FREE Associate Membership for the first year following graduation.
By becoming an ACerS Associate Member, you’ll have access to valuable resources that will benefit you now and
throughout your career.

With your complimentary membership, you will receive:

• Young Professionals Network: includes resources for • ACerS Bulletin, the monthly membership publication
early career professionals, plus the chance to rub elbows
with some of the most accomplished people in the field • ceramicSOURCE, Company Directory and Buyers’ Guide

• Employment Services • Discounted registration at all ACerS meetings and

• Online Membership Directory
• Networking Opportunities
• Free Online Access to the Journal of the American Ceramic
Society (searchable back to 1918), the International Journal
of Applied Ceramic Technology and the International Journal
of Applied Glass Science
discounts on all publications
• Ceramic Tech Today: ACerS ceramic materials, applications
and business blog
• Ceramic Knowledge Center: includes a growing video
gallery covering ceramic materials, applications, emerging
technologies and people

Become an ACerS Associate Member After Graduation!

To join, contact Tricia Freshour, ACerS Membership Services Staff, at tfreshour@ceramics.org.
For more information, visit www.ceramics.org/associate.
 d of Scie
o rl nc
W The 10th Pacific Rim Conference on Ceramic

e
A

and Glass Technology

PACRIM including GOMD 2013 - Glass & Optical Materials Division Annual Meeting

an g y
d Te
chnolo

1,000 attend PACRIM–GOMD, while partners sign MoU to secure future

1 2
(Credit for all photos: ACerS.)

N
early 1,000 ceramic
and glass scientists
and engineers from 39
countries attended the 10th
Pacific Rim Conference on
Ceramic and Glass Tech-
nology and the concurrent
Glass and Optical Materials
Division meeting at the iconic
Hotel Del Coronado near
San Diego, Calif. The dual 3 4
meeting took place June 3–7.
Attendees presented more 1 Hua-Tay Lin, PACRIM organizer, opens the
than 1,000 technical talks and 200 posters. a memorandum of understanding that se- conference and plenary session.
In addition to the technical program, students cures the future of the PACRIM series for the
participated in the first ACerS career mentor- next 18 years. On the last evening, attendees 2 The plenary session audience fills the Hotel
celebrated the conference’s success with a Del Coronado’s historic ballroom.
ing roundtable. The five Pacific Rim ceramic
societies that organize the conference signed banquet on the beach at dusk. n 3 Hua-Tay Lin and his family welcome Chinese
professor Dongliang Jiang.

5 6

56 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

 www.ceramics.org/pacrim10

7 8

4 Ling Fei, New Mexico State PhD candidate,

reported on the conference through the
Ceramic Tech Today blog. Here she chats
with ACerS director Keith Bowman at the
opening lawn reception.
5 GOMD organized a symposium to honor
physicist James Phillips. The symposium
drew a standing-room-only crowd.
6 James Phillips makes a point during his 9 10
talk.
7 The poster session is traditional, although
the science usually is not.
8 Speed mentoring at the career roundtable
for students.
9 More than 1,000 technical sessions were
the highlight of the conference.
10 Signatories to a memorandum of under-
standing ensure PACRIM will continue
through 2031. From left: Hai-Doo Kim,
The Korean Ceramic Society; Takashi
Goto, The Ceramic Society of Japan;
Christopher Berndt, The Australian
Ceramic Society; Richard Brow, The
American Ceramic Society; and Cewen
Nan, The Chinese Ceramic Society.
11 The beachside banquet at dusk for 650.
12 A mariachi band set a celebratory mood 11 12
for the banquet.

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 57

Structural Clay Products Division and industry
leaders meet in Salt Lake City

T
he Structural Clay Products Division 1 Greg Grabert of Basic Machinery (left) and SCPD
held its meeting in Salt Lake City,
1 chair presents a certificate of appreciation to outgo-
Utah, May 13–14, in conjunction ing chair Jim Hopkins of Swindell Dressler.
with the National Brick Research Center’s 2 Interstate Brick welcomed SCPD attendees for a
spring meeting. The highlight of the first plant tour, lunch, and stunning mountain vista.
day of the two-day event was a tour of
Interstate Brick (West Jordan, Utah). The 3 State-of-the-art robotic production equipment is
company manufactures reinforceable one key to the 122-year-old company’s longevity.
brick, which allows for construction of 4 Interstate Brick produces brick using 10 body
taller, thinner walls that can withstand mixes sourced from eight regional mines.
earthquakes, extreme wind, and fire.
The 60 attendees heard nine speakers during the technical program that covered topics rang-
5 Terry Schimmel of Boral Brick updates the audi-
ence on MACT—the EPA’s “Maximum Achievable
ing from modeling, experiences with thin brick, and biomass gasifiers to efflorescence. n
Control Technology” rule.
(Credit for all photos: ACerS.)

2 3 4 5

Cements Division symposium advances state-of-the art

in cement characterization (Credit for all photos: ACerS.)

T
he Cements Division held the fourth
installment in its series on Advances in
Cement-Based Materials, focusing on
characterization, processing, modeling, and
sensing. The technical program addressed
cement chemistry and structure, character-
ization techniques, alternative cementitious 1
materials, durability, computational materials
science, smart materials, and self-consolidating concrete. 2
Besides the technical program, this year’s tutorial topic was “Probing the Structure of Hydra-
tion Products.” n

1 More than 100 cement scientists and engi- 3 Students presenting award-winning posters
neers met at the University of Illinois at Urbana– received a certificate and $100. Presenters of
Champaign July 8–10 for the 4th Advances winning posters (left to right): Jeevaka Somaratna
in Cement-Based Materials: Characterization, and Suengmin Lim, UIUC; Elizabeth Nadelman,
Processing, Modeling, and Sensing Symposium. Georgia Institute of Technology; Saamiya
Seated in the first row is Sidney Diamond, Seraj, Univ. of Texas at Austin; Nima Zohhadi,
Purdue University professor emeritus and MS and Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia; and Scott
3
PhD advisor to Leslie Struble. Muzenski, Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Not
pictured: Jason Mote, UIUC.
2 Leslie Struble delivered the Della Roy Lecture
on the topic, “Calcium in Geopolymers.” Here 4 Undaunted by summertime heat, attendees
she is pictured with Edward Garboczi, last year’s enjoyed a reception at UIUC’s historic Allerton
Della Roy lecturer. Park, which is famous for its ceramic Fu Dog
collection.
4
58
 new products
Low-cost plasma cleaner
D esigned for lab as well as produc-
tion facilities, the Venus plasma
cleaning system has unique automatic
system control and process sequenc-
ing capabilities. Proprietary software
enables features such as multiple recipe
storage, data logging/trending, events/
alarms, and multistep sequencing.
Other capabilities not found in similar
systems include mass flow controllers,
process data acquisition and archiving,
dual sequence programming, hard copy
process recording, and on-screen pro-
cess trend plotting.
Plasma-Etch Inc. (Carson City, Nev.)
www.plasmaetch.com | 775-883-1336
Laboratory temperature controllers
L aboratory temperature controllers
with ramp/soak capabilities are
self-contained in a single enclosure and
have their own power supply, enabling
users to plug the device into any outlet
for convenient access to temperature
control from any location. The com-
pact unit connects to PCs through an
electrically isolated RS232 communica-
tions port for easy programming. Other
features include a large digital display,
auto output shutdown if the sensor
opens or shorts, and high, low, and no
alarm settings.
Oven Industries Inc.
(Mechanicsburg, Pa.)
www.ovenind.com | 877-766-6836
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org
High-temperature sealant and repair
P yro-Putty 653 is a single-part
ceramic- and metal-filled paste
that bonds to cast iron, steel, and stain-
less steel, and withstands continuous
operating temperatures and thermal
cycling to 2,000°F. The thixotropic
paste can be applied in cross-sections
up to 0.5-in. thick on horizontal and
vertical surfaces. It can be machined
and sanded after setting at room tem-
perature for 4–8 h and curing in situ
to a minimum of 200°F for 2–4 h.
Chemically inert, water-dispersible,
environmentally safe, and resistant to
most fuels, solvents and other corro-
sives, the material is useful in applica-
tions such as repairing afterburners,
boilers, exhaust pipes, furnaces, incin-
erators, and ovens.
Aremco Products Inc. (Valley
Cottage, N.Y.)
www.aremco.com | 845-268 0039
Hand-held thermometer
T he F100 hand-
held two-channel
thermometer for
Pt100 and thermis-
tor probes is said to
have accuracy and
resolution comparable to
those of benchtop instru-
ments. Two inputs provide direct
temperatures or display the temperature
difference between them. The unit
also displays ohms for calibrating one
probe against another. Measurements
log to the unit’s onboard memory or
download to a PC via a USB port. The
instrument also displays statistical anal-
ysis of measurements, including average
value, minimum and maximum values,
and standard deviation. Accuracy is
±0.02°C over a temperature range of
200°C–850°C.
ASL U.S. (Danville, Va.)
www.aslus.com | 434-799-0800
FIB/SEM microscopy systems
T
wo new DualBeam imaging systems
combine focused ion beam/scan-
ning electron microscope capabilities
and allow high-quality imaging and fast
analysis of a broad range of samples.
One instrument, dubbed Scios, pro-
vides 2D and 3D characterization. The
Helios NanoLab 660 adds capabilities
for applications such as fabrication of
prototypes for nanometer-scale devices.
The Scios instrument uses three in-lens
detectors. Manipulating the detectors
and mixing their signals allows opera-
tors to selectively enhance material or
topographic contrast, edge detection,
surface specificity, and other attributes.
The Helios uses proprietary electron
optical and detector technologies to
deliver subnanometer imaging resolu-
tion over accelerating voltages from
0.5–30 kV for characterization of fine
structural, nanoscale details in delicate
or beam-sensitive materials without
damage.
FEI Co. (Hillsboro, Ore.)
www.fei.com | 503-726-7500
59
 resources
Calendar of events
September 2013
2−3 Cement and Concrete Science
Conference 2013 — University of
Portsmouth, Portsmouth, England;
www.port.ac.uk/departments/academ-
ic/sces/ccs2013/
2–5 DCM 2013: Int’l Conference on
Diamond and Carbon Materials – Riva
del Garda, Italy; www.diamond-confer-
ence.elsevier.com
3–6 International Porous and Powder
Materials Symposium and Exhibition
– Sheraton Hotel Resort & Spa, Izmir,
Çeşme, Turkey; www.ppm2013.org
9–11 International Symposium on
Dynamic Deformation and Fracture of
Advanced Materials D2FAM 2013 –
Loughborough University, Leicestershire,
UK; www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/
mechman/news/conferences/
d2fam2013/
11–12 GlassBuild America 2013—
Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta,
Ga.; www.glassbuildamerica.com
10–13 UNITECR 2013 – The Fairmont
Empress and Victoria Conference Centre,
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; www.
unitecr2013.org
16−18 ASME 2013 Conference on
Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures
and Intelligent Systems — Snowbird
Resort and Conference Resort,
Snowbird, Utah; www.asmeconfer-
ences.org/smasis2013/
16−19 Advanced Materials World
Congress (AMWC 2013) — Altinyunus
Hotel Çeşme, Çeşme, Turkey; www.
amwc2013.org
16−19 Metamaterials’2013:
7 Int’l Congress on Advanced
th
Electromagnetic Materials in
Microwaves and Optics —
Metamorphose Virtual Institute /
Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux,
France; http://congress2013.metamor-
phose-vi.org
60
16−20 E-MRS 2013 Fall Meeting
— Warsaw University of Technology,
Warsaw, Poland; www.emrs-stras-
bourg.com/index.php?option=com_con
tent&task=view&id=572&Itemid=1584
16−20 JSAP-MRS Joint Symposia
—Kyotanabe Campus, Doshisha
University, Kyoto, Japan; www.gakkai-
web.net/gakkai/jsap/jsap_mrs/hp/
index.html
22–26 HTCMC-8: 8th Int’l
Conference on High-Temperature
Ceramic-Matrix Composites – Qujiang
Int’l Exhibition Center, Xi’an, China;
www.htcmc8.org
25–27 Int’l Ceramic Exhibition – Tokyo
Big Sight East Hall, Tokyo, Japan; www.
ceramic-expo.jp
29–Oct. 2 Fractography of
Advanced Ceramics – Smolenice Castle,
Smolenice, Slovakia; www.imr.saske.sk
29–Oct. 3 ATPC 2013: 10th Asian
Thermophysical Properties Conference
– Ramada Plaza Jeju Hotel, Jeju, Korea;
www.atpc2013.org
29−Oct. 4 Int’l Conference on
Silicon Carbide and Related Materials
— Phoenix Seagaia Resort, Miyazaki,
Japan; www.icscrm2013.org
October 2013
1−2 ACerS AACS Division Workshop:
Using X-rays to Analyze Cultural
Heritage — SLAC National Accelerator
Laboratory and the Cantor Art Museum
at Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.;
www.ceramics.org/meetings/acers-
meetings
1–4 Nanoscale Multilayers’13 —
IMDEA Materials Institute, Madrid,
Spain; www.tms.org/meetings/2013/
nanoscalemultilayers13
5–9 TACT 2013: Int’l Thin Films
Conference —The Grand Hotel, Taipei,
Taiwan; www.tact.org.tw
7–11 IC-RMM1: 1st Int’l Conference
on Rheology and Modeling of Materials
www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
– Hunguest Hotel Palota, Miskolc-
Lillafüred, Hungary; www.ic-rmm1.eu
8–11 MiMe: Materials in Medicine—
Ceramics Cells and Tissues – City Hall,
Faenza, Italy; http://mime.centuria-
agenzia.it
14–17 74th Conference on
Glass Problems – Greater Columbus
Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio;
www.glassproblemsconference.org
14−17 SPIE OptiFab 2013 —
Rochester Riverside Convention
Center, Rochester, N.Y.; www.spie.org/
x6567.xml
22−25 The 4th Asian Symposium
on Advanced Materials (ASAM-4) —
National Taiwan University of Science
and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan; www.
asam4.org
27−30 NuMat 2014: The Nuclear
Materials Conference — Hilton
Clearwater, Clearwater, Fla.; www.
nuclearmaterialsconference.com
27–31 MS&T’13: Materials Science &
Technology Conference and Exhibition
– Palais des Congrès de Montréal,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada;
www.matscitech.org
27–31 ACerS Annual Meeting and
Awards Banquet – Palais des Congrès
de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada;
www.ceramics.org
November 2013
4–7 CICC-8: 8th Int’l Conference
on High-Performance Ceramics –
Chongqing, Sichuan Province, China;
www.ccs-cicc.com
Dates in RED denote new entry in
this issue.
Entries in BLUE denote ACerS
events.
denotes meetings that ACerS
cosponsors, endorses or other-
wise cooperates in organizing.
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American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 61

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62 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7

 AmerICAN CerAmIC SOCIetY SeptemBer 2013
liquidations/used equipment
CERAMIC MACHINERY
bulletin advertiser index
and FACTORIES FOR SALE Advertiser Page No. Advertiser Page No.
WORLDWIDE ‡ ACCCO Inc./Burley Clay Products 62 Netzsch Instruments NA, LLC 62
800-828-7539 781- 272-5353
remmert@accco-in.com • www.accco-inc.com nib-sales@netzsch.com
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‡ AdValue Technology 61
502-514-1100 ‡ Powder Processing & Technology 61
sales@advaluetech.com • www.advaluetech.com 219-462-4141 x244
sales@pptechnology.com
Advanced Ceramic Technology 61
Mohr trades ceramic machinery worldwide. www.pptechnology.com
When your surplus machinery is on one 714-538-2524
sales@advancedceramictech.com ‡ PremaTech Advanced Ceramics 61
continent and the market is half-a-world
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put the deal together. ‡ Alteo 5
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Your only global source
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Corporate Offices: P.O. Box 1600 qesinfo@qualityexec.com • www.qualityexec.com
Brighton, MI 48116 USA www.ceramics.org
Tel: +1 (810) 225-9494 Shandong Shengquan Chemical Co. Ltd. 17
Fax: +1 (810) 223-6647 ‡ American Elements Outside back cover
86-531-8898-0618
Email: sales@mohrcorp.com
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• Compacting • Crushers & 800-962-8631
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• Isostatic Presses • Attritors ‡ Specialty Glass Inc. 62
‡ Ceradyne Inc./Viox 62
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American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7 | www.ceramics.org 63

deciphering the discipline
Finding real education
outside the classroom
Howdy! My name is Morgan
O’Neil. I am a mechanical engineer-
ing major and a member of the Texas
A&M University Fightin’ Aggie class
of 2015.
I am also performing undergradu-
ate research in the area of MAX phase
composites. I was fortunate to get this
opportunity after my professor, Miladin
Radovic, told me he had an opening
for an undergraduate student to work in
his lab.
Before I started my undergraduate
research in May, materials were not
extremely high up on the list of things
I wanted to study. I have always been
fascinated by space and the aerospace
industry, and that is ultimately the area
where I would like to work for the rest
of my life.
The opportunity to conduct materi-
als-related undergraduate research has
not changed my goal of working in the
aerospace field. But I find researching
64
Morgan O’Neil
Guest columnist
materials extremely interesting, and I
view it as something that will help me
that is delightful and valuable.
In short, undergraduate research is a
reach my dream career by broadening
my horizons.
great way of dipping your feet into and
testing the water—and the water feels
Research gives me the chance great.
to apply knowledge from materials
courses I have taken in the real world, Morgan O’Neil is a junior in the
every day, which is very rewarding. I Mechanical Engineering Department
not only get to apply knowledge and at Texas A&M University, College
concepts with which I am already Station, Texas. n
familiar, I also learn about new ideas
and concepts.
I recommend undergraduate
research to everyone. The undergrad-
uate research experience also gives
a glimpse of what graduate school The Young Professionals
might be like as well as what a career
in research might be like. This experi- neTwork connecTs You To
ence has taught me more about the resources and oPPorTuniTies
professional field and what it is like
to participate with professional, like- like no oThers in The field!
minded students.
Another advantage provided by
the experience is that it has allowed
me to work more closely with faculty
members. I hope this will translate to
internships, job opportunities, or a bet-
ter chance at acceptance into a top-
notch graduate program.
Undergraduate
research has Your Access to DYnAmic
already improved ProfessionAls in the cerAmic
my problem- mAteriAls fielD.
solving skills
and helped me
develop new ceramics.org/ypn
insights, whether
I am helping to ContaCt Megan BriCker
fix a creep frame, MBriCker@CeraMiCs.org
figuring out why 614-794-5894
certain phases are
forming, or deter- the aMeriCan CeraMiC soCiety
mining why a www.CeraMiCs.org
material behaves
in a certain way.
Research provides
an experience no
classroom can
give, and one
www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 7
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