Manufacturing

Intricate sintering: Exploring the combined effect of multiple oxide inclusions on zirconia toughened alumina

By Lisa McDonald / October 17, 2023

Several oxides are routinely used as sintering aids in the fabrication of zirconia toughened alumina. While the individual effects of these oxides are well recorded, the effect of multiple oxide inclusions is unclear. Researchers from several institutions in Bangladesh investigated the combined effect of these oxides on the zirconia toughened alumina system.

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Compliant combustion: Nanocoating offers new way to control ‘runaway’ thermal reactions

By Lisa McDonald / September 8, 2023

Current methods for controlling “runaway” thermal reactions such as combustion and pyrolysis remain rather rudimentary. Researchers led by North Carolina State University developed a new nanocoating that, when applied to a material before combustion, allows for the reaction rate and direction of ignition propagation to be controlled.

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Optimized tape casting process creates lithium metazirconate thin films for use as solid-state electrolytes

By Lisa McDonald / August 29, 2023

Lithium metazirconate (LZO) has demonstrated promise as an electrode coating in solid-state batteries, and some researchers are exploring the use of LZO as a solid-state electrolyte itself. However, to date, all electrochemical testing on LZO for this application has been performed on pressed discs rather than thin films. Researchers in Argentina and Spain developed an aqueous forming route to obtain LZO films by tape casting.

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Gaining a second wind—recycled automotive glass hits the road again in new windshields

By Guest Contributor / August 4, 2023

Car windows that are damaged beyond repair have to date been reused for less demanding purposes, such as bottles or insulation. A pilot project led by the Audi Group showed defective car glass can be recycled successfully back into new windshields, and the company plans to shift this glass into standard production starting September 2023.

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Balancing cost and quality—tradeoffs of creating all-oxide CMCs from fiber bundles with higher filament counts

By Lisa McDonald / June 30, 2023

Balancing cost and quality is an important consideration for manufacturers and researchers looking to commercialize their innovations. Researchers in Germany explored the tradeoffs that come with creating all-oxide ceramic matrix composites from fiber bundles with higher filament counts.

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De-‘SCRIBE’-ing improvements—researchers refine procedure for printing gradient refractive index optics

By Lisa McDonald / June 2, 2023

Significant progress in creating optics with nonuniform (gradient) refractive indices has been made over the past two decades. In 2020, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign proposed a unique way to use direct laser writing to achieve even greater control over the refractive index. A new open-access paper details refinements to their so-called SCRIBE method.

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‘SiC’ new analytical protocol offers affordable purity analysis of silicon carbide

By Lisa McDonald / May 30, 2023

Verifying the purity of ultrahigh-purity materials can be a challenge. Researchers in Italy and Norway developed a new analytical protocol based on laser ablation paired with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine the purity of silicon carbide.

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Video: UK announces new plan, new partnership for semiconductor industry

By Lisa McDonald / May 24, 2023

After a series of delays, the United Kingdom finally announced its strategy, as well as a new Japanese partnership, for supporting the semiconductor industry. Details of these plans—as well as industry response so far—are given in today’s CTT.

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Singling out discrepancies: The effect of magnesium source on a ceramic’s final properties

By Lisa McDonald / May 19, 2023

Starting materials can often be derived from different sources, but the impact that material source has on a product’s properties is generally less studied than other factors, such as synthesis technique. Researchers from Wuhan University of Technology explored the effect of different magnesium sources on the production of magnesium aluminate spinel.

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Ceramics Expo 2023: Driving the future of ceramics manufacturing

By Jonathon Foreman / May 9, 2023

Ceramics Expo took place this year in Novi, Mich., from May 1–3, 2023. Transportation and energy technologies were prevalent throughout this year’s technical forums, which also included sessions on extreme applications and traditional and advanced manufacturing methods.

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