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The September 2017 issue of the ACerS Bulletin is now available online.

The new issue celebrates ACerS 2017 awards and honors, which recognize significant contributions to the engineered ceramic and glass field by members and companies. Be sure to meet ACerS three newest Distinguished Life Members, the highest honor the Society bestows, for 2017—Dick Bradt, Marina Pascucci, and Masahiro Yoshimura have interesting personal narratives to accompany their impressive professional accomplishments. Plus, the 2017 class of awardees also honors 15 new Society Fellows in addition to many other awardees—congratulations to all! Awards will be presented at the ACerS Annual Awards Banquet of the 119th Annual Meeting, held at MS&T17 in Pittsburgh, Pa., October 8–12, 2017.

The September issue also includes the third of three updates by current ACerS president Bill Lee, whose term will end in October. Lee’s final update to round out his presidency focuses on international issues and advocates for readers to acquire a global perspective—one that is increasingly important in an increasingly global society. Lee details some of the Society’s most recent global initiatives, including the formation of ACerS international chapters to better serve the needs of local and regional ceramics and glass communities. Read on to see more of what’s going on in our increasingly diverse Society.

Plus, the new issue of the Bulletin includes an article by Steve Frieman, Sanjay Sampath, and Lynnette Madsen all about ceramic coatings. The article—“Protective and functional ceramic coatings—An interagency perspective”—details a recent meeting of the Interagency Coordinating Committee for Ceramic Research and Development, which is composed of representatives from government agencies with ceramics programs. The committee’s most recent workshop focused on ceramic coatings and films, especially those used for thermal and environmental barrier coatings for engines. These coatings protect protect superalloy and ceramic matrix composite turbine engine components, so advances in coating processing and materials could drive improved engine efficiencies.

The September issue also includes an article that details one of the largest and most complex products manufactured from silicate ceramics—high-voltage insulators. These units demand reliable performance, but microcracks that grow during operation can impede the long-term performance of high-voltage porcelain insulators. However, author Johannes Liebermann presents a novel solution to the age-old problem. His article, “Special benefits of bauxite for a stable porcelain microstructure in high-voltage insulation,” details how a novel porcelain formulation incorporating bauxite might be able to decrease microcrack formation by resolving residual quartz particles in the microstructure of high-voltage porcelain insulators.

Plus, the new issue’s BCC Research market report column peeks into the global world of thin and ultrathin films, which is estimated to reach global revenues of $11.3 billion by 2021. The market, which is dominated by electronics applications for thin films, is overall predicated to remain relatively stable over the next five years, despite evolving challenges in the electronics market.

There’s lots more good stuff inside this—and every issue—of the ACerS Bulletin. The current issue is free to all for a short time, but remember that all the valuable content in over ninety years of past issues of the ACerS Bulletin is free only to members—so considering joining us today!

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