The September 2026 issue of ACerS Bulletin is now available online.
In this month’s issue, we explore ceramics that demonstrate properties beyond their traditional behaviors. The cover story by Akio Ikesue looks at the development of noncubic-structured transparent ceramics for widespread optical applications. The second feature story by Shikhar Krishn Jha shows how electric fields can be used to create materials with properties no standard equilibrium route allows. The third feature story by Chris Thompson overviews the advantages and disadvantages of different ceramic matrix composites. The fourth feature story by Idaho National Laboratory researchers highlights factors affecting multivalent rare earth element behavior in molten salts for nuclear applications.
In addition to the feature stories, the “Journal Highlights” column by ACerS journals managing editor Brittney Hauke describes studies on glasses with contrary properties, including being dissolvable, flexible, or photoluminescence. The “Deciphering the Discipline” column by student Joseph Tallan provides a closer look at the manufacturing of polycrystalline transparent ceramics.
This issue’s Industry section features three columns that dive into the prospects and challenges of several emerging industrial markets. The “Business and Market View” column highlights a report on the technologies and global opportunities for lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. The “Industry Perspectives” column by Tim Beatty and John Liddy overviews the reasons why most artificial intelligence manufacturing projects fail and how to fix it. The “Industry Insights” column by David Holthaus looks at applications for next-generation superconducting ceramics, specifically their potential to benefit maglev trains.
Finally, this issue contains the annual announcement of ACerS Awards of 2026. In addition to this year’s Distinguished Life Members—Makio Naito and George Quinn—the Society will elevate 13 members to Fellow and recognize many more outstanding members with various Society, Division, and Class awards during the ACerS Annual Honor and Awards Banquet Reception on Oct. 5, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
You’ll find a lot more interesting content inside this—and every issue—of the ACerS Bulletin. Sign-up for one FREE year of ACerS membership to gain access to this valuable resource and everything else that ACerS has to offer!
