Course Description
Explore the science and engineering behind UHTCs
This ITAR-restricted course explores the science and engineering behind Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics (UHTCs), from fundamental definitions to advanced processing and characterization. Building a foundation in ceramic microstructure, raw material selection, particle suspension, and modern fabrication methods including additive manufacturing and near-net shaping.
Participants will dive into thermal processing, densification techniques, and the key mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties that define UHTC performance — alongside practical tools like Ellingham diagrams and Weibull statistics. This course is ideal for engineers and researchers seeking to connect ceramic processing fundamentals with real-world UHTC material development.
Course Format
In-person | 8 a.m.–4 p.m. at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. in conjunction with the Colorado Center for Advanced Ceramics Conference
Please note: This course is ITAR-restricted. Registration for this event is limited to 45 participants. In order to attend the course, you must submit a Military Critical Technical Data Agreement (DD2345) to Madilyn Paul at mpaul@ceramics.org by July 29, 2026.
Registration Pricing
- Early-bird registration (before July 15, 2026): $179
- Regular, non-member & member registration: $299
Hypersonic Travel Grant Program
This travel grant includes:
- Course registration waiver ($299)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until July 20, 2026.
Apply for the Ceramic Processing/UHTC Materials Hypersonic Travel Grant
William Carty, Ph.D.
William M. Carty joined the faculty at Alfred University in 1993 and achieved the rank of Professor in 2002, McMahon Professor in 2010, and Chair of Ceramic Engineering and Glass Engineering Science (2008 and 2010). He received a B.S. (1985) and M.S. (1987) both in ceramic engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, and a Ph.D. in materials science from the University of Washington (Seattle, 1992). Carty joined Alfred University following a one-year post-doctoral position at Koninklijke/Shell-Laboratorium, Amsterdam (The Netherlands).
His current research interests are ceramic processing and microstructural evolution (in both traditional and advanced ceramic materials); tailoring microstructures and porosity for specific applications; the connection between strength and processing; glass batch reactions and melting; and the development of sustainable ceramic manufacturing processes (i.e., energy efficient and environmentally-sound).
In addition to teaching and research, he is a world-recognized expert and consultant in porcelains and glazes, ceramic processing, and ceramic manufacturing.
Carolina Tallon, Ph.D.
Carolina Tallon is an associate professor of materials science and engineering and a core member of the VT MADE Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Virginia Tech. She holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Granada, Spain, and a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the Institute of Ceramic and Glass and Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she held multiple positions at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Tallon’s research focuses on the near-net shaping and advanced manufacturing of ceramics for extreme environments, including hypersonics, nuclear reactors, and high-temperature engines. Her research group specializes in ultra-high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs) and manipulation of the microstructure through innovative processing. She has twice co-chaired the international conference “Ultra High-Temperature Ceramics: Materials for Extreme Environment Applications” (2015, 2022).
An ACerS member since 2009, Tallon currently chairs the DC/Maryland/Virginia Section and has served on multiple award subcommittees. She received the 2020 Jubilee Global Diversity Award for her contributions to the engineered ceramics field.
