Clay Centering System

AMACO^® (American Art Clay Co., Inc.)
The QuickCenter^TM is a system for centering clay on a potter’s wheel. The QuickCenter canister/plunger and bat set are easy to use, save time, and take the guesswork out of centering clay for throwing. In three easy steps, 3-4 lbs of clay can be perfectly centered and ready to throw: push QuickCenter canister/plunger down into wedged clay; transfer canister with clay inside to QuickCenter recessed bat; and fit canister into recessed circle, pushing down on plunger to release the clay. The QuickCenter system includes the 8-in. canister/plunger and bat set, one universal adapter and one 14-in. recessed bat with QuickCenter pins. Call (800) 374-1600.

Sink Trap

Bracker’s Good Earth Clays, Inc.
The Gleco Trap HV sanitary high-volume sink trap temporarily increases the diameter of the drainpipe and slows down the drain water flow, allowing debris to settle to the bottom of the container. The Gleco HV features a specially engineered air-tight lid with threaded inlet and outlet extensions that reserve an air pocket inside. An air-release plug allows pre-drainage of excess water into the container before disconnection, resulting in completely dry, mess-free sink trap changeouts. Call (888) 822-1982 or visit www.brackers.com.

Microwave Assist Laboratory Box Furnaces

Carbolite
A new range of laboratory furnaces has been developed that combines radiant heating and microwave technology. Using this microwave assist technology (MAT), the furnaces offer distinct advantages over conventional radiant heating, including faster, more uniform sample heating; improved material properties; greater energy efficiency; and improved yield. The design of the furnaces combines the controllability of the radiant heating elements with the thermal equalizing effect of the microwave heating system. The furnace temperature controller allows 20-segment programming of both the radiant and microwave heating, giving users a high degree of flexibility. Call (800) 543-6208 or e-mail sales@carboliteusa.com.

Top-Loading Kilns

Evenheat Kiln, Inc.
The Deluxe 10 series combines the company’s proven “Deluxe” construction technique, 3-in. brick lids and floors, multi-zone firing control, and a lid-lift assist into a top-performing design. The Deluxe construction technique uses the structural strength of a brick chamber wall with an additional 1 in. of backup mineral wool insulation to offer an easier and more efficient firing, particularly for high-fire applications. Deluxe construction also has the effect of lowering the jacket temperature, which is valuable in busy shops and institutions. The company’s exclusive use of the Bartlett line of controls for all Deluxe 10 models enables the use of multi-zone control. Call (989) 856-2281, fax (989) 856-4040 or visit www.evenheatkiln.com.

Silicon Carbide Heating Element

I Squared R Element Co.
A 23/4 in. (70 mm) diameter silicon carbide heating element has been added to the Starbar^® line. This type RR heating element is manufactured from high-density recrystallized silicon carbide and can withstand temperatures up to 2600ºF (1425ºC). Strong and reliable, it can be used horizontally or vertically. The heating element can be manufactured with multi-temperature hot zones for users who need more power near the walls or in the middle of the furnace. Call (716) 542-5511, fax (716) 542-2100, e-mail sales@isquaredrelement.com or visit www.isquaredrelement.com.

Photo-Machining Service

IKONICS Imaging—Industrial Solutions
This company offers a photo-machining service for the machining of wafer vacuum chucks constructed from tough ceramics such as silicon carbide, sapphire and alumina. Photo-machining combines the precision of a patent-pending photoresist system with powder blasting to provide customers with workable, cost-effective solutions and rapid turnaround. The photo-machining process incorporates an optical process, similar to photolithography, that provides tight tolerances of ± 25 microns on feature size, position and depth. This process produces a wide variety of blind and through features that are both detailed (250 µm) and deep (250 µm). Call (218) 628-2002 or (800) 643-1037, fax (218) 628-2064, e-mail info@ikonicsindustrial.com, or visit www.ikonicsindustrial.com.

Simultaneous Batching System

Ingredient Masters, Inc.
A new simultaneous batching system processes up to 20 batches per hour, each with up to 24 components. The system is engineered for recipe sizes of 10-200 lbs. each and maintains ingredient accuracy of + .02 lbs per ingredient using screw (spiral) feeders. Systems engineered to handle high volumes or large batches can be specified for auto valve release, and the transfer conveyor can be scaled for gain-in-weight (for higher accuracy) or loss-in-weight (which is faster). Batching systems can be engineered to incorporate existing powder handling devices. Call (513) 231-7432 or visit www.ingredientmasters.com.

Isoperibol Calorimeters

LECO^® Corp.
The new AC600 semi-automatic isoperibol calorimeter offers semi-automated operation combined with the use of a thermodynamic TruSpeed^TM model to obtain a rapid analysis of calorific content and increased instrument throughput without sacrificing accuracy or instrument precision. A new ergonomically designed, lightweight combustion vessel assures ease of operation while greatly reducing operator strain. With the combination of automation and ergonomics, the AC600 achieves high throughput while maintaining accuracy and precision and improving operator ease of use. Call (800) 292-6141, fax (269) 982-8977, e-mail info@leco.com or visit www.leco.com.

Surface Area and Porosity System

Micromeritics Instrument Corp.
The new TriStar II 3020 is a fully automated, three-station surface area and porosity analyzer capable of increasing the speed and efficiency of quality control analyses with the accuracy, resolution and data reduction necessary to meet most research requirements. The three analysis ports operate simultaneously and independently of one another. For additional throughput, four TriStars can be operated with one computer. The speed and accuracy of the Tristar II make it an ideal instrument for a wide variety of applications. Call (770) 662-3688, fax (770) 662-3696, e-mail pat.lennox@micromeritics.com or visit www.micromeritics.com.

Crystal Growing Furnace System

OXY-GON Industries, Inc.
This company recently announced the shipment of a new model FR210 vacuum/inert atmosphere Bridgeman crystal growing furnace system. The system is specifically designed for directional solidification of metal or ceramic samples up to 2200ºC in high vacuum or argon atmosphere. Features include all metal construction with tungsten heat zone, automatic pressure control up to 100 PSIG, a turbo molecular high-vacuum pumping system, optical pyrometer temperature control, precision draw mechanism, and touch screen HMI to control or access process variables. Call (603) 736-8422 or e-mail sales@oxy-gon.com.

Digital Kiln

Paragon Industries, L.P.
Featuring an 8 in. square x 4½ in. high interior and rated to 2350°F, the portable 120-volt FireFly Digital kiln fires jewelry made from glass, silver clay, porcelain and stoneware. The FireFly Digital has an optional 2 x 2 in. high-temperature glass window in the top for monitoring glass fusing. The kiln is made of 2½ in. thick insulating firebrick, including a firebrick top and bottom. Dropped, recessed grooves protect the replaceable heating elements. The FireFly Digital is an upgraded version of the manual FireFly that the company introduced in 2007. Call (800) 876-4328 or (972) 288-7557, e-mail info@paragonweb.com, or visit www.paragonweb.com.

Crushers

REMco
The model 50 crusher is specially designed to fit in place of existing Barmacs, hammermills and other low-performing crushers. Built tough to withstand the rigors of multi-shift industrial mineral applications, the crusher is user friendly with standard hydraulic access. The unit is built to operate in severe environments and has a full range of accessories, including installation kits for easy integration into existing systems. The crusher is available in three base configurations: fully-autogenous, semi-autogenous and complete hard parts design. Call (925) 447-0805, fax (925) 447-7038, e-mail rremco@aol.com. or visit www.remcovsi.com.

Planetary Ball Mill

Retsch, Inc.
The new PM 100 CM planetary ball mill offers all the performance and convenience of the classic PM 100. It pulverizes and mixes soft, medium- to extremely hard, brittle and fibrous materials, and is used whenever a fineness down to the submicron range is required. In contrast to the PM 100, the speed ratio of sun wheel to grinding jar is 1:-1. Operation in centrifugal mode results in a different ball movement so that the sample is not so much crushed by impact effects but more gently ground by pressure and friction. Visit www.retsch.com/pm100cm or www.retsch.com/grindcontrol.

High-Intensity Glaze Mill

Sacmi
A new fully automatic glaze mill, called HIM, significantly reduces the number of installed machines and cuts labor requirements for the production of glazes and engobes. HIM is a horizontal-axis discontinuous drum mill that allows automatic grinding and unloading of glazes, frits and engobes—even with very small lots. The dry material to be ground is introduced, along with the process water and additives, into the mill by the feed screw. Via the control panel, the user can set the grinding cycle, which, thanks to an inverter, gives an efficiency increase of over 15% compared to traditional discontinuous mills and 75%-plus savings in terms of grinding times. Visit www.sacmi.com.

Hot-Pressed Products

Saint-Gobain Structural Ceramics
This company’s 300-ton vertical hot press features a 48 x 48 x 56 in. heat zone. Available hot-pressed products include Noralide^® NBD-200 hot-pressed silicon nitride, which is reportedly an ideal material for seal face components in nuclear applications and for rotary, non-contact gas seals where maximum toughness and flexural strength are required. Other products include AlNimax^TM hot-pressed aluminum nitride for electrostatic chucks; hot-pressed silicon carbide sputtering targets; and Norbide^® hot-pressed boron carbide armor tile and nozzles, which offer excellent chemical and wear resistance. Call (716) 278-6233, fax (716) 278-2373, e-mail scd.sales@saint-gobain.com. or visit www.hexoloy.com.

Continuous Horizontal Microwave Furnaces

Spheric Technologies, Inc. and Changsha Syno-Therm, Ltd.
The Spheric/Syno-Therm^TM model MW-1515T continuous microwave pusher furnace is an automated and highly efficient system used in high-temperature synthesis, sintering and heat treatment of technical ceramic components, ceramic powders and other materials. Specifications include maximum temperature of 1500°C, temperature precision of < ± 5°C, temperature measurement via thermocouples and optical pyrometer, maximum output power from 9-36 kW, frequency of 2450 MHz, and adjustable tunnel speed of up to 60 mm/minute. Atmosphere options include air, nitrogen, inert gases and gas mixtures. These furnaces combine the advantages of a continuous material flow with the lower energy use and faster production time of microwave high-temperature processing. Call (602) 218-9292, fax (602) 218-9299 or visit www.spherictech.com.

Vertical Shaft Impactor

Stedman
The new patent-pending V-Slam^TM model VS-88 vertical shaft impactor features innovative housing and rotor designs; an easy-access, low-profile split swing lid; higher operating speed for finer grinding; and capacities up to 500 tons per hour. A hydraulic drive system offers numerous advantages, including variable mill speeds. The V-Slam has a size reduction ratio up to 15:1 with speeds up to 12,500 ft per minute and a capacity range from 5 to 500 tons per hour. The V-Slam is also equipped with an indexing feed tube and anvil ring, and an automatic recirculating lubrication system. Call (800) 262-5401 or (812) 926-0038, fax (812) 926-3482, e-mail sales@stedman-machine.com, or visit www.stedman-machine.com.

High-Alumina Pusher Plate

Sunrock Ceramics
A new version of the company’s pressed HPA high-alumina kiln furniture material has been designed specifically for pusher plates in pusher furnaces. This alternate material formulation is called HPA-CG and is also a pressed alumina material. Applications for the HPA-CG pusher plate include the sintering of powder injection molding and powder metallurgy parts, as well as technical ceramics that are fired in pusher-style furnaces. The HPA-CG pusher plate was designed for the high thermal shock and mechanical stress environments of most pusher furnace applications, as well as the hydrogen atmospheres common with these applications. Call (708) 344-7600, e-mail dthurman@sunrockceramics.com or visit www.sunrockceramics.com.

Low Bio-Persistent Insulation Fiber

Thermal Ceramics
According to this company, it has developed the first low bio-persistent insulation fiber with a classification temperature up to 1300°C (2372°F), Superwool^® HT, and the first low shot, 1000°C (1832°F) fiber, Superwool Plus. Superwool HT was developed for high-temperature applications in iron and steel, ceramic, glass, incineration, aluminum production, and heating boilers. Superwool HT offers lower shrinkage than comparable insulation and is the first high-performance, economical alternative to RCF. Superwool Plus is recommended for continuous use up to 1000°C (1832°F). It is ideal for applications such as annealing furnace linings or as the backup insulation in higher-temperature furnaces. Visit www.thermalceramics.com.

High-Temperature Insulation Products

Unifrax Corp.
Fibermax^® needled blankets and Fibermax Duraboard insulation products can help manufacturers save energy in high-temperature applications. Fibermax needled blankets are high-temperature, lightweight, flexible products manufactured from polycrystalline mullite fiber that can be exposed to temperatures up to 1600°C (2912°F). They contain no organic binders, exhibit excellent resistance to most corrosive agents, and resist oxidation and reduction. Fibermax Duraboard products exhibit excellent thermal stability at very high operating temperatures. They also feature an extremely high modulus of rupture (MOR) in both the green and fired state. Call (716) 278-3800, fax (716) 278-3900, e-mail info@unifrax.com or visit www.unifrax.com.

Continuous Attritor

Union Process, Inc.
This company has built its first C-60 continuous attritor for an environmentally conscientious manufacturer of ceramic proppants and other ceramic media. The C-60 will aid in the grinding of ceramic material pulled from the manufacturer’s waste stream, saving the manufacturer money and complementing a developing green trend in the ceramic industry. The C-60 features stationary arms that are built into the sides of the grinding tank. These stationary arms help to interrupt mass or buildup, and they also decrease the amount of wear on the tank. Call (330) 929-3333, e-mail eli@unionprocess.com or visit www.unionprocess.com. 

Editor’s note: “New Product Highlights” represents information submitted by Ceramic Industry advertisers. All statements about the companies/products included are manufacturers’ claims, and Ceramic Industry does not endorse any of the products mentioned. Additional new product information can be found online at www.ceramicindustry.com.