Zeolite crystals act as both molecular sieves and catalysts, and since the mid-1960s have been widely used in the cracking of crude petroleum.

After many years it appears that there is advocacy for adding new nuclear capacity to our power grid. What is the case for nuclear power, and what opportunities will it create for the ceramic industry?

Porous ceramic filters and membranes can contribute to a cleaner atmosphere or to reduced energy usage in three areas, each at a different level of industrial maturity.

Thermal barrier coatings are used to extend the life of metal components by creating a temperature drop across the coating, permitting the underlying metal to operate at a reduced temperature.

Thermistors are thermally sensitive resistors. Several semi-conducting oxide ceramics exhibit large changes in resistivity over a temperature span of ~100°C.

A significant and growing area of dental materials R&D; and application is focused on ceramics.

A recent report on the accomplishments of the DOE's CFCC Program has transformed the author from a skeptic of the technology to an enthusiast.

The emergence of polycrystalline barium titanates (BaTiO3) in the 1940s, and lead zirconate titanates (PbZrTiO3), known as PZT, in the 1950s, has led to most modern applications of piezoceramics.

SiC's ability to be an effective, thermally stable mirror/grating material for X-ray, visible, UV and IR optical devices is rapidly turning it into an optical material of choice for space applications.

While ceramic cutting tools have been in use for over 60 years, it is only within the past two decades that they have found major applications, principally in the turning and milling of cast iron, nickel based superalloys and the finishing of hardened steels.