Welcome to our annual Materials Handbook issue!

Refractories are materials that resist high temperatures, liquid slags and aggressive atmospheres, and do not change form (e.g., burn or melt) in service.

Magnetron sputtering was initially developed using metal or alloy targets with materials having high electrical conductivity (e.g., Al, Ag, Au, Cu, Ti, Mo, etc.).

For centuries, ceramic materials were used exclusively for tableware and building materials. In the mid-19th century, technical development in refractories and abrasives enabled the development of modern metallurgy and glass industries and became the first industrial application for ceramics.