Powder synthesis and shape forming of advanced ceramics

Two important factors for the successful and widespread commercialization of advanced ceramics include high-quality, low-cost powders and improved forming methods. These issues were addressed at the 97th ACerS annual meeting in Cincinnati. A summary of this session is presented. The market for advanced ceramics is large and growing. Advanced ceramics are generally divided into three categories--structural, electronic and coatings. There is a growing need to develop synthesis techniques capable of producing submicron, chemically pure powders with a narrow size distribution. These new synthetic routes to advanced ceramic powders are more expensive than currently established powder-manufacturing methods. The new powders should become more competitive as the advanced ceramics industry upgrades manufacturing processes. There have been significant advances in ceramic powder quality, materials development (i.e., fracture toughness {ge} 7MPa/m{sup 1/2} and tensile strengths = 1 GPa), processing reliability and commercialization of certain ceramic components. Despite these advances, Pujari said there is still a need for robust forming for advanced ceramics.