CERAMIC RESEARCH IN BELGIUM

For centuries, the ceramic industry in Belgium has been involved in the production of traditional products, such as bricks, tile, chinaware, and refractories. Currently there are over 6,000 people working in the industry with a turnover of more than 350 million ECU. However, fifteen years ago research in advanced ceramics began in several major research institutes and eventually became almost the single research interest for the majority of universities and research institutes. In fact, each university now has at least one team working in advanced ceramics, who usually come from other backgrounds such as metallurgy. Here, a review if some of these research programs is given.