Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on `Tailoring of High Temperature Properties of Si3N4 Ceramics', Schloß Ringberg/Munich, Germany, October 6--9, 1993

In this book project, all the American Ceramic Society's Engineering Ceramics Division Mueller and Bridge Building Award Winners, the ICACC Plenary Speakers and the past Engineering Ceramics Division Chairs have been invited to write book chapters on a topic that is compatible with their technical interests and consistent with the scope of the book, which is to focus on the current status and future prospects of various technical topics related to engineering ceramics, advanced ceramics and composite materials. Topics include: Mechanical Behavior and Performance of Ceramics & Composites Non-Destructive Evaluation and Mechanical Testing of Engineering Ceramics Brittle and Composite Material Design Modern Fracture Mechanics of Ceramics Thermal/Environmental Barrier Coatings Advanced Ceramic Coatings for Functional Applications Advanced Ceramic Joining Technologies Ceramics for Machining, Friction, Wear, and Other Tribological Applications Ceramic Composites for High-Temperature Aerospace Structures and Propulsion Systems Thermal Protection Materials: From Retrospect to Foresight Carbon/Carbon Composites Ceramic-Matrix Composites for Lightweight Construction Ultra High-Temperature Ceramics (UHTC) Nanolaminated Ternary Carbides and Nitrides (MAX Phases) Ceramics for Heat Engine and Other Energy Related Applications Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) Armor Ceramics Next Generation Bioceramics Ceramics for Innovative Energy and Storage Systems Designing Ceramics for Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices Nanostructured Materials and Nanotechnology Advanced Ceramic Processing and Manufacturing Technologies Engineering Porous Ceramics Thermal Management Materials and Technologies Geopolymers Advanced Ceramic Sensor Technology Advanced Ceramics and Composites for Nuclear and Fusion Applications Advanced Ceramic Technologies for Rechargeable Batteries

The nitrides and carbides of boron and silicon are proving to be an excellent choice when selecting materials for the design of devices that are to be employed under particularly demanding environmental and thermal con- tions. The high degree of cross-linking, due to the preferred coordination numbers of the predominantly covalently bonded constituents equalling or exceeding three, lends these non-oxidic ceramics a high kinetic stability, and is regarded as the microscopic origin of their impressive thermal and mechanical durability. Thus it does not come as a surprise that the chemistry, the physical properties and the engineering of the corresponding binary, ternary, and even quaternary compounds have been the subject of intensive and sustained efforts in research and development. In the five reviews presented in the volumes 101 and 102 of "Structure and Bonding" an attempt has been made to cover both the essential and the most recent advances achieved in this particular field of materials research. The scope of the individual contributions is such as to address both graduate students, specializing in ceramic materials, and all scientists in academia or industry dealing with materials research and development. Each review provides, in its introductory part, the chemical, physical and, to some extent, historical background of the respective material, and then focuses on the most relevant and the most recent achievements.

The advent of engineering-designed polymer matrix composites in the late 1940s has provided an impetus for the emergence of sophisticated ceramic matrix composites. The development of CMCs is a promising means of achieving lightweight, structural materials combining high temperature strength with improved fracture toughness, damage tolerance and thermal shock resistance. Considerable research effort is being expended in the optimisation of ceramic matrix composite systems, with particular emphasis being placed on the establishment of reliable and cost-effective fabrication procedures.Ceramic matrix composites consists of a collection of chapters reviewing and describing the latest advances, challenges and future trends in the microstructure and property relationship of five areas of CMCs. Part one focuses on fibre, whisker and particulate-reinforced ceramic matrix composites, part two explores graded and layered ceramics, while the five chapters in part three cover nanostructured CMCs in some detail. Refractory and speciality ceramic composites are looked at in part four, with chapters on magnesia-spinel composite refractory materials, thermal shock of CMCs and superplastic CMCs. Finally, part four is dedicated to non-oxide ceramic composites.Ceramic matrix composites is a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of the interdependence of processing, microstructure, properties and performance of each of the five categories of CMC, with chapters from experienced and established researchers. It will be essential for researchers and engineers in the field of ceramics and more widely, in the field of inorganic materials. - Looks at the latest advances, challenges and future trends - Compiled by experienced and established researchers in the field - Essential for researchers and engineers

Despite the significant progress, which has been made in developing of ceramic materials desired for engineering applications, their mass production is still not on expected level. Among the key factors hindering higher exploitation of these materials the problems in processing were identified. The processing comprises powder production, mixing techniques, forming, and sintering. All of them are equally important and all of them can introduce defects into the material. Besides improvement in processing, the properties of ceramic materials can be considerably improved by the creation of composites. Composites formed at micro or macro level are able to form more flaw-tolerant material. Considerable research activities, working on above mentioned phenomena are in progress at industrial laboratories as well as other research centres. This volume presents the contributions to the Advanced Research Workshop "Engineering Ceramics '96" with 65 participants from 21 countries held on 12th - 15th May 1996 at Smolenice Castle, Slovakia, the conference site of Slovak Academy of Sciences. The book covers research activities on engineering ceramic materials and gives an overview with respect to recent developments.

This volume, titled Proceedings of the International Materials Symposium on Ce ramic Microstructures: Control at the Atomic Level summarizes the progress that has been achieved during the past decade in understanding and controlling microstructures in ceram ics. A particular emphasis of the symposium, and therefore of this volume, is advances in the characterization, understanding, and control of micro structures at the atomic or near-atomic level. This symposium is the fourth in a series of meetings, held every ten years, devoted to ceramic microstructures. The inaugural meeting took place in 1966, and focussed on the analysis, significance, and production of microstructure; the symposium emphasized the need for, and importance of characterization in achieving a more complete understanding of the physical and chemical characteristics of ceramics. A consensus emerged at that meeting on the critical importance of characterization in achieving a more complete understanding of ceramic properties. That point of view became widely accepted in the ensuing decade. The second meeting took place in 1976 at a time of world-wide energy shortages and thus emphasized energy-related applications of ceramics, and more specifically, microstructure-property relationships of those materials. The third meeting, held in 1986, was devoted to the role that interfaces played both during processing, and in influencing the ultimate properties of single and polyphase ceramics, and ceramic-metal systems.

This volume is part of the Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceeding (CESP) series. This series contains a collection of papers dealing with issues in both traditional ceramics (i.e., glass, whitewares, refractories, and porcelain enamel) and advanced ceramics. Topics covered in the area of advanced ceramic include bioceramics, nanomaterials, composites, solid oxide fuel cells, mechanical properties and structural design, advanced ceramic coatings, ceramic armor, porous ceramics, and more.