I shake my head and chuckle to myself every time a new acquaintance assumes the ceramic industry involves only brick or tableware. And don’t get me started on the folks who ask, “So how’s the pottery business?” Those sectors of our industry are, of course, interesting and important in their own right, but it’s fun to see those people’s faces when I point to their smartphones or cars and explain the various ceramic components that enable their high-tech gadgets.

We’re covering quite a few of those advanced applications in this issue. Various ceramic materials are used in multiple capacities in automotive brake pads, for example. Through characteristics such as high thermal conductivity and excellent wear resistance, ceramics provide a number of key benefits. Read The Brake Stops Here to learn more.

Nanofibers are contributing to the increasing viability of advanced ceramics for use in industries ranging from electronics to energy. “For example, the intertwined issues of global warming and environmental protection will likely help drive the update of advanced ceramics solutions in the aviation and aerospace industries,” writes Tim Ferland in this issue. Industrial Production of Nanofibers details some of the possibilities, as well as various challenges that need to be addressed.

Tape casting is an essential step in the manufacture of both high-temperature co-fired ceramics (HTCCs) and low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCCs). Jim Ellis of Credence Engineering shares ways to optimize the process in Improving HTCCs and LTCCs in this issue. I also spoke with Jim recently about these opportunities, and our conversation is available at www.ceramicindustry.com/pods.

 How do your company’s products impact today’s high-tech applications? Contact me at (330) 336-4098 or suttons@bnpmedia.com to share your story.