Last week, readers were most interested in the news that a GE Aviation engine components plant featuring ceramic matrix composite materials is in the works.

China’s refractory materials production in 2012 fell 4.43% over the previous year to 28.1891 million tons, reportedly due to a slowdown in growth rates for downstream sectors like iron and steel, building materials, and glass, as well as the reduced demand for refractories in infrastructure construction.

This company’s advanced thermal processing systems for high-purity ceramics are reportedly used by customers who required 99.99%+ purity goals and beyond.

Saint-Gobain Ceramic Materials recently introduced enhanced silicon carbide refractory products for the metallurgical, kiln furniture and waste-to-energy markets.

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