Advanced Ceramics

Although ceramic materials have been used for more than 25,000 years, the development and widespread utilization of advanced ceramics has occurred only within the last century. Also referred to as technical or engineering ceramics, they exhibit diverse and often unique mechanical, thermal, chemical or electrical/magnetic/optical properties that make them enabling materials for current and emerging technologies impacting communications, electronics, energy, medicine, transportation, chemical processing and environmental sustainability. The Advanced Ceramics thrust in the MSE Department is comprised of a group of faculty engaged in cutting-edge research in all these areas, and addresses the basic science, engineering and applications of ceramic materials, components and systems. Current research projects encompass all aspects of ceramic science and engineering, including theory, processing, characterization, properties measurement and real-world testing and evaluation.