Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: Of the principal classes of engineering materials, ceramics are in many ways the most interesting and challenging. Many properties, or combination, of properties, not achievable with other classes of materials give ceramics enormous technical potential. The main obstacles that prevent the wider use of ceramics include insufficient reliability, reproducibility, and high cost. The physical basis of the processing steps is well established, however, the chemical reactions which occur during the high-temperature processing frequently influence the densification process and microstructure development of ceramics in an unpredictable way. Therefore, an ability to understand and control the chemical processes that occur during ceramic processing are necessary to advance and open up new uses for technical ceramics. The aim of this present report, resulting from discussions of an ad hoc group of ceramists and chemists, is to expose the areas of chemical research that can most benefit the processing, and further the use, of ceramic materials.