May 1999 - Volume 78, No. 5
Manufacturing/Engineering Features

Salt Lake City Witnesses 'The Magic of Ceramics'
The ACerS Centennial Traveling Ceramics Technology Exhibit, "The Magic of Ceramics," visited the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City from Nov. 23, 1998, through Feb. 15, 1999.
David W. Richerson

Profiles in Ceramics: Keith A. Blakely
Boy Wonder to CEO
In May, we meet Keith A. Blakely, the 42-year-old CEO of Advanced Refractory Technologies Inc., a company he founded at the age of 24.
Kathy L. Woodard

Changing the Face of the Global Refractories Industry
Recent changes in process technology have led to a significant reduction in MgO-C brick consumption. This article examines present-day refractories, their applications and markets, and projects some foresight into the new century.
Subrata Banerjee and Thomas Abraham

Pilkington 3R Process:
A Refractory Perspective
Experience shows the concern that the combination of reducing conditions and high temperatures in the 3R™ Process would have deleterious effects on the furnace refractory structure is unfounded.
Ian Shulver

Rheological Design of Zero-Cement Self-Flow Castables
The growing application and demand for refractory castables as an alternative to conventional refractory brick is driving researchers and producers alike to investigate the special characteristics and properties of these monolithic products.
A.R. Studart, W. Zhong and V.C. Pandolfelli

Effect of Electrolytes on Sanitaryware Slip
Slip viscosity is used widely in controlling ceramic casting slip. The viscosity of slip changes with the amount and type of electrolyte.
Emel Özel, Nuran Ay and Ersan Pütün

The Financial Rewards from TQM
Authors discuss the results from a five-year research study undertaken to resolve the debate about whether effective implementation of Total Quality Management improves financial performance or not.
Kevin B. Hendricks and Vinod R. Singhal

What's New-Mixers, Blenders, Spray Dryers

Ceramic Applications in Chemical Mechanical Planarization
Ceramics play a vital role in CMP processing not only as abrasive slurries, but also as structural components because of their corrosion resistance. This work introduces some uses of ceramics and possible future requirements in the semiconductor CMP industry. In addition, an example of a new structural ceramic polishing platen is presented.
Wayne Lougher