The work described in this book originates from a major effort to develop a fundamental theory of the glass and the jamming transitions. The first chapters guide the reader through the phenomenology of supercooled liquids and structural glasses and provide the tools to analyze the most frequently used models able to predict the complex behavior of such systems. A fundamental outcome is a detailed theoretical derivation of an effective thermodynamic potential, along with the study of anomalous vibrational properties of sphere systems. The interested reader can find in these pages a clear and deep analysis of mean-field models as well as the description of advanced beyond-mean-field perturbative expansions. To investigate important second-order phase transitions in lattice models, the last part of the book proposes an innovative theoretical approach, based on a multi-layer construction. The different methods developed in this thesis shed new light on important connections among constraint satisfaction problems, jamming and critical phenomena in complex systems, and lay part of the groundwork for a complete theory of amorphous solids.

This handbook provides an overview on wood science and technology of unparalleled comprehensiveness and international validity. It describes the fundamental wood biology, chemistry and physics, as well as structure-property relations of wood and wood-based materials. The different aspects and steps of wood processing are presented in detail from both a fundamental technological perspective and their realisation in industrial contexts. The discussed industrial processes extend beyond sawmilling and the manufacturing of adhesively bonded wood products to the processing of the various wood-based materials, including pulp and paper, natural fibre materials and aspects of bio-refinery. Core concepts of wood applications, quality and life cycle assessment of this important natural resource are presented. The book concludes with a useful compilation of fundamental material parameters and data as well as a glossary of terms in accordance with the most important industry standards. Written and edited by a truly international team of experts from academia, research institutes and industry, thoroughly reviewed by external colleagues, this handbook is well-attuned to educational demands, as well as providing a summary of state-of-the-art research trends and industrial requirements. It is an invaluable resource for all professionals in research and development, and engineers in practise in the field of wood science and technology.

Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings Volume 34, Issue 4 - Advances in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells IX A collection of 13 papers from The American Ceramic Society's 37th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, January 27-February 1, 2013. This issue includes papers presented in Symposium 3 - 10th International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Materials, Science, and Technology.

A highly illustrated step-by-step guide to designing and making contemporary tableware in clay, featuring inspirational pieces by leading designers. The tableware we use is very important in our everyday lives, whether plates, bowls, mugs, cups or teapots. This stylishly illustrated guide helps budding and established ceramicists alike to create practical and attractive ranges, starting with design principles, working through appropriate construction techniques, and leading on to decoration and finishes. Leading designers Sue Pryke and Linda Bloomfield explain the importance of inspiration and consistency in design, providing step-by-step guides to the main making methods, which include hand building, pinching, coiling, throwing and slipcasting. They also offer advice on using various clay materials - such as recycled and reused clay bodies - and the combination of clay with other materials including wood, metal, textiles and synthetics. Tips are provided on glaze fit, dishwasher- and microwave-safe glazes, firing and finishing. Featuring beautiful photographs of the work of such prominent tableware makers as Sasha Wardell, James and Tilla Waters, Reiko Kaneko and Nico Conti, there are many sources of inspiration for those wishing to further their tableware ambitions.

Mid-Infrared Fibre Photonics: Glass Materials, Fibre Fabrication and Processing, Laser Sources and Devicess combines the latest glass chemistry, fibre fabrication and post processing techniques to provide a comprehensive reference on the fundamental science and latest research in fibre photonics for the mid-infrared range. The book systematically reviews the key glass materials systems including fluorides, chalcogenides, and oxides. Each materials chapter includes discussion of composition, structure, thermal, optical and mechanical properties, extrinsic and intrinsic loss mechanisms, materials preparation and purification techniques. Then Mid-Infrared Fibre Photonics: Glass Materials, Fibre Fabrication and Processing, Laser Sources and Devicess covers the most relevant fabrication, post-processing, and spectroscopy techniques. Fibre sources are also addressed including fibre sources for continuous wave emission, pulsed emission, and broadband emission. The book concludes with a brief overview of important medical, sensing and defence applications.

This volume contains a collection of 19 papers from the 11th International Symposium on Ceramic Materials and Components for Energy and Environmental Applications (CMCEE-11), June 14-19, 2015 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Papers were presented in the below five symposia from Track 2 on the topic of Ceramics for Energy Conservation and Efficiency: * Advanced Ceramics and Composites for Gas Turbine Engines * Advanced Refractory Ceramic Materials and Technologies * Advanced Ceramic Coatings for Power Systems * Energy Efficient Advanced Bearings and Wear Resistant Materials * Advanced Nitrides and Related Materials for Energy Applications

This issue contains 13 papers from The American Ceramic Society s 40th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, January 24-29, 2016 presented in Symposium 3 - 13th International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Materials, Science, and Technology and Symposium 14 Single Crystalline Materials for Electrical, Optical, and Medical Applications.

This issue contains 27 papers from The American Ceramic Society s 40th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, January 24-29, 2016. This issue includes papers presented in the following Symposia and Focused Sessions: Symposium 2 Advanced Ceramic Coatings for Structural, Environmental, and Functional Applications; Symposium 10 Virtual Materials (Computational) Design and Ceramic Genome; Symposium 11 Advanced Materials and Innovative Processing Ideas for the Industrial Root Technology; Symposium 12 Materials for Extreme Environments: Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramics; and Emerging Technologies Symposium Carbon Nanostructures; and Focused Session 1 - Geopolymers and Chemically Bonded Ceramics.

The Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceeding has been published by The American Ceramic Society since 1980. This series contains a collection of papers dealing with issues in both traditional ceramics (i.e., glass, whitewares, refractories, and porcelain enamel) and advanced ceramics. Topics covered in the area of advanced ceramic include bioceramics, nanomaterials, composites, solid oxide fuel cells, mechanical properties and structural design, advanced ceramic coatings, ceramic armor, porous ceramics, and more.

This collection of 33 papers deals with mechanical behaviors associated with systems ranging from diamond reinforced silicon carbide to rare earth pyrosilicates. Presented at The Mechanical Behavior and Performance of Ceramics & Composites Symposium in January 2012 during the 36th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC), it offers researchers from around the world the opportunity to explore new and emerging issues in all aspects of the field.

The Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceeding has been published by The American Ceramic Society since 1980. This series contains a collection of papers dealing with issues in both traditional ceramics (i.e., glass, whitewares, refractories, and porcelain enamel) and advanced ceramics. Topics covered in the area of advanced ceramic include bioceramics, nanomaterials, composites, solid oxide fuel cells, mechanical properties and structural design, advanced ceramic coatings, ceramic armor, porous ceramics, and more.

Encyclopedia of Materials: Technical Ceramics and Glasses, Two Volume Set is an essential resource guide to these incredibly important and versatile materials. The book covers everything from the types, structures, mechanics and properties of ceramics and glasses, to the testing, characterization, modeling and applications of these materials. Important recent developments are also considered, including additive manufacturing methods, polymer derived ceramics, advanced sintering/densification methods, modern analytical and testing methods, and novel applications of ceramics. This expertly-edited collection of articles provides a comprehensive source of high-quality foundational material for students (undergraduate and postgraduate), as well as postdoctoral researchers and those working in Industry (product and process development). Particular effort has been made to complement and support the 'blended learning' approach championed by both the American and European Ceramic Societies and EU Erasmus programme (EUCERMAT). As such, this encyclopedia is the ideal resource to facilitate collaborative, long distance education in the field.

Authored by leading experts from around the world, the three-volume Handbook of Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings gives scientific researchers and product engineers a resource as dynamic and flexible as the field itself. The first two volumes cover the latest research and application of the mechanical and functional properties of thin films and coatings, while the third volume explores the cutting-edge organic nanostructured devices used to produce clean energy.

This second volume, Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings: Functional Properties, focuses on functional properties (i.e., optical, electronic, and electrical) and related devices and applications. It also addresses topics such as:

• Large-scale fabrication of functional thin films using nanoarchitecture via chemical routes
• Fabrication and characterization of SiC nanostructured/nanocomposite films
• Low-dimensional nanocomposite fabrication and its applications
• Optical and optoelectronic properties of silicon nanocrystals embedded in SiO2 matrix
• Electrical properties of silicon nanocrystals embedded in amorphous SiO2 matrix
• Optical aspects of properties and applications of sol-gel-derived nanostructured thin films
• Controllably micro/nanostructured films and devices
• Thin-film shape memory alloy for microsystem applications

A complete resource, this handbook provides the detailed explanations that newcomers need, as well as the latest cutting-edge research and data for experts. Covering a wide range of mechanical and functional technologies, including those used in clean energy, these books also feature figures, tables, and images that will aid research and help professionals acquire and maintain a solid grasp of this burgeoning field.

The Handbook of Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings is composed of this volume and two others:
Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings: Mechanical Properties

Organic Nanostructured Thin Film Devices and Coatings for Clean Energy

Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings Volume 34, Issue 10 - Developments in Strategic Materials and Computational Design IV A collection of 25 papers from The American Ceramic Society's 37th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, January 27-February 1, 2013. This issue includes papers presented in the Geopolymers and Chemically Bonded Ceramics (Focused Session 1); Thermal Management Materials and Technologies (Focused Sessoin 2); and Materials for Extreme Environments: Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramics and Nano-laminated Ternary Carbides and Nitrides (MAX Phases) (Symposium 12).

This book is the first introduction/reference to the computer simulation of glass materials, which are growing in their applications such as telephone technology, construction materials, aerospace materials and more. Written by the leading experts and active practitioners from across the world, this book provides a comprehensive review of the fundamentals and practical applications of atomistic simulations of inorganic glasses. After providing a concise overview of both classical and first principles simulation methods, the second part of the book focuses on practical examples of the application of atomistic simulations in the research of different glass systems: silica, silicate, aluminosilicate, borate, chalcogenide and halide glasses. Up-to-date information will be provided on simulations (both classical and ab initio methods) of these glass systems, and current challenges facing these systems will be discussed. Students and researchers in the fields of materials science, particularly glass science and ceramic engineering, inorganic solid state chemistry, computational materials and materials modeling will benefit from this important new book.

In today's world of increasingly stringent environmental regulations, it is critical to identify and adequately address environmental issues in the ceramic industry to ensure success. In addition, ceramics and glasses play a critical role in the nuclear industry. Nuclear fuels and waste forms for low-level and high-level radioactive, mixed, and hazardous wastes are primarily either ceramic of glass. Effective and responsible environmental stewardship is becoming increasingly more important in the world. These proceedings detail the results of the ongoing effort in these areas.

This book reports on the development of nanostructured metal-oxide-based electrode materials for use in water purification. The removal of organic pollutants and heavy metals from wastewater is a growing environmental and societal priority. This book thus focuses primarily on new techniques to modify the nanostructural properties of various solvent-electrolyte combinations to address these issues. Water treatment is becoming more and more challenging due to the ever increasing complexity of the pollutants present, requiring alternative and complementary approaches toward the removal of toxic chemicals, heavy metals and micro-organisms, to name a few. This contributed volume cuts across the fields of electrochemistry, water science, materials science, and nanotechnology, while presenting up-to-date experimental results on the properties and synthesis of metal-oxide electrode materials, as well as their application to areas such as biosensing and photochemical removal of organic wastewater pollutants. Featuring an introductory chapter on electrochemical cells, this book is well positioned to acquaint interdisciplinary researchers to the field, while providing topical coverage of the latest techniques and methodology. It is ideal for students and research professionals in water science, materials science, and chemical and civil engineering.

Ceramic Transactions Volume 144

Advanced SiC/SiC Ceramic Composites: Developments and Applications in Energy Systems

Edited by: Akira Kohyama, Mrityunjay Singh, Hua-Tay Lin, and Yutai Katoh

This transactions volume contains 33 papers from the CREST International Symposium on SiC/SiC Composite Materials Research and Development and Its Application to Advanced Energy Systems held May 20-22, 2002 in Kyoto, Japan. Chapters include Processing for SiC/SiC Composites; Processing for SiC/SiC Composite Constituent; Characterization of Thermomechanical Performance; and Joining Technologies for Advanced Energy Applications. 373 pages.

This volume contains ten invited presentations on the topic of sulfate attack caused by external sulfate sources. The discussions concentrate on chemical and physical mechanistic aspects of the applicable sulfate-to-paste reactions and on the interrelationships between the internal (e.g., paste composition, pore solution, concrete matrix permeability) and external (e.g., composition of aggressive medium, temperataure and humidity, curing practices) variables.

Application of heat to clay transforms it into a ceramic, and thus the history and technical features of structures supplying that heat - kilns - are of considerable importance. The 14 chapters in this volume discuss ancient and historic kilns from the viewpoint of their excavation, their operational principles, and their contributions to an understanding of ceramic production within ancient economies.

One of the key technologies needed to understand and develop the mechanical and electrical properties of ceramics is the field of grain boundary engineering. This book covers new developments in this important field and addresses topics from grain boundary phenomena to grain boundary quantum structures, including the development of new techniques such as multifunctional electronmicroscopes, various kinds of spectroscopic analysis, and first principles calculations.

These proceedings are designed to provide a forum that integrates research in characterization and modeling to advance the science of ceramic/composite sintering. Densification, shape deformation, and microstructure evolution during sintering is addressed.