Description
Ceramics are important to everyone's daily lives. Their unique properties enable technology by making thousands of consumer products possible. Glass, for example, is one of the most basic ceramic materials. It is the only material that is transparent, resistant to heat and able to hold a vacuum inside all at the same time.

Some gas appliances are now being made with hot surface ceramic igniters used to reduce energy consumption by eliminating the need for pilot lights. Other household applications for ceramics include scissors and knives. The blades of these cutting tools resist dulling because of the ceramic's hardness and wear resistance.

Ceramics are ideal for tennis rackets, golf clubs and baseball bats because they absorb vibration and are lightweight. Because ceramics can be made to be thin, flat and chemically stable, the material is ideal for liquid crystal display screens used in travel televisions, dashboards, calculators, watches and clocks.

The following individuals may be contacted regarding ceramic applications in consumer products.

William H. Rhodes
Consultant and Retired Manager
Lighting Materials Research Department
Osram Sylvania, Inc.
4 McKeever Drive
Lexington, MA 02420
781/862-4204 (phone) • 978/750-1795 (fax) • rhodeswh@erols.com (e-mail)
Background: Rhodes is the retired manager of a Lighting Materials Research Department at Osram Sylvania, Inc and an ACerS past president. He was principally involved with research in advanced ceramics for optical applications such as ceramic lamp envelopes and missle domes.

Jay Scovie
Assistant Manager
Corporate Communications
Kyocera International, Inc.
8611 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92123
858/576-2674 (phone) • 858/492-1456 (fax) • jay.scovie@kyocera.com (e-mail)
Background: Kyocera is among the world's leading producers of structural ceramics. Other areas in which Kyocera works include: electronic components, semiconductor packaging, solar cells, optical components and telecommunications equipment. Kyocera is responsible for such everyday ceramic applications as knives, scissors and synthetic gemstones.