Description
The use of ceramics in electronics is becoming increasingly popular. Ceramic superconductors allow the flow of electricity with little or no resistance or heat loss. This gives the potential for trains floating on a magnetic cushion of air running at two to three hundred miles per hour and super computers the size of desktop calculators performing calculations thousands of times faster than any computer today.

Other ceramic applications in electronics include sensors, actuators, electro-optic materials, semiconductors and multilayer capacitors. Ceramic coatings are also used to protect or lubricate materials such as metals. The ceramic coatings can prevent electronic shutdowns, component failure and excessive wear and tear in computers and other electronic devices.

Ceramics used in electronics are chemically inert, able to withstand high temperatures and less prone to corrosion. Because of these characteristics, ceramics provide a stable and safe environment for electronic circuitry.

The following individuals may be contacted regarding ceramic applications in electronics.

Dave W. Johnson, Jr.
Director of Materials Research Department
Agere Systems
600 Mountain Avenue, Rm. 1F-206 • Box 636
Murray Hill, NJ 07974
908/582-3906 (phone) • 908/582-4041 (fax) • dwj@agere.com (e-mail)
Background: Johnson, a past president of ACerS, heads the Materials Research Department for Agere Systems. He is best known for his work in preparation and processing for technical ceramics, high temperature superconductors and gel-derived glasses.

Lionel M. Levinson
Vartek Associates LLC
PO Box 9227
Schenectady, NY 12309-0227
518/869-5192 (phone) • 518/869-5192 (fax) • Lionel@LionelLevinson.com (e-mail)
Website VaristorTechnology.com
Background: Levinson is a principal of Vartek Associates LLC, an electronic ceramics and materials consulting company. He consults and acts as an expert witness in technologies such as varistor materials, zinc oxide, surge protectors, lightning arresters, current limiting materials, conducting ceramics, thermoelectric materials, lamp materials and electronic ceramics in general.

Wayne S. Young
Senior Engineer
Environmental Programs
IBM Corporation
DNR/123
5600 Cottle Road
San Jose, CA 95193
408/256-4394 (phone) • 408/256-1779 (fax) • wayney@us.ibm.com
Background: Young has extensive experience in multilayer ceramic substrates as well as materials and processes used in disk drives.

David L. Morse
Division Vice President and Director - Corporate Research
Corning Inc., Science and Technology Division
SP-FR-2 Sullivan Park
Corning, NY 14831
607/974-3453 (phone) • 607/974-2410 (fax) • MorseDL@corning.com (e-mail)
Background: Dr. Morse is responsible for Corning Incorporated's global research portfolio in support of its telecommunications, information display and specialty materials businesses. He leads an organization of industry-focused research groups and core technology competency groups.