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| Outreach |
| Ceramic Materials Contribute to NAE's
Top 20 Engineering List |
The 20 engineering achievements, www.greatachievements.org/, that have had the greatest impact on the quality of life in the 20th century was announced on February 22, 2000, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. as a kickoff to National Engineers Week. Astronaut/engineer Neil Armstrong made the announcement on behalf of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering www.nae.edu. Below are the top 20 achievements with examples of how ceramic materials make these technologies possible.
| Top Achievements |
Examples of How Ceramics Contribute |
| 1. |
electrification |
Electrical insulators for power lines, insulators for industrial/household
applications |
| 2. |
automobile |
Engine sensors, catalytic converter, spark plug, windows, engine components,
electrical devices |
| 3. |
airplane |
Anti-fogging/freezing glass windows, jet engine components |
| 4. |
safe water supply and treatment |
Filters |
| 5. |
electronics |
Substrates and IC packages, capacitors, piezoelectrics, insulators, magnets,
superconductors |
| 6. |
radio and television |
Glass tubes (CRTs), glass faceplate, phosphor coatings, electrical components |
| 7. |
agricultural mechanization |
Refractories make melting and forming of ferrous and non-ferrous metals
possible. |
| 8. |
computers |
Electrical components, magnetic storage, glass for computer monitors |
| 9. |
telephone |
Electrical components, glass optical fibers |
| 10. |
air conditioning and refrigeration |
Glass fiber insulation, ceramic magnets |
| 11. |
interstate highways |
Cement for roads and bridges, glass microspheres used to produce reflective
paints for signs and road lines. |
| 12. |
space exploration |
Space shuttle tile, high-temperature resistant components, ceramic ablation
materials, electromagnetic and transparent windows, electrical components,
telescope lenses |
| 13. |
Internet |
Electrical components, magnetic storage, glass for computer monitor |
| 14. |
imaging: X-rays to film |
Piezoceramic transducers for ultrasound diagnostics, sonar detection,
ocean floor mapping and more, ceramic scintillator for X-ray computed tomography
(CT scans), telescope lenses, glass monitors, phosphor coatings for radar
and sonar screens |
| 15. |
household appliances |
Porcelain enamel coatings for major appliances, glass fiber insulation
for stoves and refrigerators, electrical ceramics, glass-ceramic stove
tops, spiral resistance heaters for toasters, ovens and ranges |
| 16. |
health technologies |
Replacement joints, heart valves, bone substitutes, hearing aids, pacemakers,
dental ceramics, transducers for ultrasound diagnostics, ceramic scintillator
for X-ray computed tomography (CT scans) and many other applications |
| 17. |
petroleum and natural gas technologies |
Ceramic catalysts, refractories and packing media for petroleum and gas
refinement, cement for well drilling, drill bits for well drilling |
| 18. |
laser and fiber optics |
Glass optical fibers, fiber amplifiers, laser materials |
| 19. |
nuclear technologies |
Fuel pellets, control rods, high-reliability seats and valves, containerization
components, spent nuclear waste containment |
| 20. |
high-performance materials |
Ceramic materials were cited for their advanced properties
such as wear, corrosion and high temperature resistance, high stiffness,
lightweight, high melting point, high compressive strength, hardness, and
wide range of electrical, magnetic, and optical properties |
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