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[May 2002]
Technical Ceramic Exhibit at MATERIALICA Expanded
MATERIALICA 2002 - the 5th International Trade Fair for Materials Applications, Surface Technology and Product Engineering - will take place in Munich from 30 September to 2 October 2002. A key element in the 'World of Product Engineering' is the technical ceramics sector, which is being expanded to create 'Ceramics & Carbon World' at this year's fair.Ceramics & Carbon World will feature the concentrated know-how and creativity of the top engineers and give visitors a look at the latest applications in the industry. The outstanding prospects and growing importance of high tech materials are also changing the profile of the exhibitors at this year's event and helping MATERIALICA to continue its development as a modern industrial trade fair.
For example, Friatec AG, a leading supplier of oxide ceramics, will have its own stand this year after being represented at a joint exhibit in 2001. Furnace manufacturers Gero and Nabertherm belong to the same group of companies and had a joint exhibit at MATERIALICA 2001. This year they will have their own stands to communicate to the materials community that each company focusses on a different segment.
In its expanded form, Ceramics & Carbon World focusses on a group of materials that are already being used in high tech applications on a widespread basis. Among other things, components made of carbon fibre compounds are used in modern commercial airplanes, Formula 1 racing cars, mountain bikes and space shuttles. This extremely light, rigid and high strength material has also become indispensable in a number of manufacturing applications.
As diamond, carbon is also used in various industrial applications. Whether as a wear resistant coating in the form of DLC (diamond-like carbon) coatings or as a substrate for electronic circuits, nearly every high tech sector profits from the diamond's unique combination of properties. Its high thermal conductivity - the highest of all known materials - and extremely low electrical conductivity makes 'hard carbon' the material of choice for several applications, especially in the automotive and electronics sectors.
Also in the automotive (and rail) sector, technical ceramic materials play their part. Ceramic brake pads have been in use for at least as long as high performance sports cars and high speed trains have been around. Although they are still expensive, they have some outstanding properties. Ceramic brake pads are said to be able to outlast the lifetime of a car almost without any noticeable wear. Brake pads made of carbon fibre reinforced silicon carbide are also much lighter than conventional brake pads made of grey cast iron, which opens up new possibilities for designing load-bearing components. Using these new pads can reduce the weight of a high speed train by up to six tons, which benefits both fuel consumption and maximum payload.
For further details on MATERIALICA 2002 - and the concurrent MATERIALS WEEK Congress - send an e-mail to Roger Sherman of Pattern Ltd at: munich@pattern.prestel.co.uk
ENDS