The network, which links companies, intermediate organisations and universities to identify and provide support to meet industry’s needs for technology, research and training in particulate engineering, has identified areas where it considers that the expertise of particulate engineering SMEs could prove very valuable. These include: Imaging and sensing techniques, miniaturisation, net shape processing, biomaterials and nanotechnology.
“With the medical devices market in the UK alone worth about EUR 6 billion, there are certainly opportunities for the particulate community to be involved in the healthcare sector in the future,” says Bob Blake, author of the report. A Materials KTN Technology Translator, Bob has talked to both major players in the industry, such as DePuy and Biomet, and to leading academics in order to identify predicted technology evolution in the healthcare sector.

The report highlights key recommendations to drive forward development possibilities and to identify opportunities for collaborative research for the particulate community.

Registered users can download the report via the link in the panel on the right of this page.

The Materials KTN brings together the materials community including business, design, research and technology organisations, trade associations, the financial market and academia. The Materials KTN provides a range of activities and initiatives to enable the exchange of knowledge and the stimulation of business innovation. www.materialsktn.net.

These developments have made our comprehensive suites more accessible whilst still maintaining the high quality analysis that is associated with CERAM. Additionally, the extensive list of ad-hoc analysis is still available to provide tailored solutions beyond the base package structure.

We continue to work closely with a number of companies helping to monitor the levels of siloxanes in their landfill gas and bioreactor gas. With newer and more efficient gas engines, we know that the level of biogas contamination requires ever-improving monitoring; something which our experts at CERAM are more than well placed to provide.

The standard seminar includes:

• Evaluation of:
  • Change of use, compressive strength
  • Extreme events, fire or explosion
  • Nearby works, tunnelling
  • Reviewing the relevant British Standards.

• Deterioration due to:
  • Efflorescence
  • Sulfate attack
  • Freeze/thaw.

• Identification of:
  • Source of salts
  • Sulfate attack.

• CERAM case studies.

Contact CERAM to find out more about arranging an on-site CPD or to discuss the delivery of bespoke CPDs to assist individual engineering projects.

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Although considered toxic, diisocyanates are present in a wide variety of products across a varied range of industries (for example, monomeric diisocyanates are used extensively in the automotive and building insulation industries for the manufacture of polyurethane foams, fibres, coatings (paints and varnishes) and elastomers). Exposure to this group of compounds is reported to result in hypersensitivity pneumonitis and occupational asthma and, to reduce the risk of developing these conditions, worldwide Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) have been established.

As a result of their use in a variety of products, diisocyanates are one of many compounds that can be emitted from industrial processes via chimney stacks, ventilators or other static sources. Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) requires the operators of these processes to regularly report their atmosphere emissions to a relevant regulatory authority such as the Environment Agency (EA). Analysis of samples taken by MCERTS accredited protocols should where possible be conducted by UKAS accredited testing methods

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Having studied at CERAM during his PhD, Paul has subsequently worked as a senior scientist with CERAM, working with many clients in the refractory sector, and has, since then, gained significant industry experience with leading refractories producers, Parkinson Spencer Refractories and Dyson Thermal Technologies, as their group Technical Manager. He has worked on refractories for a myriad of applications and has a detailed knowledge of both traditional and advanced ceramic-forming technologies. His first degree was a B.Eng. in Industrial Mineral Engineering from the University of Leeds and his master’s degree was in Chemistry with New Materials from Aberdeen University (specialising areas of ceramic science.)

Speaking about his appointment, Paul commented: “I am excited to be returning to CERAM at a key point in their business development. This is a significant centre of expertise in refractory technology, recognised globally and highly valued by many clients. I’m proud to be part of that and to lead the team forward.”

John Hines, CERAM’s Director of Consultancy, added: “The demand from our clients for expert guidance regarding sourcing, designing, installing and maintaining refractories is increasing in this current economic climate. Paul is a significant addition to our team, bringing not only world-class technical ability but also highly relevant industrial and commercial experience.”

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Slips and trips are an important safety concern when it comes to the design and maintenance of public and commercial areas, costing UK industry in excess of £500 million a year in compensation and legal fees. While liquid spills and dust/dirt are recognised as clear hazards, the use of inappropriate cleaning agents or methods can be equally unsafe. Expert slip resistance testing and consultancy firm CERAM has produced a free guide to the implementation of effective cleaning and maintenance regimes for slip resistant floors.

The guide outlines the fundamentals of effective cleaning regimes, advises on the use of specific cleaning methods and details the correct application of different types of detergents in regular use.

“The most slip resistant surfaces can become slippery if they are not maintained appropriately,” commented Lisa Cobden, Senior Consultant at CERAM. “In some cases the use of incorrect cleaning materials, or ineffective maintenance regimes, has cost organisations tens of thousands of pounds, often completely unnecessarily.”

“We hope that this guidance document will provide architects, specifiers, installers and janitorial service providers with the necessary information with which to properly implement appropriate cleaning and maintenance regimes for the flooring that they are responsible for”.

The guide is available as a free download via this page.

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The competition winner of the games console, sports game and balance board was Howard Duffield of Duffield Wood Pellets Limited.

Rob Mitchell, Principal Technical Sales Consultant at CERAM presents Howard Duffield of Duffield Wood Pellets Limited with the games console.

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The tests recently added to the schedule are:

• ASTM C133 - 97(2008)e1 Standard Test Methods for Cold Crushing Strength and Modulus of Rupture of Refractories
• ASTM C20 - 00(2005) Standard Test Methods for Apparent Porosity, Water Absorption, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Bulk Density of Burned Refractory Brick and Shapes by Boiling Water
• ASTM C832 - 00(2005) Standard Test Method of Measuring Thermal Expansion and Creep of Refractories Under Load
• ASTM C134 - 95(2005) Standard Test Methods for Size, Dimensional Measurements, and Bulk Density of Refractory Brick and Insulating Firebrick
• ASTM C113 - 02(2008) Standard Test Method for Reheat Change of Refractory Brick

This is the first part of an ongoing programme and further additions are planned.

The inclusion of the ASTM tests on the UKAS schedule will allow refractory materials manufacturers to include more extensive test data in their product specifications, enabling better promotion of products. Refractory users will also benefit as the increased scope in test data can only help to more effectively select and compare refractories across world markets.

As a UKAS ISO 17025:2005 accredited testing laboratory, CERAM provides a comprehensive refractories testing service, including a wide range of physical, chemical, mineralogical and thermo mechanical tests for QA/QC, failure analysis, tendering support, product specification and structural modelling purposes. Refractory materials can be inspected and sampled onsite or in CERAM’s laboratory to ensure materials are suitable for use and to avoid costly delays.

In addition to its testing services, CERAM also offers consultancy to the refractory industry, ranging from raw material evaluation, refractory design and installation guidance to failure investigations, refractories analysis and technical advice.

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CERAM is an internationally renowned materials expert in research, testing, consultancy and analysis. The Technology Partnership will enable MTC to take advantage of unrivalled ceramics and materials technology through CERAM’s Information Services from around the world.  This will support MTC as it continues to push boundaries and offer high-performance engineered components to its customers.

CERAM’s information specialists and technology consultants are available to MTC for expert information gathering and analysis, identification of technology trends and literature tracking.  Additionally, CERAM experts will assist with MTC’s innovation activities and together the partners will develop joint innovation projects and technology foresight initiatives.

Keith Parker, Marketing Director for MTC, explains, “We have a longstanding relationship with CERAM and have seen the organisation develop over recent years into a cutting-edge technology facility with a global reach and broad capabilities.  We are excited by the potential to extend our relationship, and by sharing our wealth of knowledge we are better placed to serve our customers.”

John Hines, Director of Consultancy at CERAM, concludes, “MTC is a global leader in ceramic materials technology and shares our perspectives in looking at the key materials challenges faced around the world.  Partnerships are a vital aspect of our business and we are always keen to explore ways through which we can add more value to our clients and their customers.  We are delighted to be working with MTC in partnership and are committed to helping them extend their technology lead through innovation and insight.”

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CERAM has published a free report providing insight into the growth of ceramics in the aerospace and defence industries and the crucial role this material plays in the development of innovative technologies in these sectors. The report looks at the use and development of high impact, high temperature and thermal coating ceramics and the trends that can be seen in these areas. Topics such as the light-weighting of personnel armour through improvements in ballistic performance, and the challenges inherent in testing ultra high temperature ceramics are also covered.

CERAM has a history of more than 80 years working with ceramics for a broad range of industry sectors. Titled The Growth of Ceramics in Aerospace and Defence, the report incorporates the Company's extensive experience in the development of materials and fabrication processes for ceramic armour systems and advanced ceramics for the aerospace and defence industries. The report outlines the properties that make ceramic materials suitable for use in various aerospace and defence applications, either as part of sophisticated multi-material systems, or in applications where their unique capabilities make them the only candidates for the job. It also highlights the challenges that the industry now faces if we are to continue to develop these materials in order to meet the demands of the next generation of aerospace and defence technologies.

“Ceramics are used in an astonishingly broad range of applications in the aerospace and defence industries,” commented John Cotton, Business Development Manager, Aerospace & Defence, at CERAM. “Whether it’s in an armour system or on a rocket nozzle, or the leading edgeof a hypersonic missile, there are unique demands that are made of the material, which must be met by careful design and formulation. We have been working with ceramics since CERAM began in 1920, and have worked with many innovators on the development and testing of new ceramic materials and the applications of them. This is a very exciting time for both aerospace and defence, with pressures to develop new technologies to address both environmental regulatory challenges and the need for continued innovation in defence.”

The Growth of Ceramics in Aerospace and Defence provides manufacturers, suppliers and users of advanced ceramics with an expert’s insight into the demands placed on ceramic materials in aerospace and defence applications, and the solutions that today’s ceramics provide. The report also considers the trends that can be seen in the development of ceramic materials for this industry sector and the advances in material properties that might be seen in the future.

The white paper is available as a free download via this page.

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