Ceramic Microcomponents

Recent years have seen ceramics opening up completely new sectors, which would have been considered unthinkable just a few decades ago. One has ventured into new dimensions (nanotechnology, microstructures), explored "exotic" systems and gone into these new features (superconductors), discovered nanotubes (made from carbons). The inorganic ceramics known since primeval times are now being formed from organic materials (polymer-ceramics) - just to name a few of the revolutionary innovations. Inf act, many ceramists have come across these matters in technical papers or at conferences, but their knowledge only scratches the surface. In an occasional series that will be running in the future, these articles will look in-depth at new materials.