AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY bulletin emerging ceramics & glass technology Biomimetics principles inspire materials design DECEMBER 2025 Nacre-like composite fabrication | Bioactive glass evolution | Biomimicry programs and research centers HARROP INDUSTRIAL KILNS SINCE 1919 • COLUMBUS, OHIO • . HELPING YOU POWER THE FUTURE INDUSTRIAL KILNS Elevator Kiln ■ Rotary Tube ■ Pusher Plate Shuttle Kiln \" Tunnel Kiln - Box Kiln TOLL FIRING & TESTING Product Development Material Characterization Technical Consulting Production Scale-Up From Single Firings to Multi-Month Tolling Campaigns Your kiln needs are unique, and, for more than a century, Harrop has responded with applied engineered solutions to meet your exact firing requirements. WWW.HARROPUSA.COM contents December 2025 • Vol. 104 No.9 feature articles resource roundup application note application note 24 Fabrication approaches to nacre-like ceramic-metal composites Nacre-like ceramic-metal composites could combine the excellent toughness of metals with the high-temperature resistance of ceramics. This reviews developments paper in the processing of such composites. by Sourabh Kumar and Hortense Le Ferrand Nature-inspired vascular cementitious 30 composites: A path to self-thermal 32 responsive buildings Animals such as jackrabbits and elephants have ingenious vascular systems in their ears to regulate temperature, which can inspire the design of better thermal control in buildings. by Mohammad Houshmand and Amir Farnam Biomimicry as second nature: Research centers and degree programs encourage eco-friendly design departments News & Trends 3 ACers Spotlight 12 Research Briefs 20 Advances in Nanomaterials 22 industry Business and Market View Tissue engineering and regeneration: Technologies and global markets by BCC Publishing Staff 8 Industry Perspectives Sustainable development and design: Inspiration from landscape-shaping creatures by Gemma Harvey Industry Insights Bioactive glass continues to transform medical care decades after first hitting the market by David Holthaus As interest in and demand for biomimicry-based innovation Columns grows, biomimetic research centers and degree programs have emerged to help scientists make the most of this design paradigm. by Randy B. Hecht Black Hills Applied Ceramic Engineering: 34 Leveraging local geology for ceramic education The Black Hills Applied Ceramic Engineering program at South Dakota Mines welcomed its first cohort in summer 2025 to learn about the broad utility of ceramics through local geological resources. by Katrina Donovan and Sarah Keenan Sintered synthetic cristobalite: Innovative 36 kiln-based thermal transformation of quartz This article presents a novel rotary kiln-based synthesis method for cristobalite that utilizes mineralogical under- standing and controlled thermal regimes to achieve efficient, continuous, and industrial-scale production. by I. V. Subba Rao Journal Highlights 10 38 Bioinspired materials design and fabrication by Jonathon Foreman Deciphering the Discipline When glass becomes medicine: Therapeutic ion delivery for regeneration by Bahareh Kheilnezhad meetings 48 ACers Annual Meeting at MS&T25 highlights Upcoming meetings 40 42 resources Calendar.. 43 Classified advertising Ad index. 45 47 Cover image The Jewel Rain Vortex, located in the Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, is the world\'s largest indoor waterfall. Credit: L_B_Photography / Shutterstock American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 1 AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY Obulletin online www.ceramics.org Editorial and Production Lisa McDonald, Editor Imcdonald@ceramics.org Michelle Martin, Production Editor Helen Widman, Content Coordinator Cyndy Griffith, Graphic Designer Editorial Advisory Board Henry Colorado, Universidad de Antioquia Scott McCormack, University of California, Davis Daniela Messina, RHI Magnesita Lavina Backman, Naval Research Laboratory Somnath Mandal, Vesuvius Joseph Shi, Micromaterials LLC Customer Service/Circulation ph: 866-721-3322 fx: 614-899-6109 customerservice@ceramics.org Advertising Sales National Sales Mona Thiel, National Sales Director mthiel@ceramics.org ph: 614-794-5834 Executive Staff Mark Mecklenborg, Executive Director and Publisher mmecklenborg@ceramics.org Amanda Engen, Director of Communications and Workforce Development aengen@ceramics.org Marcus Fish, Director of Development, Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation mfish@ceramics.org Michael Johnson, Director of Finance and Operations mjohnson@ceramics.org Andrea Ross, Director of Meetings, Membership, and Marketing aross@ceramics.org Erica Zimmerman, Executive Office Manager ezimmerman@ceramics.org Officers Mario Affatigato, President Shibin Jiang, President-elect Monica Ferraris, Past President Mark Peters, Treasurer Mark Mecklenborg, Secretary Board of Directors Alexandra Navrotsky, Director 2023-2026 Dileep Singh, Director 2023-2026 Todd Steyer, Director 2023-2026 Christopher Berndt, Director 2024-2027 Ruyan Guo, Director 2024-2027 Palani Balaya, Director 2025-2028 Yutai Katoh, Director 2025-2028 Yiquan Wu, Director 2025-2028 Rodney Trice, Director 2024-2027 Stephen Freiman, Parliamentarian December 2025 • Vol. 104 No.9 f http://bit.ly/acerstwitter As seen on Ceramic Tech Today... Credit: [left] White et al., International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology: [right] Garg et al., Advanced Science (CC BY 4.0) in http://bit.ly/acerslink http://bit.ly/acersfb Ice templating of biomimetic materials: Roots in ceramic fabrication Advancements in the ceramics field have often supported innova- tion and discoveries in other fields. Now, knowledge gained from early work on ice-templated ceramics is aiding in the develop- ment of soft, bioinspired materials for medical applications. Read more at https://ceramics.org/ice-templating Also see our ACers journals... These articles are part of the November 2025 issue of Journal of the American Ceramic Society, which features a special section on nature-inspired design. Enhancement of mechanical and antimicrobial properties of silica, zeolite, and silver-modified hydroxyapatite composites for biomedical applications By N. M. Ergul, R. B. Sulutas, E. Kaya, et al. Journal of the American Ceramic Society Biomimetic design of advanced ceramics for hard tissue repair By K. Lu, Y. Xu, S. Gao, et al. Journal of the American Ceramic Society Sol-gel derived S53P4 bioactive glass By J. Zheng, H. Pilsworth, J. V. Hanna, and J. R. Jones Journal of the American Ceramic Society Sustainable structural materials inspired by nature By M. Mirkhalaf Journal of the American Ceramic Society International Journal of Journal Applied Ceramic Applied Glass SCIENCE Credit: Ergul et al., JACerS International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science Read more at https://ceramics.org/journals American Ceramic Society Bulletin is the membership magazine of The American Ceramic Society. It covers news and activities of the Society and its members and provides the most current information concerning all aspects of ceramic science and technology, including R&D, manufacturing, engineering, and marketing. American Ceramic Society Bulletin is published monthly, except for February, July, and November. Subscription included with The American Ceramic Society membership. Institutional subscription rates can be found online at www.ceramics.org or by contacting customer service at customerservice@ceramics.org. The American Ceramic Society is not responsible for the accuracy of information in the editorial, articles, and advertising sections of this publication. Readers should independently evaluate the accuracy of any statement in these sections. Publication of articles does not constitute endorsement, acceptance, or approval of the data, opinions, or conclusions of the authors on the part of the Society or its editors. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to American Ceramic Society Bulletin, 470 Olde Worthington Road, Suite 200, Westerville, OH 43082-8985. Periodical postage paid at Westerville, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Allow six weeks for address changes. American Ceramic Society Bulletin (ISSN No. 0002-7812). ©2025. Printed in the United States of America. ACSBA7, Vol. 104, No. 9, pp. 1-48. All feature articles are covered in Current Contents. 2 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 news & trends Chipping in on chip development: Universities launch new semiconductor research facilities In the four decades since a toaster was first connected to the internet, there are now more than 18 billion connected Internet of Things devices around the world. With billions more expected to be added by the end of this decade, it is cru- cial that new and improved semiconduc- tor technologies be developed to handle the growing demands on data storage, transport, and processing infrastructure. Governments around the world have dedicated more funding to semiconduc- tor manufacturing, and universities are following their lead by launching new laboratories and institutes focused on semiconductor research and develop- ment. Below is an overview of some of the facilities announced since the beginning of 2025. Prototyping and advanced pack- aging piloting facility at ASU On January 6, Arizona State University announced that it had been selected by the U.S. Commerce Department and Natcast as the site of the co-located NSTC Prototyping and NAPMP Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility. The facility will combine semiconductor research and prototyping for front-end manufacturing and packaging capabilities. It is expected to be operational as early as the fourth quarter of 2028. Learn more: https://bit.ly/400mLmf Semiconductor thin film labora- tory at Penn State On February 26, The Pennsylvania State University announced plans to establish an advanced laboratory for semiconductor thin films and device research in the Materials Research Institute\'s facilities in the Millennium Science Complex at University Park. At the heart of the new facility, made possible by funding from regional microelectronics consortium MMEC, will be a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition tool. This instrument will enable the deposition of semiconductor thin films on multiple wafers at a time. Learn more: https://bit.ly/47ppNuj TT TevTech Materials Processing Solutions CUSTOM DESIGNED VACUUM FURNACES FOR CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION Unsurpassed thermal and deposition uniformity Exceptional Automated control systems providing consistent quality product Pilot Scale systems available for rapid product development Systems installed and operating in Asia, U.S. and Europe ASME SETTING THE STANDARD ASME SECTION VIII BPVC CERTIFIED OVER [30] YEARS EXPERIENCE 100 Billerica Ave Billerica, MA 01862 sales@tevtechllc.com Call (978) 667-4557 www.tevtechllc.com American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 3 news & trends Nanofabrication Lab at Nevada On April 8, the University of Nevada, Reno announced the grand opening of the Nanofabrication Lab in the Davidson Foundation Cleanroom in the William N. Pennington Engineering Building. The facility is equipped with tools for lithography, deposition, etch- ing, wire bonding, and metrology, which can be used to manufacture electronic, photonic, and quantum devices. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3KQ4JEZ MUT-Imperial SABER Lab at Imperial College London On June 6, Imperial College London announced the opening of the MUT-Imperial Semiconductor AI & BioSensor Electronics Research Lab. The facility, opened in collaboration with Mahanakorn University of Technology, will bring together Imperial\'s expertise in integrated circuit design and biomedical electronics and MUT\'s state-of-the-art training facilities and electronics design. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4q7SSBW TSMC-UTokyo Lab at the University of Tokyo On June 12, the University of Tokyo and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced the opening of the TSMC-UTokyo Lab, which is dedicated to advancing semiconductor research, education, and talent incubation. This facility builds on a collaboration between the two orga- nizations that has been ongoing since 2019. Learn more: https://pr.tsmc.com/ english/news/3243 Newly merged research institute at TU/e On June 19, Eindhoven University of Technology announced it is establish- ing a research institute dedicated to the development of high-tech systems and chips of the future. The new institute merges one existing institute with two initiatives: the Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute, the High Tech Systems Center, and the Future Chips Flagship. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hdtBIZ 4 Semiconductor research and development facility at Stony Brook University On July 17, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Stony Brook University and onsemi, the larg- est U.S.-based manufacturer of silicon carbide semiconductors, will con- power struct a $20 million, state-of-the-art semi- conductor research and development facility on the Stony Brook University campus. Research at the new center will aim to unlock the full potential of sili- con carbide chips. The center is expected to be fully operational in early 2027. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3KHVaaT MOCVD Laboratory at UW-Madison On August 5, the University of Wisconsin-Madison\'s Ultrawide Bandgap Semiconductor Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition Laboratory officially opened. The facility will serve as the cor- nerstone of the College of Engineering- led focus on III-nitride semiconductors, which can handle much higher voltages than silicon-based semiconductors. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4mXFRIh CREST Center for Ultrawide Bandgap Semiconductor Device Materials at TXST On August 13, Texas State University announced that it received a $7.5 mil lion award from the U.S. National Science Foundation to establish the CREST Center for Ultrawide Bandgap Semiconductor Device Materials. The five-year initiative will unite faculty experts, students, and industry collabo- rators to advance ultrawide bandgap materials and devices with high speed, performance, and energy efficiency. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4olkdz0 Semiconductor workforce center at Boise State On September 17, Boise State University announced that it was awarded $7.4 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation to fund the creation of AWESOME, the Center for Advancing Workforce Experience through Semiconductors, Outreach, and Mentoring Excellence. The primary goals of this center are to drastically lower the energy cost of artificial intelligence through research, establish Boise State\'s national research competitiveness as a leader in semiconductor research and education, and improve the opportunity and educational experiences of students going into semiconductor industries. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nU1QkS Materials-to-Fab Center at ASU On October 9, Arizona State University again made headlines when it and semiconductor manufacturing equipment supplier Applied Materials announced the official opening of the Materials-to-Fab Center, a shared world- class $270 million research, develop- ment, and prototyping facility inside the university\'s MacroTechnology Works at the ASU Research Park in Tempe. The center will serve as a critical research and development hub for future-generation semiconductor technologies and act as a test bed for transitioning microelectronics discoveries from early-stage research to industry-ready applications. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Jbo1Un Volunteer with ACerS! Serve within your Division, on an ACers committee, or at a conference. Get involved today! ➡LEARN MORE http://ceramics.org/volunteer-opportunities The American Ceramic Society www.ceramics www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Corporate Partner news Advanced Energy Minerals signs distribution agreement with Korean company Advanced Energy Minerals (AEM), a leading global pro- ducer of high-purity alumina and aluminium hydroxides based in Montreal, Québec, Canada, signed a distribution agreement with Republic of Korea-based with Yeeyoung Cerachem Co., Ltd., a distributor of specialty chemicals and advanced materials. The agreement aims to help AEM expand into the Korean technology market and support man- ufacturing in the region. Read more: https://aemhpa.com/ news/tag/press-release CeramTec subsidiary positions itself with new brand identity Emil Müller GmbH, a subsidiary of the CeramTec Group, announced a new brand identity: EMG - The Saltcore Experts. This branding will help affirm EMG\'s position as a leading international specialist for salt cores. The announce- ment includes a new corporate design, logo, and updated website. Read more: https://www.ceramtec-group.com/en/ news-events GCA earns global recognition at the A\' Design Award and Competition GCA earned the bronze award in the packaging design category of the A\' Design Award and Competition 2025, which was held in July 2025 at Como, Italy. GCA received the award for their exclusive bottle design developed for Avoya sparkling mineral water. Read more: https://gca.com/ en/media/press-release Keystone Space Innovation Challenge awards $200K to Pennsylvania businesses Five Pennsylvania businesses were awarded a combined $200,000 through the first Keystone Space Innovation Challenge, which is designed to explore untapped potential in space technology and commercial research and develop- ment. Awardees competed in two categories: Commercial Space Technology Concepts and In-Space Research and Development Commercial Concepts. The funding was pro- vided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Read more: https://keystonespace. org/news/#in-the-news LLLLLL Components that move the world forward. Trans-Tech and its wholly owned subsidiary, Lark Engineering, provide access to cutting-edge ceramic and RF technologies. Through full-process control and advanced modeling, we deliver high-performance, customized solutions that drive innovation and value across your most challenging applications. TRANS-TECHINC.COM American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org Trans-Tech Ceramic Enabled Solutions 5 news & trends New model explicitly outlines each step of the materials science research process To date, little has been explicitly written about the steps, methodologies, and strategies that STEM researchers use to advance their field\'s collective knowledge. But in a recent open-access paper, two materials scientists propose a comprehensive model for the research cycle that \"can improve the experience of both those early-career and established researchers by providing common expec- tations, increase the return-on-investment for research sponsors by encouraging robust planning, and increase the impact of our collective research work by encour- aging knowledge development.\" The authors are Jennifer Carter, faculty director of the Swagelok Center for Surface Analysis of Materials at Case Western Reserve University, and Marian Kennedy, associate professor of materi- als science and engineering at Clemson University. In their paper, Carter and Kennedy note that previous researchers have represented the research cycle as a six-step process: 1. Identify a gap in knowledge needed by the community through a review of existing knowledge. 2. Construct the cycle objective or hypothesis. 3. Design and develop a methodol- ogy based on validated laboratory or computational experimental methods. 4. Apply this methodology to the can- didate solution. 5. Evaluate testing results. 6. Communicate the results to the greater community of practice. They note that not all experiments can progress through this idealized cycle. For example, \"the characterization tech- niques needed to produce new knowl- edge may not be currently available, and researchers will first need to invest significant time to develop the needed technique,\" they explain. Even in those cases, though, pro- ceeding with \"a carefully edited\" hypothesis based on perceived gaps in knowledge and \"a specially assigned methodology” that allows for replica- 6 tion and verification will enable a higher “return- on-investment for research stakeholders,” they write. Based on this understand- ing of the limitations of the idealized cycle, Carter and Kennedy argue that a materi- als researcher be defined as \"one who engages with any part of the research cycle with the intent of developing new structure-properties-perfor- mance-processing knowl- edge,\" regardless of whether they can participate in all aspects of the research cycle. In a similar vein, they also suggest broadly defining \"new knowledge\" to include both knowledge related to processing-structure-proper- ties-performance relationships as well as knowledge that enables those discoveries. Align goals with societal stakeholders 1 2 Identify gaps in Establish research existing community knowledge Disseminate results to community of practice 6 Analyze collected data question or hypothesis through inductive theorizing 3 Existing body of knowledge and connect results to established knowledge 5 Plan experimental methodology using engineering design optimization Complete computational and/or laboratory-based experimentation as designed Refine and Replicate Figure 1. llustration of the Research+ cycle, which outlines the steps that materials scientists can use to advance their field\'s collective knowledge. Carter and Kennedy then spend sever- al sections describing in detail each step of the research cycle, including showing explicitly how the incorporation of engi- neering principles within the planning of the experimental methodology can result in an optimized methodology. Based on these discussions and clarifi- cations, Carter and Kennedy end by pre- senting a revised research cycle called the Research+ cycle. This cycle, illustrated in Figure 1, includes three critical steps not often explicitly discussed: 1. Understand the existing body of knowledge: Carter and Kennedy state that understanding this knowledge is \"foundational to all aspects of being a researcher,\" and so they placed it at the center of the methodology. 2. Explicitly state how research ques- tions are aligned with societal goals: Carter and Kennedy note that changes in societal focus often lead to tumultuous shifts in research agendas. 3. Refine methodologies and replicate results: Carter and Kennedy explain that methodology design is often iteratively refined using tacit knowl- edge. Thus, \"It is helpful for early- career researchers to develop this tacit knowledge by asking questions about the resolution, sensitivity, time, cost, and availability of various methods before adopting them,\" they write. In a LinkedIn post announcing the new model, Carter says this study is \"the most important paper I have ever writ- ten,\" and she hopes to be \"remembered as an academic who ‘Engineers the next Engineer-Scientist.\' 999 In that same post, Kennedy says she is \"Thankful for the opportunity to col- laborate with Jennifer and many review- ers who strengthened this article.\" The open-access paper, published in MRS Bulletin, is \"Conceptualizing the research cycle for the field of materi- als science and engineering\" (DOI: 10.1557/s43577-025-00931-w). www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Credit: Carter and Kennedy, MRS Bulletin [CC BY 4.0) Z Deltech Furnaces New! Hazardous locations certifications NFPA86, UL1203, C1D2 (Groups G&D) An ISO 9001:2015 certified company Control systems are certified by Intertek UL508A compliant ASME NQA-1 2008 Nuclear Quality Assurance www.deltechfurnaces.com business and market view Tissue engineering and regeneration: Technologies and global markets T The global market for and tissue engineering regeneration technologies was valued at $4.8 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of bec Research Table 1. Global market for tissue engineering and regeneration, by application, through 2030 ($ millions) 2025 2030 CAGR % (2025-2030) Application 2024 Orthopedics and musculoskeletal disorders 2,062.1 2,349.0 4,578.4 14.3 Dermatology and wound care 1,581.9 1,777.7 3,215.0 12.6 12.8% to reach $9.8 billion Dental disorders 446.6 489.8 778.7 9.7 Cardiovascular diseases 379.5 422.1 722.0 11.3 Others* 331.8 358.6 542.1 8.6 Total 4,802.0 5,397.2 9,836.2 12.8 by the end of 2030. Tissue engineering and regenera- tion is a multidisciplinary field focused on producing biological substitutes to restore, maintain, or enhance tissue and function. Several emerging technologies are gaining ground as main areas for research and development: • organ 3D bioprinting combines bioinks (natural or synthetic) with living cells to build tissue-like structures. Organs-on-chips are microfluidic systems that contain engineered or natural miniature tissues, allowing precise control of the cell environ- ment to replicate human physiology. • Smart biomaterials respond to phys- iological changes and external *Other applications include neurological, ocular, reconstruction surgery, and gastrointestinal disorders. Table 2. Top five leading manufacturers of tissue engineering and regeneration market, 2024 Ranking 1 2 Company Organogenesis Inc. Integra LifeSciences Smith+Nephew 3 stimuli, such as temperature and pH. 4 MiMedx • Artificial intelligence aids in bio- material development by analyzing vast datasets to simulate biological behavior, personalize treatments, and reduce regulatory delays. The high prevalence of musculoskel- etal disorders, combined with a growing geriatric population, contributes to the dominance of the orthopedics and mus- culoskeletal disorders segment (Table 1). The competitive landscape of the tis- sue engineering market comprises many companies, with the top five leading manufacturers in 2024 shown in Table 2. The Asia-Pacific region has one of the highest burdens of non-communicable diseases worldwide. As a result, the region 8 5 Johnson & Johnson Strengths Leverages robust R&D and established platform technologies, including bioengineered cellular products and antimicrobial solutions, to support a diverse product portfolio. Provides solutions to complex wounds, surgical reconstruc- tion, and nerve repair through a regenerative platform based on bovine collagen, bovine dermis, porcine urinary bladder, human amniotic tissue, and resorbable synthetic mesh. Has an advanced skin substitute portfolio that support wound healing across acute, chronic, and surgical applications. Offers a broad portfolio of placental-based allografts, support- ed by extensive clinical evidence and reimbursement services. Leverages its global MedTech leadership, advanced biomate- rial expertise, and strong bone tissue engineering portfolio to support tissue repair and regeneration. has witnessed an expanding biotechnology sector and more government policies sup- porting tissue engineering research. About the author BCC Publishing Staff provides compre- hensive analyses of global market sizing, forecasting, and industry intelligence, cov- ering markets where advances in science and technology are improving the quality, standard, and sustainability of businesses, economies, and lives. Contact the staff at utkantha.srivastava@bccresearch.com. Resource BCC Publishing Staff, \"Tissue engi- neering and regeneration: Technologies and global markets,\" BCC Research Report HLC101E, July 2025. https:// bit.ly/July-2025-tissue-engineering www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 By Gemma Harvey Guest columnist Credit: Greg Cairns / Cairns Film Inc. O industry perspectives Sustainable development and design: Inspiration from landscape-shaping creatures Animals are not just passive inhab- itants of their environment. Many are architects of the natural world, actively shaping landforms and water bodies as they move around, feed, build homes, and reproduce. This impact by animals on different biomes has traditionally been overlooked in the environmental sciences. But scien- tists and engineers can draw inspiration from such animals, emulating the forms and processes used in their landscape engineering efforts to design innovative and sustainable buildings and materials. Zimbabwe\'s Eastgate Center—a huge, multi-use shopping and office space-is a prime example of biomimetic construc- tion inspired by an animal landscape engineer: termites. Mound-building termites live in Africa, Australia, and South America. They work coopera- tively in large colonies, binding soil and dung with their saliva to construct mounds that often reach several meters high. The internal mound architecture is equally remarkable-tunnels, cham- bers, and chimneys work in combina- tion with the termites\' porous building material to ventilate the landform and regulate its temperature. The Eastgate Center mimics these forms and processes. Its porous fab- ric absorbs heat without substantially increasing the interior temperature. The building\'s architecture works in alliance with daily temperature fluctuations, drawing dense, cool night air into large floor cavities and passively expelling ris- ing warm air through chimneys as tem- peratures increase through the day. This form of biomimicry contributes to cli- mate change mitigation and adaptation by reducing energy-related emissions and helping create climate-resilient buildings. Materials scientists can also find inspi- ration from animal architects that live under water. Caddisfly larvae inhabit the bottoms of streams and rivers world- wide. They produce silk to bind together grains of riverbed sand and gravel, creat- ing cases or nets for shelter and feeding (Figure 1).¹ Silk in general is a desirable biomaterial, delivering a combination of stickiness, strength, extensibility, and elasticity. While other animals also pro- duce silk, most live on land. Caddisfly silk has the added benefit of being adhe- sive under water, meaning its physical and chemical makeup is potentially use- ful for biomedical applications. These examples are just the tip of the animal architect iceberg. In a recent paper, my colleagues and I revealed that animal architects are much more diverse and globally widespread than previously recognized. Our comprehensive list of animal architects included 500 species spanning insects, mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and crustaceans across all land and freshwater biomes. We estimated that the collective power of these ani- mals in shaping landscapes is equivalent to the energy of hundreds of thousands of river floods. Ants move billions of tons of soil a year globally, soil-disturbing marsupials bring lush pockets to otherwise parched landscapes, and hippopotamus trails can create entirely new drainage networks in wetlands. In freshwater, mass-spawning salmon can move as much gravel as floods and reshape river form, while tiny ghost-like crustaceans influence the water storage capacity of underground rock by moving around within void spaces. Countless more animals will likely be revealed as architects as research in this area grows. Critically, though, our research shows that a quarter of land- scape-shaping animals are threatened or vulnerable in some way, meaning their effects could disappear before we fully understand them or identify how much we rely on them. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org Figure 1. Example of a Caddisfly larvae silk net at Cherry Creek in Madison County, Mont. Biomimicry that draws on animal landscape engineers can offer impact- ful pathways to sustainable design and materials, helping us mitigate and adapt to climate change, address biodiversity loss, and improve human wellbeing. So far, we have only scratched the surface. We still have much to learn about-and from-these fascinating animal architects. About the author Gemma Harvey is professor of physi- cal geography at Queen Mary University of London. The work described in this column is a collaboration with univer- sity researchers from the United States (Montana State University) and United Kingdom (Queen Mary, Nottingham, Oxford, Manchester Metropolitan univer- sities), all of whom undertake research on animal impacts on landscapes. Contact Harvey at g.l.harvey@qmul.ac.uk. References ¹Z. Maguire, B. B. Tumolo, and L. K. Albertson, \"Retreat but no surrender: Net- spinning caddisfly (Hydropsychidae) silk has enduring effects on stream channel hydrau- lics,\" Hydrobiologia 2020, 847(6): 1539-1551. ²G. L. Harvey, Z. Khan, L. K. Albertson, M. Coombes, M. F. Johnson, S. P. Rice, and H. A. Viles, \"Global diversity and energy of ani- mals shaping the Earth\'s surface,\" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2025, 122(8): e2415104122. 3H. A. Viles, A. S. Goudie, and A. M. Goudie, \"Ants as geomorphological agents: A global assessment,\" Earth-Science Reviews 2021, 213: 103469. 9 By David Holthaus Industry reporter industry insights Bioactive glass continues to transform medical care decades after first hitting the market Almost 60 years ago, a chance meet- ing led to pioneering work that has improved medical care and seeded future innovations. In the late 1960s, a young professor named Larry Hench traveled to a con- ference in Sagamore, N.Y., where he happened to sit next to a U.S. Army col- onel who was interested in finding better ways to treat the battlefield wounds he was seeing in the Vietnam War. Their conversations led to the then-speculative topic of replacing bone with synthetic materials that the body would not reject. Returning to his laboratory, Hench eventually developed a calcium sodium phosphosilicate glass composition that had properties enabling it to bond tightly with bone and stimulate the regenera- tion of damaged tissue. What he invented was Bioglass 45S5, the first patented bioactive glass. This material initiated a revolution in health care and paved the way for remarkable developments in regenerative medicine driven by advances in various types of bioactive and biocompatible materials. Before the discovery of bioactive glass, synthetic implants were typically inert, meaning they just survived in the body without actively interacting. But bioactive glass demonstrated that synthetic implants could not only bond strongly with living tissue but also have beneficial interactions beyond simple integration. The first bioactive glass-based medical device—an implant for middle ear ossic- ular repair-received FDA approval in 1985. In the 40 years since, numerous other bioactive glass-based products have reached market, as well as several other patented bioactive glass compositions.² MO SCI LLC, based in Rolla, Mo., is one company that has helped push the bounds of bioactive glass since the tech- nology\'s conception. Founded in 1985, the same year as the first FDA-approved 10 bioactive glass product, MO SCI has developed a range of bioactive glasses for different applications. Therasphere, a radioactive glass micro- sphere for inoperable liver tumor treat- ment, was one of the company\'s first bio- active glass products. More recently, the bioactive glass-based wound care product Mirragen, which earned FDA approval in 2017, has been shown to aid in the healing of chronic diabetic ulcers.³ Other companies working with bioac- tive glass include • NovaBone Products (Alachua, Fla.) received FDA approval for its Wound Matrix product, 4 an animal collagen and bioactive glass product that can treat pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and surgical wounds. • Bonalive Ltd. (Turku, Finland) distributes a granular material that inhibits bacterial growth. It has been found to be especially useful in filling bone cavities in patients managing chronic osteomyelitis. Synergy Biomedical LLC (Wayne, Pa.) makes a flexible and moldable bone graft material used in ortho- pedic and spinal surgery.6 Bioactive glass is also used in everyday medical products, such as toothpaste. NovaMin is the brand name for a bio- active glass made by GSK plc that triggers a reaction that deposits enamel-like mate- rial on the teeth. Its use in toothpaste has not been approved in the U.S. yet, but another bioactive glass-containing toothpaste made by BioMin did receive FDA premarket clearance in 2021.7 Besides industrial developments, aca- demic researchers continue to explore new uses for bioactive glass and seek ways to make it more durable. ACerS Fellow Julian Jones has researched the material for 25 years. He studied under and worked for Larry Hench at Imperial College London, where he is now a pro- Acers Fellow Julian Jones, professor at Imperial College London, holds a sample of Bouncy Bioglass, a bioactive glass material invented by him and his colleagues. fessor of biomaterials and associate head of the Department of Research. Jones leads a team looking for ways to regenerate relatively large holes in bones. As part of this research, he and his colleagues invented Bouncy Bioglass. It works the same way as the original but includes a polymeric component that allows it to treat larger injuries. \"We actually grow the polymer at the same time as we grow the glass, and they\'re interlocking at the molecular level,\" Jones says in an interview. “That design choice enables us to have this tight relationship that creates real synergy in the properties.\" Bouncy Bioglass is made via sol-gel chemistry, which makes it possible to mix polymers into bioactive glass on the molecular level, growing them together through a series of chemical reactions. The resulting product can be inserted into relatively large gaps in bone, such as those found in trauma victims, and can withstand the regular wear and tear that body parts must endure. \"For bone regeneration, we need properties that match the bone so it can take the cyclic loading,\" Jones says. \"If you put a big piece of porous glass in there, of course it can be brittle, it\'s going to break. So, we need ones that www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Credit: Julian Jones can take cyclic loading.” The “bouncy\" hybrid material that Jones and his col- leagues invented does that. The researchers also discovered that the 3D-printed material can stimulate cartilage regeneration, which is especially beneficial for knee injuries, so common in youth athletes, “weekend warriors,” and people over the age of 50. Other techniques can help regenerate cartilage, but the result acts more like scar tissue, which can be inelastic. \"We\'re getting real articular cartilage regeneration,\" Jones says. That can be a boon for treating injuries such as a torn meniscus in the knee, vertebral disc inju- ries, or the common problem of arthritis in the aged. To promote its commercialization, the technology was recently licensed to Orthox, Ltd., a small company based in Oxford, England, that is developing medical implants to repair damaged knees and other orthopedic injuries. It has been 10 years since Hench\'s death in December 2015, but as bio- active glass compositions and applica- tions continue to evolve, his legacy lives on through the advances in tissue regen- eration, wound healing, and other novel medical treatments. About the author David Holthaus is an award-winning journalist based in Cincinnati, Ohio, who covers business and technology. Contact Holthaus at dholthaus@ceramics.org. References \'Baino et al., \"Bioactive glasses: Where are we and where are we going?\" Journal of Functional Biomaterials 2018, 9(1): 25. 2\"Bioactive glass,\" Wikipedia. Updated 21 Sept. 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Bioactive_glass 3\"Specialty glasses for healthcare and more: Steven Jung,\" Ceramic Tech Chat. Published 19 July 2023. https://bit.ly/Ceramic-Tech- Chat-Steven-Jung 4\"NovaBone products receives 510(k) clearance for wound dressing for the advanced wound market,\" NovaBone. Published 27 June 2023. https://bit.ly/NovaBone-510k-clearance 5\"Cost-effective bone infection surgery Bonalive granules,\" Bonalive. Published 8 Feb. 2022. https://bit.ly/Bonalive-granules 6\"Synergy Biomedical launches BIOSPHERE MIS II, next-generation minimally invasive bone graft delivery system,\" Business Wire. Published 1 March 2022. https://bwnews. pr/4gZRahZ 7A. Gocha, \"If you live in America and brush your teeth, get excited-bioactive glass toothpaste is on the way,\" Ceramic Tech Today. Published 2 March 2021. https://ceramics. org/ceramic-tech-today/bioactive-glass-tooth- paste-is-on-the-way *All references verified as of Oct. 13, 2025. The American Ceramic Society ceramics.org ACers Learning Center Course Feature: Understanding Why Ceramics Fail and Designing for Safety Instructed by Stephen Freiman, Ph.D. 9 lessons | 3.5 hours with lesson slides included | On-Demand This course explores the practical fracture mechanics background necessary to understand brittle failure and describe some of the unique characteristics of ceramic materials that must be taken into account in their design and use. Register for the On-Demand course at https://ceramics.org/course/freiman-ceramic-fail-safety Use code SAFETY20 to get 20% off your registration! Offer valid for one-time use from Dec. 3, 2025 to Dec. 3, 2026. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 11 acers spotlight SOCIETY Welcome new ACerS Corporate Partner ACerS is pleased to welcome its newest Corporate Partner: IS R DIVISION SECTION CHAPTER NEWS Schunk Technical Ceramics schunk To learn about the benefits of ACerS Corporate Partnership, contact Yolanda Natividad, associate director of membership and industry relations, at (614) 794-5827 or ynatividad@ceramics.org. ACers Pittsburgh Section Annual 2025 Golf Outing: Photos and results The ACerS Pittsburgh Section held the Annual Pittsburgh Golf Outing on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at the Birdsfoot Golf Course in Freepost, Pa. The day featured wonderful weather and kicked off with a bag piper who began play- ing on the ridge and then walked down to join the group of players. Each year, all proceeds from the outing go toward the Pittsburgh Sections\' J. Earl Frazier Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to a college senior majoring in ceramics, materials science, and/or engi neering. This year, the Section raised $3,363 for the fund. Thank you to all the win- ners, participants, and staff at Birdsfoot Golf Course for helping make this year\'s annual outing a huge success. First place team from Elkem. Second place team from Plibrico Company. 12 FOR MORE INFORMATION: ceramics.org/spotlight Third place team from Furnace Products and Services. AMATEUR www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 A AdValue Technology Quality Materials to Empower a World of Solutions 2025 YouTube video contest winners announced The winning submissions of the annual Bioceramics Division YouTube video contest showcase recent innovations and technological advancements in the field of bioceramics. Congratulations to the winners! First place: “Through the lens of XMT: Exploring the effect of a fluoride bioactive glass varnish,” by Emily Sara Thambi, Queen Mary University of London Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd-Y1k_GW48 *Thambi thanks Graham Davis and David Mills for their support with the X-ray microtomography Second place: \"Simulations-guided design of bioactive materials and scaffolds for bone regeneration,\" by Hanmant Gaikwad, North Dakota State University Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhUlPN4tLu0 ICACC 2026: Registration waiver program and childcare grant initiative Students or young professionals who are giving a presenta- tion at the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the 50th International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites may be eligible to apply for a registration waiver through the ICACC 2026 Student and Young Professionals Registration Waiver Program. This program will support the attendance of students and young professionals at ICACC 2026, which takes place Jan. 25-30, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. The aim of the program is to develop and foster cooperation among students and young professionals from all over the world. For more information, including the application, visit https://ceramics.org/ICACC2026-Registration-Waiver-Program. The Engineering Ceramics Division is also offering childcare grants for those attending ICACC 2026. Grants of up to $400 will be given to selected registered meeting attendees who are bringing one or more young children to the conference or who incur extra expenses in leaving them at home (e.g., added hours of daycare or babysitting services). For more information, including the application, visit https://ceramics.org/ICACC2026-childcare-grants. GGRN Membership Graduate students can unlock professional development and networking opportunities by visiting ceramics.org/ggrn The Ready to join? $30 USD annually American Ceramic Society ceramics.org ■ Alumina ■ Quartz ■ Sapphire ■ Diamond ■ Zirconia ■ Boron Nitride ■Transparent Ceramics ■Thick Film Pastes ■ High Purity Powders ■Refractory Metals www.advaluetech.com Alumina Quartz Sapphire Diamond Zirconia Boron Nitride Transparent Ceramics Thick Film Pastes High Purity Powders Refractory Metals Tel: 520-514-1100 Fax: 520-747-4024 Sales@advaluetech.com 3158 S. Chrysler Ave., Tucson, AZ 85713 Starbar and Moly-D elements are made in the U.S.A. with a focus on providing the highest quality heating elements and service to the global market. 2 60 years of service and reliability 1²R I SQUARED R ELEMENT I Squared R Element Co., Inc. Phone: (716)542-5511 Email: sales@isquaredrelement.com www.isquaredrelement.com American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 13 14 acers spotlight more 2025 Ceramographic Exhibit winners Roland B. Snow Award for Best in Show Oxide dog on a snowy field, by Pratyush Chettri, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. SOCIETY Optical microscopy category DIVISION First: Ceraphium: When crystals break, angels wake! by Oliver Preuss, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany Second: Cosmic quartz: A galaxy beneath the lens, by Metri Zughbi, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. SECTION Third: Seeding dislocations in a new field, by Albert Zelenika, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, CHAPTER Germany NEWS Scanning electron microscopy category First: Oxide dog on snowy field, by Pratyush Chettri, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Second: MXene fish in a sea of sulfur unveils hidden art, by Amir Mirtaleb, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. Third: Ghostly tungsten family, by Wookyung Jin, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. Transmission electron microscopy category First: A chaotic 2D heart, by Krutarth Kamath, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Second: Bond, grain bond, by Daniela Fonseca, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. Third: A Tale of Time, by Krutarth Kamath, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Scanning probe microscopy category First: Fireworks: Spherulitic crystallization in IN2O3, by Ahrong Jeong, Hokkaido University, Japan Second: Diphasic boundary energy: A kinetic knob for nucleation? by Koen J. H. Verrijt, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. Undergraduate category First: Microstructural forest, by Haley J. Bartosh, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. The American Ceramic Society ceramics.org WEBINAR LIBRARY CHECK OUT THESE RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE ACERS WEBINAR ARCHIVE: FROM COMPLEXITY TO CAPABILITY: EXPLORING THE LINKS BETWEEN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN HIGH-ENTROPY OXIDES Original air date: Aug. 29, 2025 Hosted by: Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia Section Featured speaker: Christina Rost ION CONDUCTING OXIDES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY CONVERSION AND STORAGE Original air date: Sept. 26, 2025 Hosted by: Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia Section Featured speakers: Eric D. Wachsman Acers members can view these webinars and other past recordings by visiting the ACerS Webinar Library at https://ceramics.org/education/webinars. www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 2026 ACerS Mentor Programs applications open We are excited to be entering into our eighth year of the ACerS Mentor Programs! ACerS offers mentor programs for students, faculty, and pro- fessionals within industry. Each program is thoughtfully designed to provide participants with the tools, insights, and relationships they need to make a lasting impact on their careers and the field. Many mentors and mentees return year after year, creating a legacy of growth and shared success. Meet one such pair–Todd Steyer and Sara Dockins—in the June/July 2025 issue of the ACerS Bulletin. To date, the ACerS Mentor Program has facilitated connec- tions between nearly 750 individuals. Become part of the 2026 Mentor Programs and start building your connections by regis- tering at www.ceramics.org/mentorship. Registration is due by Dec. 12, 2025. Call the Experts for all your solids processing Size Reduction Wet & Dry Size Reduction Steel & Ceramic Lined Mills Jars & Jar Rolling Mills Vacuum Drying Dryers & Complete Systems Solids & High Viscosity Mixing Ribbon & Cone Blenders Fluidizing Mixers Sigma Blade Mixers Applications: Ceramics. Al2O3 Glass Frit Sic Tungsten Carbide Quarts Refractory Organometallics. Catalysts Minerals Pigments Polymers Powdered Metals Graphite Resins ACerS Mentor Programs CONNECT | MOTIVATE | ACHIEVE CERAMICS.ORG/MENTORSHIP Quality & Innovation Since 1911 PAULO. ABBE www.pauloabbe.com 630-350-3012 sales@pauloabbe.com News from EPDC: Activities and 2025-26 leadership Hello, ACers members, from your Educational and Professional Development Council (EPDC)! EPDC is the ACerS community dedicated to the pro- motion and improvement of education and profes- sional development initiatives. Members of EPDC work together and with other ACerS communities to support ceramic and glass scientists and engineers throughout different stages of their careers. For students and young professionals, we at EPDC col- laborate with Keramos, Material Advantage, ACerS President\'s Council of Student Advisors, and the Young Professional Network on networking events and other professional development opportunities. We also assist in running the ACerS Student Mentor program, which pairs students with professional ACerS members to get advice on successful careers in ceramics and glass. There is also the ACerS Industry and Faculty Mentor Programs, which we support as well. These programs help professionals advance in their existing careers or offer advice on making a career move. The Awards Committee and the Accreditation Committee are two other ways that we support current and emerging ceramic and glass professionals through EPDC. The former committee helps celebrate our col- leagues by annually selecting recipients for the four EPDC awards. The latter committee oversees Society efforts related to ABET, the nongovernmental organiza- tion that provides quality assurance for post-secondary programs, to ensure our university students are getting the skills they will need in their future careers. Volunteers are always needed and welcome as men- tors and committee members within EPDC. If you are interested in learning more about specific EPDC activ- ities and becoming involved, visit ceramics.org/EPDC or contact Yolanda Natividad, associate director of membership and industry relations, at (614) 794-5827 or ynatividad@ceramics.org. EPDC 2025-26 leadership Co-chairs: Manoj Mahapatra and Frank DelRio As 2025 comes to a close, we look forward to keeping you updated on EPDC\'s activities in 2026! Sincerely, Brian Gorman and Manoj Mahapatra (2024-25 co-chairs) American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 15 acers spotlight MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS IN MEMORIAM Ray Johnson FOR MORE INFORMATION: ceramics.org/membership Volunteer Spotlight: Yiquan Wu ACerS Volunteer Spotlight profiles a member who demonstrates outstanding service to the Society. Yiquan Wu is Inamori Professor of ceramic engi- neering at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. He received his B.E. in materials sciences and engineering from Wuhan University of Science and Technology, his M.S. in materials science from the University of Science & Technology of China, and his Ph.D. in materials from Imperial College London. He worked at Duke University and the University of Rochester as a postdoctoral research associate and assistant research professor, respectively, before moving to Alfred. Wu\'s research focuses on advanced ceramic materials for energy, optical, and pho- tonic applications. Transparent polycrystalline ceramics are a particular interest. Wu has served ACerS in a variety of ways. He was conference chair of the 16th Pacific Rim Conference on Ceramic and Glass Technology, and he previously served as chair of the Basic Science Division and president of the Ceramic Education Council. Currently, he serves as a member of the ACerS Board of Directors as well as editor for Journal of the American Ceramic Society and as associate editor for International Journal of Ceramic Engineering and Science. Wu has received several ACerS awards, including the ACerS Global Ambassador Award and the Global Star Award from the Engineering Ceramics Division. He is an ACerS Fellow and an Academician of the World Academy of Ceramics. We extend our deep appreciation to Wu for his service to our Society! ACerStudent Engagement: Brooke Downing and Wayne Yeo Brooke Downing and Wayne Yeo are second- and third-year Ph.D. students, respectively, in materials science at Colorado School of Mines. They conduct research on piezoelectric materials, with Downing focused on controlling microstructure evolution in piezoceramics and Yeo working on high-frequency piezoelectric thin films for acoustic applications. Downing and Yeo are both delegates of ACerS President\'s Council of Student Advisors, and they used the skills developed through this program to help organize the 2025 Colorado Center for Advanced Ceramics (CCAC) Conference. This annual con- ference is a fully student-run event that gathers the Colorado ceramics community together to share breakthroughs and exchange ideas on ceramic science and technologies. Downing\'s role in organizing the CCAC Conference was conference fundraising. She appreci- ated the experience because “It gave me exposure in connecting with companies and navigating the complexities of conference organizing,” she says. Congratulations to Downing and Yeo on the successful event! All students can gain valuable skills and experiences like Downing and Yeo through ACerS student membership. Learn more at https://ceramics.org/membership/join. 16 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Names in the News Members-Would you like to be included in the Bulletin\'s Names in the News? Send a headshot and link to the article to mmartin@ceramics.org. Cato Laurencin, FACerS, University Professor and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Connecticut and chief executive officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute on Regenerative Engineering, was named the winner of the 2025 Blaise Pascal Medal in Materials Science from the European Academy of Sciences. He will receive the award at the 2025 Symposium & Ceremony of the European Academy of Sciences, which will be held at CERN on Dec. 17-18, 2025, in Meyrin, Switzerland. Martin Harmer, FACerS, DLM, Alcoa Foundation Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering and director of the Nano | Human Interfaces Presidential Research Initiative at Lehigh University, was named among The Falling Walls Foundation\'s Top 10 Breakthroughs of the Year 2025 in Physical Sciences for his pioneering work on copper-based superalloys. The Falling Walls Foundation, based in Berlin, Germany, takes its name from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989-a symbol of overcoming barriers. Each year, the organization recognizes breakthroughs across disciplines that “break walls” in science and society. In honor of L. David Pye, DLM, FACerS, dean emeritus and professor emeritus of glass science at The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, the L. David Pye Hall of Glass endowed fund was established to fuel the future of engineering and art and design at Alfred University. This fund supports a range of high-impact initiatives, including scholarship support for the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Ceramic Tech Chat: Rod Trice Hosted by ACerS Bulletin editors, Ceramic Tech Chat talks with ACerS members to learn about their unique and personal stories of how they found their way to careers in ceramics. Hypersonic research and fast- track education: Rod Trice In the September 2025 episode of Ceramic Tech Chat, Rod Trice, professor of materials engineering at Purdue University, briefly overviews the history of hypersonic flight, describes current hypersonic vehicle design paradigms and materials, and shares his expectations for the future of this critical national defense sector. Check out a preview from his episode, where he shares how he came to be an instructor in the government-funded ACerS-USACA hypersonic training program. \"During the COVID-19 pandemic, I developed this course on materials for hypersonics. It was pretty broad; it covered a lot of the areas. And I\'ve taught this course at Purdue many times now, and so it is pretty mature. I ran into Eileen De Guire at MS&T, and she mentioned that ACerS had gotten some money and was looking to develop a course on hypersonics. And of course I volunteered my services, and this is really what started my teaching relationship with ACerS.\" Listen to Trice\'s whole interview-and all our other Ceramic Tech Chat episodes―at https://ceramictechchat.ceramics.org/974767. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 17 18 acers spotlight AWARDS AND DEADLINES Nomination deadlines for Society awards: Jan. 15, 21, 31, and March 1, 2026. Contact: Vicki Evans | vevans@ceramics.org Division Award AACS Deadline Anna O Shepard January 15 BSD Early Discovery March 1 BIO Young Scholar January 31 BIO Global Young Bioceramicist January 31 Description Recognizes an individual(s) who has made outstanding contributions to materials science applied to art, archae- ology, architecture, or cultural heritage. Recognizes an ACerS early career member who has demon- strated a contribution to basic ceramic and glass science. Recognizes excellence in research among current degree-seeking graduate students and postdoctoral research associates. Recognizes a young ceramic engineer or materials scien- tist who has made significant contributions to the area of bioceramics for human healthcare around the globe. FOR MORE INFORMATION: or the devel ceramics.org/members/awards BIO Larry L. Hench Lifetime Achievement January 31 BIO Tadashi Kokubo January 31 CEMENTS Early Career January 31 GOMD Norbert J. Kriedl January 21 GOMD George W. Morey January 21 GOMD L. David Pye Glass Hall of Fame January 21 GOMD Stookey Lecture January 21 MFG John E. Marquis January 15 Memorial Award Recognizes an individual\'s lifetime dedication, vision, and accomplishments in advancing the field of bioceramics, particularly toward innovation in the field and contribution of that innovation to the translation of technology toward clinical use. Recognizes an individual\'s outstanding achievements in the field of bioceramics research and development. Recognizes an outstanding early career scientist who is conducting research in the field of cement and concrete in academia, industry, or a government-funded laboratory. Recognizes a young engineer or materials scientist who has conducted excellent research in glass science. Nominations are open to all degree-seeking graduate stu- dents (M.S. or Ph.D.) or those who have graduated within a 12-month period of the annual GOMD meeting. Recognizes new and original work in the field of glass sci- ence and technology. The criterion for winning the award is excellence in publication of work, either experimental or theoretical, done by an individual. Recognizes an individual\'s lifetime of dedication, vision, and accomplishments in advancing the fields of glass science, glass engineering, and glass art. Recognizes an individual\'s lifetime of innovative explor- atory work or noteworthy contributions to outstanding research on new materials, phenomena, or processes involving glass that have commercial significance or the potential for commercial impact. Recognizes the author(s) of a paper on research, engineer- ing, or plant practices relating to manufacturing in ceramics and glass, published in the prior calendar year in a publica- tion of the Society, that is judged to be of greatest value to the members and to the industry. Individual Membership Find out how you can gain access to the latest technical trends and experts in the field by visiting ceramics.org/individual Ready to join? $120 USD annually The American Ceramic Society ceramics.org www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Student leadership: PCSA Annual Business Meeting 2025 In September 2025, students from 29 universities across seven coun- tries gathered in Columbus, Ohio, for the ACerS President\'s Council of Student Advisors (PCSA) Annual Business Meeting. Supported by the Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation (CGIF), the PCSA Annual Business Meeting is designed to maximize idea-sharing and collaboration. Delegates work in committees to set achievable, high-impact goals for the year ahead while also building networks that will strengthen the future of the field. For many of the 46 students who attended the three-day event, it marked the moment they stepped into leadership within the ceramics and glass community, finding their voices alongside peers and mentors in a professional setting. Building connections and confidence The PCSA Annual Business Meeting opened on Friday, Sept. 26 with introductions and an interactive icebreaker led by Scott McCormack, PCSA mentor-at-large and professor at the University of California, Davis. Students quickly found common ground, sharing both personal interests and professional goals. The evening continued with committee rotations, where delegates explored opportunities to contribute in areas such as educational out- reach, communications, recruitment and retention, professional devel- opment, and conference programming. Leadership in action Saturday was a full day of leadership and strategy. Delegates finalized committee placements, elected committee chairs, and began develop- ing SMART goals for the year ahead. A highlight of the day was lunch with the ACerS Board of Directors, where students engaged with professionals from industry, academia, and national labs. The conversations provided valuable insights into leadership and career pathways while helping students build connec- tions that will support their futures. On Sunday, the focus shifted to communication and long-term planning. During the research pitch session, students sharpened their science communication skills while presenting on topics ranging from high-tem- perature ceramics to energy storage and battery materials. The day also included a hands-on outreach activity with the Education Committee, where students worked with the CGIF\'s popular materials science kits. The meeting concluded with reflections from outgoing officers and vision statements from the incoming leadership team for the 2025-26 year. A lasting impact Toward the end of the Annual Business Meeting, Pattiya Pibulchinda, fourth-year PCSA delegate and out-going vice council chair, reflected on her time with the organization. CGIF CERAMIC AND GLASS INDUSTRY FOUNDATION The outgoing and incoming council chairs, Nathan Mcllwaine and Randi Swanson, respectively, stand in the front of the 46-person delegation during the PCSA Annual Business Meeting. Scott McCormack (right), PCSA mentor-at-large and UC Davis professor, leads the group in an icebreaker activity designed to encourage networking and creative problem solving. \"The PCSA is the platform for ceramics- and glass-focused students to connect and strengthen their professional network, not just within the PCSA but also through the activities the PCSA organizes,\" she said. As the meeting closed, students left Columbus energized, connected, and ready to lead. Throughout the year, they will continue collaborating online, at their universities, and at scientific conferences, advancing the goals and programs established at the in-person meeting. With the continued support of the CGIF, the PCSA will carry forward its mission of developing student leaders who will shape the future of ceramics and glass. Visit https://ceramics.org/pcsa to learn more about the PCSA and become involved. Help us continue to empower the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals by giving now at https://ceramics.org/donate. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 19 research briefs Ferroic indium selenide achieves solid-state crystal-to-glass transition Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, along with colleagues from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, published a paper in Nature describing a novel capability of ferroelectric ẞ\"-phase indium selenide: the ability to undergo solid-state amorphization through direct- current stimulation. Indium selenide is sometimes called the “golden” semiconductor due to its combination of graphene-like (extreme thinness) and silicon-like (high electron mobility) properties. In contrast to these other materials, however, indium sele- nide exhibits a remarkably tunable band- gap, due in part to its multiple stable crystalline phases. Large-scale production of 2D indium selenide for wafer-scale integration has remained elusive due to difficulties main- taining an ideal atomic ratio between indium and selenium during synthesis. While some groups work on overcoming this hurdle, others continue to investi- gate the full extent of indium selenide\'s unique properties and capabilities-such as the authors of the recent paper. When first author Gaurav Modi, for- mer Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania, first attempted electrical stimulation of indium selenide nanowires, he was shocked to observe that the solid- state transition could be induced through continuous, rather than pulsed, current. Artist\'s impression of electrically driven solid-state amorphization in ferroelectric ẞ\"-phase indium selenide. The lightning bolts indicate electrical spikes from piezo- electricity-induced mechanical shocks, which transition the material to a glassy phase. \"I actually thought that I might have damaged the material,\" he says in a press release. \"Normally, you would need elec- trical pulses to induce any kind of amor- phization, and here, a continuous current had disrupted the crystalline structure, which shouldn\'t have happened.\" Modi and his coauthors then used a suite of in-situ microscopy tools to uncov- er the mechanism enabling this transition. They discovered that when a continu- ous current is passed parallel to the 2D indium selenide\'s layers, the layers slide against each other in different direc- Credit: Aakanksha Jain; Indian Institute of Science, tions. This sliding causes the formation of many domains bound by defective regions, and when multiple defects intersect in a small nanoscopic region, the structural integrity of the crystal col- lapses to form glass locally. The collapse of these local regions triggers an avalanche effect, whereby more domain boundaries are created and then collapse. The avalanche stops when the entire material turns into glass. \"It\'s just goosebumps stuff to see all of these factors come to life and play together, at different length scales in an electron microscope,\" says second author Shubham Parate, Ph.D. student at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, in the press release. This discovery could greatly reduce the amount of power needed for optical stor- age media devices, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. These devices store and erase data by switching a material between its crystalline and glassy phases. Currently, this switch is triggered using laser pulses to rapidly heat and quench the phase-change material, during which time it passes through an intermediate liquid phase. Using electricity to induce a solid-state transition instead would make the process less energy intensive. The paper, published in Nature, is \"Electrically driven long-range solid-state amorphization in ferroic In,Se,” (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08156-8). Materials in the news Paper-thin light glows like the sun Hefei University of Technology researchers developed an ultrathin, pa- per-like LED that emits a warm, sunlike glow. They achieved this light quality, which is close to natural sunlight, by engineering a balance of red, yellow-green, and blue quantum dots. The emitted light had more intensity in red wavelengths and less intensity in blue wavelengths, which is better for sleep and eye health. These light sources required only 8 V to reach maximum light output, and about 80% exceeded the target brightness for computer monitors. For more information, visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251010091543.htm. Unlock the quantum magic hidden in diamonds Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Humboldt University in Berlin developed a way to capture nearly all the light emitted from tiny diamond defects known as color centers. Using hybrid nanoantennas consisting of metal and dielectric materials, they precisely guided light from nanodiamonds into a single direction, achieving 80% efficiency at room temperature. The innovation could make practical quantum sensors and secure communication devices much closer to reality. For more information, visit https://www.sciencedaily. com/releases/2025/10/251007081833.htm. 20 20 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Decade-long effort sheds light on how oxide catalysts can sustain themselves In a groundbreaking paper that was 10 years in the making, a multi-institu- tion team provided direct visualizations of the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. The Mars-van Krevelen mechanism is widely applied in processes that involve solid catalysts (typically metal oxides) and gaseous reactants, such as hydro- carbon oxidation and catalytic cracking. This cyclical redox mechanism involves several steps: • The reduction of the catalyst by a (typically organic) reactant. Oxygen is lost from the lattice, leaving oxygen vacancies on the catalyst\'s surface. • The reduced catalyst is reoxidized • by reacting with gaseous oxygen, which fills the vacant sites on the catalyst surface. • The catalytic reaction cycle repeats, with another round of reduction and reoxidation. Athough the explanation above makes the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism sound like a well-understood process, there is scant experimental evidence proving the details of this reaction. Prior studies largely inferred oxygen dynamics and transient surface states indirectly, lacking the spatiotemporal resolution to correlate surface restructuring with reac- tivity in real time. The authors of the recent study addressed this gap in the literature by integrating in-situ environmental trans- mission electron microscopy (TEM) with multimodal spectroscopy and computa- tional modeling to better understand the mechanism at atomic resolution. \"From the experiment, we can see the phenomena and reaction now,” says project leader Guangwen Zhou, SUNY Distinguished Professor and deputy director of materials science and engi- neering at the State University of New York at Binghamton, in a news release. \"From the modeling side, we can better understand how much energy we need to supply to make it happen first.” The study focused on cupric oxide (CuO) catalysts under hydrogen expo- sure. This metal oxide is considered a model system for reactions such as the water-gas shift and methanol synthesis due to its industrial relevance. The in-situ TEM experiments involved two sequential steps: 1. In-situ formation of CuO inside the environmental TEM by oxidizing metallic copper at 300°C in 0.5 Pa of oxygen pressure. 2. Switching to hydrogen gas flow (0.5 Pa) to induce the oxide reduction reaction. The researchers observed oscillatory redox behavior due to the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. But they also observed a previously unknown, unique behavior of the metal oxide catalyst that allows it to self-regulate. During the first step of the redox reac- tion, when most of the oxide\'s topmost oxygen layer is pulled away, the oxygen embedded within the oxide\'s internal structure begins to diffuse upward. This inner oxygen, along with the gaseous environmental oxygen, repopulates the oxide\'s surface area—thus helping restart the cycle of reactivity. Process details: Gaseous hydrogen molecules react with surface-level lattice oxygen, which consist mainly of CuO7. The reaction forms water molecules that desorb from the surface at elevated temperatures, while at the same time, oxygen vacancies are created at the oxide surface. • • As lattice oxygen are lost, Cu₂O₂ forms on the surface. Experiments confirmed that both Cu₂O, and CuO, exhibited high surface stabil- ity and were not prone to transform into other compositions. • Because the CuO, surface is stable, the subsurface oxygen can refill oxy- gen vacancies at the surface, helping convert the surface back to Cu₂O,. The researchers plan to investigate reaction conditions to see if there are other ways to change or even control the oscillatory behavior. The paper, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is \"Oscillatory redox behavior in oxides: Cyclic surface reconstruction and reac- tivity modulation via the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism\" (DOI: 10.1073/ pnas.2422711122). Al reveals what fusion sensors cannot see Developed by Princeton scientists and international collaborators, a powerful new artificial intelligence tool called Diag2Diag aids fusion research by filling in missing plasma data with synthetic yet highly detailed information. This system uses sensor input to predict read- ings other diagnostics cannot capture, especially in the crucial plasma edge region where stability determines performance. The researchers also found that the synthetic data supports a leading theory about how one method for stopping plasma disruptions works. For more information, visit https://www.pppl.gov/news Perovskite camera can see inside the human body Researchers led by Northwestern University and Soochow University built a perovskite-based detector that can capture individual gamma rays for single-photon emission computed tomography imaging with record-breaking precision. It can also sense extremely faint signals from a medical radio- tracer and distinguish incredibly fine features, producing crisp images that can separate tiny radioactive sources spaced just a few millimeters apart. For patients, this innovation could mean shorter scan times, clearer results, and lower doses of radiation. For more information, visit https://news. northwestern.edu/stories/2025. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 21 22 Credit: Nemani et al., Advanced Science [CC BY 4.0) advances in nanomaterials First sample of MXene-enhanced UHTCs confirms potential of this materials design pathway In a open-access paper, researchers at Purdue University and Colorado School of Mines moved beyond fundamental investi- gations and created the first MXene-enhanced ultrahigh-temper- ature ceramic (UHTC) for experimental testing. UHTCs are a class of materials comprised of borides, car- bides, and nitrides of transition metals with very high melting points, generally above 2,000°C. UHTCs have been a subject of extensive research since the 1960s, and some of these materi- als now have established industrial uses. However, the use of UHTC borides and carbides with melting points above 3,000°C for aerospace applications-such as leading edges and nose caps in hypersonic aircraft-remains a nascent field of research. One of the challenges with using UHTCs in the aerospace sector is the fact that, like other ceramics, UHTCs can suffer from intrinsic brittleness. Thus, manufacturers need ways to improve the strength and fracture toughness of UHTCs. MXenes are one promising solution to improve the mechanical properties of UHTCs. MXenes are a family of 2D early transition metal carbides and nitrides with a wide degree of tunability in their chemistry. This tunability has enabled MXenes to be applied in areas ranging from energy storage and conversion to flexible optoelectronics to wearable biosensors. MXenes have the potential to be used as additives in tra- ditional UHTC materials or even as standalone materials in extreme environments. But until now, only fundamental stud- ies on this potential application have taken place. For this first experimental study, the researchers chose zirconium diboride as the model system. Zirconium diboride offers the benefits of high melting point (>3,200°C) and high strength at elevated temperatures (up to 800 MPa at 1,600°C), but it suffers from inherent brittleness, poor sinterability, and is prone to oxidation. To create the MXene-enhanced UHTC, the researchers developed a self-assembly-driven green body synthesis method to conformally cover the zirconium diboride grains with tita- nium carbide MXene (Ti₂CT). The method uses electrostatic interactions in aqueous solutions to achieve the conditions necessary for successful self-assembly. Ti3C2T, single flakes ZrB2 ceramic particles MXene flake MXene covered ZrB₂ ZrB2 particle 1 μm Homogenously covered ZrB2-Ti3C2Tx grains Schematic of the MXene-enhanced ultrahigh-temperature ceramics synthesis process alongside a scanning electron microscopy image of 2.5 wt.% MXene-enhanced zirconium diboride green bodies. Analysis of the MXene-enhanced zirconium diboride sam- ples showed that even just a small addition of MXene into the UHTC, as low as just 0.5 wt.%, improved densification from about 88% in pure zirconium diboride to about 96% for the encapsulated grains after spark plasma sintering. Furthermore, the zirconium diboride\'s mechanical proper- ties improved substantially after encapsulation, including a 36% increase in hardness, an about 12% enhancement in Young\'s modulus, and an about 15% increase in flexural strength at 2.5 wt.% MXene loading. • Based on these results, the researchers drew two conclusions: The MXene-enhanced UHTCs produced using this process demonstrate enhanced mechanical properties and strength- ening mechanisms, which should facilitate their use in high-temperature aerospace and energy applications. • Because the new self-assembly process does not require any surfactants or stabilizing agents, it should be appli- cable to other MXenes and UHTCs. \"Our findings mark a key step in bridging fundamental studies with practical applications, demonstrating MXenes\' real potential in UHTCs,” says lead author Kartik Nemani, post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in an email. The open-access paper, published in Advanced Science, is \"Ti,C,T MXene-zirconium diboride based ultra-high tempera- ture ceramics\" (DOI: 10.1002/advs.202500487). Learn more about UHTCs in the Hypersonic Training Program In August 2025, The American Ceramic Society and the United States Advanced Ceramics Association were awarded a two-year extension of funding from the Department of Defense for their successful “Professional Development for Hypersonic Materials\" program. This funding will enable both ACerS and USACA to build upon the strong foun- dation established through the January 2024 contract award under DOD\'s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program. Learn more about the program and get involved by visiting https://ceramics.org/ education/hypersonic-training-program. Credit: NASA www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 mo.sci A partner for your glass manufacturing needs MO SCI has partnered with clients across multiple industries to create custom glass solutions for their unique applications. Contact us to see how we can help with your next project. HEALTHCARE Specialty and bioactive glasses for bone and wound care applications; hemostatic devices INDUSTRIAL Precision glass microspheres; bond line spacers; sealing glasses and frit powders; silane coatings AUTOMOTIVE Ultra strong and light weight transparent glass/polymer composites for windows; precision bond line spacers ENERGY Engineered proppants for oil fracking; hydrogen storage via porous glass shells; nuclear waste vitrification DEFENSE Light sensor technology; non-toxic NVIS night vision technologies CUSTOM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS STEP 1 Bring us your custom glass requirements. Talk to us if you need a specialized glass that is custom tailored to your application. STEP 2 We find out what it will take to develop it. We will see if anything in our catalog fits your needs. If we don\'t have it, we can most likely make it. STEP 3 We provide you a proposal. We will propose a development plan for your custom glass. If you choose to move forward, we will see the product through from R&D all the way to final form manufacturing. Request a consultation at mo-sci.com/contact 24 Fabrication approaches to nacre-like ceramic-metal composites By Sourabh Kumar and Hortense Le Ferrand mongst the various composite mate- Ama rials, nacre-like composites propose to leverage the brick-and-mortar microstruc- ture found in the nacreous layers of seashells to achieve an unusually high combination of strength and toughness.¹ Nacre consists of 95 vol.% aragonite, a crystallographic form of CaCO3, and 5 vol.% of organic matter, mostly protein and chitin. Although pure aragonite microplatelets are hard and brittle, the addition of a thin organic layer between them endows nacre with a fracture toughness three to nine times higher than that of the hard CaCO3 tiles, in dry and hydrated states, respectively.² Numerous nacre-inspired composites have been developed, with the common feature that they all reproduce some kind of alignment of 2D microreinforcements, such as ceramic micro- platelets or other 2D nanosheets.³ However, these composites may not display all the microstructural key features of nacre when they contain low concentrations of reinforcing elements dispersed in a softer matrix. Nacre-like ceramic composites with a metallic mortar could combine the excellent toughness of metals with the high-tem- perature resistance of ceramics (Figure 1). To assess whether these expectations for nacre-like ceramic-metal composites can be achieved, this paper reviews the existing developments in the processing of such composites. General overview of fabrication approaches With the increasing research in nacre-like ceramic-metal composites, a variety of fabrication processes have been explored, revealing two main routes (Figure 2A): • Route I consists of fabricating a continuous ceramic scaffold first, then infiltrating that ceramic scaffold with molten metal, either with or without the use of pressure. A hot-pressing step can serve as a final densifying and con- solidating step. • Route II consists of co-assembling ceramic and metal pow- ders followed by their compaction, typically using a high- temperature pressing step. Route I processes are very similar to the processes used for making nacre-like ceramic-polymer composites, where a thermosetting resin is infiltrated into a ceramic scaffold and *This article is excerpted from \"Nacre-like ceramic-metal composites: State-of-the-art, challenges, and opportunities,” JACerS 2025, 108(11): e20623. https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.20623 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Credit: Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock crosslinked. Route II processes resem- ble ceramic processes, where slurries containing various types of particles are processed and consolidated together. These processing routes have been explored for developing various specific compositions. Figure 2B illustrates the development of various types of nacre- like ceramic-matrix composites over the years, revealing the accelerated develop- ment in the past decade. Route I fabrication: Ceramic scaffold and metal infiltration Route I first builds a porous ceramic scaffold with aligned features, which is then infiltrated with molten metal and eventually pressed as a final densifica- tion step. There are three main processes reported for route I: freeze casting, 3D printing, and vacuum filtration. Freeze casting In a typical freeze-casting process, a suspension of ceramic particles in water is frozen under a controlled directional temperature gradient, leading to the growth of lamellar ice crystals. These unidirectional crystals create a unidirec- tional structure that imitates the aligned structure in nacre. Subsequently, the ice is removed via sublimation, leaving behind the porous ceramic scaffold. This scaffold is consolidated by sinter- ing before being infiltrated by a molten metal, leading to the nacre-like ceramic- metal composite. This method allows the development of materials with intricate microstruc- tures, achieved by carefully regulating the freezing process and the kinetics of ice crystal solidification. Traditional unidirectional freeze casting, where cold is applied at the bottom surface of the vessel into which the suspension is deposited, can be tailored to create more complex freezing patterns. For example, bidirectional freeze casting can control the ice crystal structure in both longitu- dinal and transverse directions.4 3D printing This process involves the 3D printing of ceramic scaffolds followed by infiltra- tion with molten metal. Typically, com- puter-aided design is used to design the 3D porous geometry, which is then real- Flexural strength (MPa) (% change in strength) (% change in toughness) (rule of Ceramics mixture) 1000 CaCO3 (rule of mixture) 100 10 0.01 Chitin - 0.1 1 10 Metals Nacre (-32%) (10370%) Expected NL CM composites (-32%) (10370%) m 100 1000 10000 Toughness K1c (MPa.m0.5) Figure 1. Toughness-strength performance map representing natural nacre (purple) and the hypothetical nacre-like ceramic-metal (NL CM) composites (yellow). Natural nacre and nacre-like ceramic-metal composites outperform their individual compo- nents as well as the predictions from the rule of mixture (10,370% increase in tough- ness as compared to the rule). They do, however, demonstrate a slight decrease of -32% in flexural strength. ized using stereolithographic 3D printing using polymeric inks containing ceramic particles. The 3D-printed green parts are sintered with supportive structures to pre- vent warping and distortion at high tem- peratures to yield the ceramic scaffold. Before infiltrating the molten metal, the volume of the voids are calculated based on the density of the scaffold, and 15% more volume of metal than the esti- mated volume of voids is used to ensure complete infiltration. Khan et al.5 used this strategy to print silica scaffold infil- trated with aluminum using centrifugal force. Although only stereolithography has been reported to be used for making nacre-like ceramic-metal composites, other 3D printing methods for making porous ceramics with aligned microstruc- tures can be used, such as extrusion- based direct-ink writing or magnetic drop-on-demand 3D printing. Vacuum filtration Another approach for fabricating ceramic scaffolds involves the alignment of ceramic platelets by vacuum filtration, followed by partial sintering for consoli- dation. The scaffolds are then infiltrated with molten metal to form a nacre-like ceramic-metal composite. This method was presented by Liu et al., where titanium aluminum carbide platelets of sizes ranging from 100 to American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 300 nm were dispersed in ethanol at a mass ratio of 3:40 through ultrasonica- tion and ball milling. The suspension was poured into a funnel and filtered through a nylon membrane with a pore size of 0.1 μm under a vacuum pres- sure of about 0.06 MPa, promoting the horizontal alignment of the platelets as they deposited onto the membrane. The resulting bulk material was dried, subjected to vertical pressing at 72 MPa for one hour, and partially sintered in a flowing argon atmosphere at 900°C for one hour. The titanium aluminum car- bide scaffold with open pores was subse- quently infiltrated with molten AZ91D alloy in a flowing argon gas at 850°C, a temperature higher than the melting point of the alloy, and then naturally cooled in the furnace to obtain the nacre-like ceramic-metal composite. Route I methods create aligned ceramic scaffolds. Other methods for creating such scaffolds than those described here exist, although they have not yet been employed for producing nacre-like ceramic-metal composites. For example, the electrical or magnetic orientation of particles can be used to assist the horizontal alignment of the particles. The infiltration of the molten metal can also be done with or without the application of pressure. 25 25 Credit: Kumar and Le Ferrand, JACerS Fabrication approaches to nacre-like ceramic-metal composites (A) Ceramic scaffold preparation Route II Route I Ceramic assembly Sintering -3D printing -Freeze casting -Vacuum filtration Ceramic and metal powders co-assembly -Lamination -Magnetic assisted assembly -Slip casting Self-assembly -SPS assisted assembly -Co-extrusion In situ cementation Electroplating Metal infiltration (B) 3D printing- Al2O3 Al₂O₂ With/without pressure Hot pressing Freeze casting- Route I (Al2O3-ZrO2) Vacuum filtration NL CM composite Lamination A SiO2 + Al2O3 Al2O3 (Al2O3-TIC) Al2O3 TIB₂ (TiBw-TIB₂) 8 B&C Ni-Ti-Al + Ni₂C SiC B&C Ti3 AIC₂ B&C Ti3 AIC2 A (ZrB₂- SiC) B₁C Magnetic assisted Hot pressing assembly Slip casting Route II Al2O3 Al2O3 Al2O3 ●Al2O3 Al2O3 Co-extrusion- Al2O3 + Ni▼ ་ ▼Al2O3 (TIB₂-BC) SPS assisted assembly Graphene Graphene ° O Graphite Graphene Graphene 1990 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Legend: Metal phases: Ni | Al | Cu-Ni | Cu | Mg | Fe | BMG | Al-Cu | Ti-Nb-Ti Microstructure: lamellar (empty symbol); brick-and-mortar/aligned (filled symbol) Process: freeze casting | Lamination AI Co extrusion | MASC | Vacuum filtration | Slip casting O | SPS assisted assembly | 3D printing ▷ Figure 2. Processing routes for making nacre-like ceramic-metal (NL CM) composites. (A) Schematic illustrating the various process- ing steps. (B) Overview of the processing steps developed over the years for various compositions. Different colors indicate different metal mortar phases: aluminum and aluminum alloy in blue, nickel in maroon, copper in orange, magnesium and magnesium alloys in purple, iron in grey, titanium-niobium-titanium in pink, copper-nickel in gold, aluminum-copper in light blue, bulk metallic glass (BMG) in green. The compositions of the ceramic phases are written on the graph next to their symbol. Route II fabrication: Powders co-assembly and hot pressing Route II processes co-assemble the ceramic and metallic components together at the same time and consolidate everything using hot pressing. There are five main processes reported for route II: lamination, slip casting, magnetically assisted slip casting (MASC), spark plasma sintering (SPS)- assisted assembly, and coextrusion. Lamination In this process, tapes made up of ceramics through tape casting are laminated with metal sheets to create a horizontally aligned structure. The laminated layers are then consolidated via hot pressing. During the hot pressing, the metallic foils melt and partially infiltrate the tape-casted ceramic scaffolds while making a continuous metallic phase. Metallic foils of various compositions can be used in this method as well as combined compositions. 8 This process was the first one utilized for the biomimetic design and processing of laminated boron carbide-aluminum composites. This has also been used to form nacre-like ceramic-metal composites made of zirconium boride-silicon carbide and titanium-niobium-titanium. Slip casting process Slip casting is another process derived from the ceramic industry, where a slurry containing particles is cast onto a porous mold that drains the liquid from the slurry before dry- ing and sintering. The method has been applied to slurries containing nickel- coated alumina microplatelets that aligned due to gravity dur- ing the slip casting. 10 The green bodies were rapidly sintered using SPS at 1,100°C or 1,200°C. Dewetting of the nickel 26 mortar during sintering was prevented by using a mixture of nickel oxide-coated and nickel-coated alumina platelets. To obtain a high packing density in the green bodies, a high solid loading (50 wt.%) was employed in the slurry used for slip casting. Magnetically assisted slip casting MASC combines slip casting with the magnetic orientation of ceramic and metallic anisotropic particles. Nacre-like alu- mina-copper composites have been obtained by this process, followed by densification through hot-pressing at 1,150°C for 60 min at about 60 MPa pressure.¹¹ This method has also been applied to slurries containing iron-coated alumina microplatelets, followed by pressure-assisted densification at 1,450°C to make nacre-like alumina-iron composites.12 The iron coating of the alumina microplatelets was conducted using a nonaqueous sol-gel reaction using a metal-organic precursor dissolved in benzyl alcohol, followed by a reduction reaction in a 5 vol.% hydrogen-nitrogen atmo- sphere at high temperature. The volume fraction of the metal in the composite was controlled by tuning the relative amount of precursor used in the sol-gel reaction to ensure the coating, which effectively formed the metallic matrix after MASC and hot pressing. A similar method used nickel-coated alumina microplatelets produced using electroless plating to create nacre-like alumina- nickel composites.13 Spark plasma sintering-assisted assembly In this assembly method, ceramic platelets and metal flakes are mixed together and consolidated directly using SPS. The unidirectional pressure provides the force for the nacre-like horizontal alignment. www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Credit: Kumar and Le Ferrand, JACerS Fontoura et al. utilized this technique to consolidate multi- layer graphene flakes with copper precipitates into a nacre-like ceramic-metal composite. 14 The flakes were dispersed in a solu- tion of copper sulfate salt with acetic acid in deionized water. The acetic acid in the solution activated the surface of the flakes, imparting a partial negative charge that attracted the positively charged copper ions. A cementation reaction between magne- sium and copper ions was then carried out, where more reactive magnesium oxidized, reducing the copper ions on the flakes\' surface. The resulting multilayer graphene-copper powder was consolidated using a graphite die in SPS. In a different approach, Cao et al. used flaky copper pow- ders to promote the in-situ growth of graphene under a con- trolled atmosphere, yielding a graphene/flaky copper composite powder. 15 This powder was then mixed with graphite flakes and densely stacked into a graphite die, which was compressed at 900°C in a vacuum under a pressure of 50 MPa for one hour to produce a nacre-like graphene-copper composite. Similarly, Yang et al. used a graphene oxide colloid with Cu(CH3COO),⚫ H₂O to prepare reduced graphene oxide/cop- per composite powder after reducing the mixture of powders in hydrogen-argon gas. 16 The as-prepared composite powders were pressed and sintered using SPS at 600°C for five minutes under vacuum at a pressure of 40 MPa to form the layered reduced graphene oxide-copper composite. Similarly prepared reduced graphene oxide-copper nanocomposite powders were compacted by Hwang et al. in a graphite mold at 600°C for three minutes under vacuum in SPS at an applied pressure of 50 MPa. 17 In another study, a layered composite was obtained by stack- ing layers of copper- and nickel-electroplated titanium boride- boron carbide plates under a hot pressing sintering appara- tus.18 The electroplating process was performed to obtain a layer of copper and nickel over the thin plates of titanium boride and boron carbide. The simplicity of the equipment for this process makes it popular. Coextrusion The coextrusion process provides a unique opportunity to fabricate brick and mortar structure by using a feed rod com- posed of a core and a shell around it. A filament is extruded from the feed rod, which consists of ceramics coming out from the core and a metallic layer around it extruding from the shell. Precise control of metallic coating over the ceramics is obtained through this process, resulting in high-ceramic and low-mortar volume fractions in the final microstructure. The filaments are then segmented into individual units, rep- resenting bricks in the \"brick-and-mortar\" structure. These seg- mented filament units are further laminated to form billets with varied orientations and configurations, followed by hot pressing to achieve a densely packed nacre-like ceramic-metal composite. Capabilities and challenges of current processing methods and alternative approaches While the microstructures obtained are referred to as \"nacre- like,\" in reality, there are three distinct types of microstructures obtained for the nacre-like ceramic-metal composites: American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 1. Lamellar microstructures, which correspond to alternat- ing horizontal continuous layers. These lamellar micro- structures are for most of the cases obtained by freeze casting or lamination. 2. Brick-and-mortar microstructures, which are the typical nacre-like structures desired to achieve high strength and toughness. These microstructures are obtained for most of the powder-based (route II) processes when the concentra- tion of the ceramic phase is predominant. 3. Aligned microstructures, which are also obtained from the route II processes and have been mostly obtained through SPS-assisted assemblies. These microstructures do not have a high enough concentration of ceramic phase to form bricks, and the microstructures appear as ceramic particles dispersed in a matrix. Some processes can produce more than one kind of micro- structure or a combination of two microstructures. Freeze casting has produced both lamellar and brick-and-mortar structured nacre-like ceramic-metal composites with pressure- less infiltration of molten metal into ice-templated ceramic scaffolds. 19 Along with that, bidirectional freeze casting fol- lowed by pressured metal infiltration had produced lamellar composites, which upon further hot pressing led to brick-and- mortar composites.4 The processes present various capabilities in terms of mor- tar and bricks\' thicknesses, aspect ratio, mineral content, and quality of alignment defined by the fast Fourier transform ratio. It is noticeable that the thickness of the metal mortar varies linearly with the thickness of the ceramic brick, and this variation is independent of the process used or of the chem- istry of the components. Nacre has a mortar thickness below 20 nm20 for ceramic bricks of 200 nm to 1 μm. 21 It appears that only a couple of nacre-like ceramic-metal composites have achieved these dimensions: the nacre-like titanium aluminum carbide-magnesium with brick-and-mortar structure produced through vacuum filtration, and the nacre-like alumina- nickel composites with both lamellar and brick-and-mortar microstructure produced by freeze casting 22 and SPS-assisted assembly. 13 All the other composites have higher thicknesses of bricks and mortar. The mineral content in nacre-like ceramic-metal composites varies over a long range; however, in actual nacre, the mineral content is quite high, and only a few nacre-like ceramic-metal composites have reached those high values of mineral content. Coextrusion and MASC processes have consistently produced nacre-like ceramic-metal composites with high mineral con- tent in brick-and-mortar microstructure, and a few composites through freeze casting in both lamellar and brick-and-mortar microstructure have also obtained mineral content in similar range. Furthermore, the aspect ratio of the bricks also does not show any obvious trend with composition and process, although the lamellar structure inevitably achieves a very large aspect ratio as per its definition. The highest aspect ratio realized for the brick-and-mortar structure is about 6-7 and is obtained for processes involving hot pressing or SPS. These highest aspect ratios are obtained 27 Fabrication approaches to nacre-like ceramic-metal composites for nacre-like ceramic-metal composites with high vol.% in ceramics, around 80 vol.%. The correlation between a high aspect ratio and high mineral vol.% is likely due to the use of hot-pressing that densifies the system quickly while preventing diffusion and grain growth. 23 Other methods such as coextru- sion or freeze casting also achieve high density but without reaching a high aspect ratio. High relative density and high aspect ratio are two parameters desired in the composites in order to achieve high strength and high toughness. Finally, alignment is also a parameter necessary to have nacre-like structures with high anisotropy and mechanical properties. The word \"alignment\" used here refers to the morphological arrangement of the ceramic and metal building blocks. In a nacre-like ceramic-metal composite, the ceramics exhibit a narrow distribution of crystalline orientations in one direction. This alignment is due to the shape anisotropy of the ceramic grains after sintering because of processing conditions, which on a micrometer scale looks like the microstructure of a nacre. This alignment can be characterized using several methods that make use of crystalline anisotropy in the ceramic, or the shape anisotropy of its grains, such as electron backscattering diffraction in scanning electron microscopes or selected area electron diffraction in transmission electron microscopes. For large area characterization, X-ray diffraction can be used in the to 20 scan method, four-axis diffractometer, Eulerian cradle, or rocking curves. Other characterization techniques are small angle X-ray scattering, neutron diffraction, and direc- tional reflectance microscopy. All structures have some degree of alignment because the fast Fourier transform ratio is higher than 1 for all. There is no obvious trend in alignment quality between the lamellar and the brick-and-mortar/aligned structures. However, the alu- mina-iron composite obtained using MASC followed by uni- directional hot pressing achieved the highest alignment. Three composites have the next highest alignment degree and were obtained by lamination, MASC, and SPS-assisted assembly, respectively, likely due to the use of unidirectional pressure as the final processing step. In addition to these microstructural considerations, the pres- ence of appropriate connections between the mineral phase is important to increase the strength and provide further energy dissipation mechanisms. Two major types of bridges can be recognized: (1) interpenetrated metal and ceramic phases due to the remaining porosity in the scaffolds before infiltration for route I processes and (2) mineral bridges or mineral con- nections due to the sintering for route II processes. These connections are either singular points or areas and are rather randomly distributed. Finally, some nacre-like ceramic-metal composites present an interface layer that helps with the bonding between the metal and ceramic phases. Indeed, dewetting is a common problem between metal and ceramic due to higher contact angles, preventing the adhesion between the two phases. The work of adhesion of metal over ceramic is higher than the sur- face energy of metal. In that case, it is favorable for the metal to 28 form droplets on the ceramic surface, minimizing the contact area between the two materials. High contact angles may also prevent pressureless infiltration, but in some cases, infiltration is accompanied by reactions that may result in an apparent decrease in the contact angle, facilitating pressureless infiltra- tion. These reactions often result in brittle interfacial products that significantly degrade the properties of the composite. Two main avenues have been developed to address these issues, both leading to the formation of an intermediate layer between the ceramic and the metal: (1) using coating or (2) by having a reaction between the metal and the ceramic. Examples of coating include coating alumina platelets with nickel oxide to improve interfacial bonding with nickel, 10 direct deposition of iron oxide and iron on alumina platelets using sol-gel chemistry, 12 and adding a thin layer of between titanium boride-boron carbide and nickel. 18 copper The metal oxide coating on alumina platelets undergoes partial reduction, leading to the presence of controlled oxygen concentration, which reduces or eliminates the chance of dewet- ting during sintering without any interfacial reaction. In other works, in-situ formation of titanium boride with (titanium, nio- bium) carbon whiskers were used to alleviate interfacial residual stresses, improving the interfacial bonding strength. For creating a strong bonding between graphene and copper, copper (II) hydroxide and copper oxide were let to form during the process to allow good interfacial strength due to copper- oxide bond formation before reduction to copper during SPS.16 In another approach, an in-situ cementation process was used to develop multilayer graphene-copper powders, where the surface of the multilayer graphene flakes is activated by acetic acid to deposit copper sulfate and copper ions on the flakes followed by reduction to copper with the use of magnesium. 14 Similarly, boron carbide was let to react with titanium hydride to decrease the contact angle and increase the wetting and interfacial bonding of the ceramic to a magnesium alloy. 24 The various processes developed thus far to produce nacre- like ceramic-metal composites present a range of capabilities. The freeze-casting approach appears to be the method provid- ing the highest flexibility in terms of microstructural control and volume fraction in ceramics. It is also the most employed method, which is why it has been tested for various composites. Some other processes such as coextrusion and MASC exhib- it more unique specificities, such as achieving a higher con- centration of ceramics, smaller ceramic bricks, lesser mortar thickness, and higher quality of alignment. Vacuum filtration has been shown to produce the smallest ceramic bricks and the lowest mortar thickness but with lower mineral content com- pared with other processes. Similarly, SPS-assisted assemblies have produced lower mineral content in nacre-like graphene-copper composites with thicker ceramic bricks. However, the same process has also produced nacre-like alumina-nickel composites with higher mineral content and thinner ceramic bricks. Coextrusion, MASC, vacuum filtration, and SPS-assisted assembly have mostly produced nacre-like ceramic-metal composites with brick-and-mortar structure. On the other www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 hand, freeze casting is flexible enough to produce both lamellar and brick-and-mortar structures, while tape casting has predominantly produced lamellar-structured nacre-like ceramic-metal composites with larger ceramic brick sizes and higher mortar thickness. There is still a large research space to explore more exten- sively across various combinations of metals and ceramics as well as to achieve brick-and-mortar structures with high aspect ratios and high mineral content. The high temperatures used during the sintering process pose a challenge to this aim due to the ceramic grain coarsening during densification. The research on nacre-like ceramic-metal composites could build on the results of sintering methods of high- performance ceramics, for example, by exploring microwave sintering or ultrafast high-temperature sintering. Other fea- tures such as the surface roughness of the ceramic bricks that are found in nacreous seashells and reproduced in nacre-like ceramic-polymer composites could also be further explored with metallic mortars. In the future, continued research on nacre-like ceramic- metal composites is essential to realize their potential in the development of advanced engineering materials, suitable for a wide range of applications. About the authors Sourabh Kumar and Hortense Le Ferrand are Ph.D. student and associate professor, respectively, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Contact Le Ferrand at hortense@ntu.edu.sg. References ¹H. Zhao et al., \"Nacre-inspired composites with different macroscopic dimensions: Strategies for improved mechanical performance and applications,\" NPG Asia Mater. 2018, 10(4): 1-22. 2F. Barthelat et al., “On the mechanics of mother-of-pearl: A key fea- ture in the material hierarchical structure,\" J. Mech. Phys. Solids 2007, 55(2): 306-337. 3D. Madhav et al. “A review of nacre-inspired materials: Chemistry, strengthening-deformation mechanism, synthesis, and applications,\" Prog Mater Sci. 2023, 139: 101168. 4R. F. Guo RF et al., “Development of a nacre-like metal-ceramic com- posite with a brick-and-mortar structure and high ceramic content,\" Compos. Part A: Appl. Sci. Manuf. 2023, 165: 107347. 5S. M. Khan et al., \"Bio-inspired ceramic-metal composites using ceramic 3D printing and centrifugal infiltration,” Adv. Eng. Mater. 2022, 24(4): 2101009. 6Y. Liu et al., \"A strong, lightweight, and damping cermet material with a nacre-like ultrafine 3D interpenetrated architecture,\" Mater. Today 2023, 62: 62-70. 7H. Le Ferrand, “External fields for the fabrication of highly mineral- ized hierarchical architectures,\" J. Mater. Res. 2019, 34(1): 169-193. 8M. Yasrebi et al., “Biomimetic processing of ceramics and ceramic- metal composites,\" MRS Proc. 1990, 180: 625. Y. Bai et al., \"Bioinspired tough and strong ZrB2-SiC/Ti-Nb-Ti hybrid composites with a hierarchical ceramic-metal architecture,\" J. Alloys Compd. 2019, 811: 151993. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 10A. Wat et al., \"Bioinspired nacre-like alumina with a metallic nickel compliant phase fabricated by spark plasma sintering,\" Small 2019, 15(31): 1900573. \"H. Le Ferrand et al., “Magnetically assisted slip casting of bioinspired heterogeneous composites,” Nat. Mater. 2015, 14(11): 1172–1179. 12E. Poloni et al., “Tough metal-ceramic composites with multifunc- tional nacre-like architecture,\" Sci Rep. 2021, 11(1): 1621. 13Z. Xu et al., \"Bioinspired nacre-like ceramic with nickel inclusions fabricated by electroless plating and spark plasma sintering,\" Adv. Eng. Mater. 2018, 20(5): 1700782. 14L. Fontoura et al., “Nacre-inspired graphene/metal hybrid by in- situ cementation reaction and Joule heating,\" Adv. Eng. Mater. 2018, 20(10): 1800518. 15H. Cao et al., \"Wide and fine alignment control and interface modi- fication for high-performance thermally conductive graphite/copper composite,\" Compos. Part B: Eng. 2020, 191: 107965. 16Z. Yang et al., \"Preparation mechanism of hierarchical layered struc- ture of graphene/copper composite with ultrahigh tensile strength,\" Carbon 2018, 127: 329-339. 17J. Hwang et al., “Enhanced mechanical properties of graphene/cop- per nanocomposites using a molecular-level mixing process,\" Advanced Materials 2013, 25(46): 6724-6729. 18Z. Wu et al., \"Fabrication of laminated TiB₂-BC/Cu-Ni compos- ites by electroplating and spark plasma sintering,” J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 2017, 33(10): 1172-1176. 19A. Wat et al., \"Bioinspired nacre-like alumina with a bulk metallic glass- forming alloy as a compliant phase,” Nat. Commun. 2019, 10(1): 961. 20M. A. Meyers et al., “Mechanical strength of abalone nacre: role of the soft organic layer,\" J. Mech. Behav. Biomed. Mater. 2008, 1(1): 76-85. 21P. U. P. A. Gilbert et al. \"Nacre tablet thickness records formation temperature in modern and fossil shells,\" Earth Planet Sci. Lett. 2017, 460: 281-292. 22M. J. Garnier and D. C. Dunand, “Ni-Al2O3 nacre-like composites through hot-pressing of freeze-cast foams,\" Mater. Sci. Eng.: A 2019, 743: 190-196. 23Z. Z. Fang and H. Wang, “Sintering of ultrafine and nanosized par- ticles,\" in Sintering of Advanced Materials. Woodhead Publishing, 2010. pp. 434-473. 24Y. Wang et al., \"Developing nacre-inspired laminate-reticular 2024A1/BC composites with high damage resistance by adjusting compositional wettability,\" Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (English Edition) 2022, 32(4): 1105-1118. The American Ceramic Society ceramics.org Ceramic Engineering Applied Glass SCIENCE & Science Journal of The American Ceramic Society Applied Ceramic TECHNOLOGY ACers Journals Discover a world of groundbreaking fundamental research and innovative developments in ACers journals ceramics.org/journals 29 30 Bulletin Application note Nature-inspired vascular cementitious composites: A path to self-thermal responsive buildings By Mohammad Houshmand and Amir Farnam Animals such as jackrabbits and elephants have ingenious vascular systems in their ears to regulate temperature, which can inspire the design of better thermal control in buildings. uildings consume Bu nearly 40% of total energy in developed nations, with almost half of that energy dedicated to heating and cooling.¹ This heavy reliance on thermoregula- tion not only drives energy demand but also contributes significantly to green- house gas emissions. Therefore, finding innovative, low-energy strategies for maintaining comfortable indoor environ- ments has become a global priority. Nature offers numerous sources of inspiration for developing low-energy thermal regulation strategies.² Across the animal kingdom, vascular systems regulate temperature, from elephant ears dissipating heat to jackrabbit ears act- ing as thermal windows. 3,4 Additionally, through a physics-based phase-change strategy, dogs and humans regulate their body temperature by, respectively, pant- ing (air flow evaporates saliva from the mouth of dogs) and perspiration (sweat is released through pores and evaporates from our skin). These biological systems exchange heat with remarkable efficiency. Mimicking these strategies in engineered systems could transform the way we design energy-efficient buildings.² At Drexel University, a pioneering team from the Advanced Infrastructure Materials (AIM) Lab used nature\'s ther- mal regulation systems as inspiration to design thermally responsive cementitious materials that could one day enable self- regulating, energy-efficient buildings.5 5-7 Integrating a vascular approach into cementitious composites The new class of cementitious compos- ites is called vascular self-thermal respon- sive composites, or VASCI (Figure 1). These materials integrate engineered vas- cular channels, or tiny hollow networks within the concrete, that can be filled with phase change materials (PCMs). PCMs absorb and release heat as they melt and solidify, triggered by a rise and drop in temperature, respectively. 5-7 They can therefore provide a self-respon- sive thermal energy system within the engineered vascular channels of VASCI. The vascular networks were created using sacrificial polymer scaffolds. These filaments dissolve harmlessly as the concrete sets, leaving behind intricate voids. Multiple geometries, including parallel, diagonal, and diamond-shaped networks, were tested to evaluate how architecture influences thermal and mechanical performance. Advanced 3D X-ray microcomputed tomography confirmed the successful creation of continuous vascular channels. Mechanical tests showed that intro- ducing channels naturally reduces the composite\'s strength due to added voids. However, we found that careful design www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Credit: Jake Lange/ Shutterstock A. Vasomotion B. Vascular Cementitious Composites } } } } } } } } } Superificial vascular plexus Skin Surface Skin Surface Vasoconstriction Vasodilation Chamber Temperature (°C) 10 22 22 20 18 Steady-State 222222222 Heat Release Heat Absorption 0 8 10 12 Time (Hour) C. Infrared Thermography D. Thermal Index 22 AT (Mid-Section - End-Section) -0.6- Freezing event 20 heating. 18- 16 cooling Melting event 14 Mid-Section End-Section 12 0 2 6 8 10 12 Time (Hours) Area 1.2345 Area -0.99475 (d) 2 9 10 11 12 Time (Hours) A [Vascular drawing) and B-D: Osan et al., Journal of Building Engineering (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] Credit: A [Elephant photo): DreamStudiopro/Shutterstock Figure 1. (A) Vasomotion-driven thermoregulation in vascularized tissues of elephant ears. (B) 3D X-ray computed tomography of VASCI. (C) Infrared thermal images of VASCI specimens at different stages of thermal cycling. (D) Thermal index plots during cyclic testing, where red indicates exothermic heat release and blue indicates endothermic heat absorption. mitigates these effects. Specifically, chan- nels aligned diagonally or smaller than the size of aggregate particles minimized strength loss. Furthermore, diamond- shaped architectures demonstrated duc- tile fracture modes, a rare but valuable property in cementitious composites. Thermal evaluation of the compos- ites revealed striking benefits. We used infrared thermography to observe how vascular networks filled with a paraffin- based PCM stored heat during warming cycles and released it gradually during cooling. Multichannel diamond designs showed the highest thermal inertia, maintaining elevated temperatures for several hours, enough to shift building energy demand away from peak hours. Further research is being conducted at the Drexel AIM Lab to advance the design and manufacturing of VASCI. Toward adaptive and sustainable infrastructure By embedding vascular channels and PCMs into concrete, VASCI offers a path toward buildings that actively regulate their temperature with minimal external energy input. Beyond cold-cli- mate heating, the same approach could be adapted for hot climates by selecting PCMs with higher melting points, or even for infrastructure applications such as ice-melting pavements and 3D-printed adaptive facades. The potential is vast: energy-efficient buildings, resilient pavements, and climate-adaptive infrastructure. Future research will refine channel architectures, explore additive manufacturing for scal- ability, and test long-term durability in real environments. As climate challenges grow, materials that self-regulate may become central to sustainable construction. About the authors Mohammad Houshmand was a Ph.D. student at Drexel University and is now a postdoc at Johns Hopkins University. Yaghoob (Amir) Farnam is professor of civil, architectural, and environmen- tal engineering at Drexel University. Houshmand and Farnam conducted this research along with Rhythm Osan (undergraduate student), Robin Deb (Ph.D. student), Parsa Namakiaraghi (postdoc), and Mohammad Irfan Iqbal (postdoc) at Drexel\'s AIM Lab. Contact Houshmand at mkhaneg1@jh.edu, and Farnam at yfarnam@drexel.edu. References ¹S. B. Sadineni, S. Madala, and R. F. Boehm, \"Passive building energy savings: A review of building envelope components,\" Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2011, 15(8): 3617-3631. 2A. W. Mutua, M. Balapour, and Y. Farnam, \"Towards development of nature-inspired thermo-responsive vascular composites: Analysis of polymeric composites,\" Construction and Building Materials 2020, 259: 120407. 3A. Domínguez-Oliva et al., “Anatomical, physiological, and behavioral mechanisms of thermoregulation in elephants,\" Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology 2022, 10(4): 1-13. 4D. A. Hartmann et al., “Brain capillary peri- cytes exert a substantial but slow influence on blood flow,\" Nature Neuroscience 2021, 24(5): 633-645. 5Y. Farnam et al., “Incorporating phase change materials in concrete pavement to melt snow and ice,\" Cement and Concrete Composites 2017, 84: 134-145. 6R. Deb, J. He, G. Mishra, and Y. Farnam, \"Development of self-heating concrete using low-temperature phase change materials: Multiscale and in situ real-time evaluation of snow-melting and freeze-thaw performance,\" Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 2024, 36(6). 7Osan et al., \"Nature inspired vascular self- thermal responsive cementitious composites with phase change materials,\" Journal of Building Engineering 2025, 108: 112878. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 31 Bulletin Resource roundup Biomimicry as second nature: Research centers and degree programs encourage eco-friendly design By Randy B. Hecht The greatest research and development The lab on Earth is the planet itself. Nature provides countless examples of effective engineering practices, from the tough brick-and-mortar structure of natural nacre to the ingenious vascular systems that regulate tempera- ture in some animals\' ears. By modeling these biological entities and processes, humans can develop more efficient and economi- cal approaches to addressing climate challenges. As companies embrace emerging ideas designed to benefit the environment and the bottom line, biomimicry is gaining recognition as a design strategy across diverse industries. In a 2023 Biomimetics paper titled \"Biomimicry industry and patent trends,\" Haejin Bae of Korea\'s National Institute of Ecology reports on a patent analysis of biomimicry-inspired solutions to technological problems that resulted in awards of 940 patents in Korea, the U.S., Japan, and Europe between 1975 and 2021. \"Based on the results of the patent analysis,” she writes, “it was found that biomimicry technology is in a growth phase that is expected to continue in the future and that Korea and the United States are leading the development of this technology.\" A GLOBAL COMMUNITY FOR COLLABORATION One of the most exciting trends in biomimicry is the emer- gence of organizations and tools that facilitate research and development across sectors, borders—and even languages. The Biomimicry Institute, headquartered in Bozeman, Mont., is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 \"to enable a nature-positive, inclusive, and regenerative world inspired and guided by nature\'s genius.\" Since 2008, the Institute has hosted AskNature.org, “an open-source database Header image: Geodesic biome domes at the Eden Project in Cornwall, U.K. The domes, which serve as the world\'s largest green- house, are an example of biomimetic design. of deep biological knowledge, pre- sented in accessible language.\" It includes case studies of \"successful cutting-edge projects informed by biomimicry\" as well as an essay collection for more in-depth exploration of biomimicry themes, trends, and patterns. During Climate Week in September 2025, the Institute launched the beta version of its new Al-powered AskNature Chat (https://asknature.org/asknature-chat). This tool is designed \"for people of all ages, education levels, professions, and languages to support the practice and study of biomim- icry,\" the organization says in a press release (https://bit. ly/4nGM90g). The launch advances the Institute\'s 10-year strategy, announced during Climate Week 2024 as part of the organization\'s 20th anniversary, which supports its mission \"to elevate biomimicry as a transformative solution to climate change, biodiversity loss, and the disconnection between people and nature” (https://bit.ly/47hM90i). The Institute also serves as an accelerator through an annual six-month program that provides funding and in-kind services to 10 \"high-impact nature-inspired startups.\" To date, the Institute counts more than 40 “thriving companies” in its portfolio. The 2025 cohort includes • • Emboa Medical, Inc., a Purdue University-licensed start- up in West Lafayette, Ind., that invented \"a boa constric tor fang-inspired\" catheter tip that reduces procedure time in the removal of blood clots from narrow vessels; and OptionV Energy, a Boston, Mass. outgrowth of technology R&D conducted at the University of Massachusetts Lowell that \"mimics the selective metal-binding biology of Amanita mushrooms to recover high-purity vanadium 32 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Credit: Tony Skerl/Shutterstock from industrial waste cleanly, efficiently, and at low tem- peratures, enabling affordable long-duration energy stor- age and resilient critical mineral supply chains.” Learn more about the accelerator program and the 2025 cohort at https://biomimicry.org/innovation/accelerator. BIOMIMICRY RESEARCH CENTERS WORLDWIDE Research centers and institutes around the world are contributing to the global expansion and adoption of bio- inspired design. United States The Biomimicry Center in the Arizona State University School for Complex Adaptive Systems, part of the College of Global Futures, is a joint effort between the university and Montana-based consulting and professional training com- pany Biomimicry 3.8 that is \"aligned with the Global Futures Laboratory vision of creating conditions for a thriving life on a healthy planet.\" Learn more: https://globalfutures.asu.edu/ biomimicry-center The Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center at the University of Akron, Ohio, “is dedicated to connecting artists, businesspeople, designers, engineers, and scientists to catalyze biomimicry-based innovation” in areas such as “permanent/ reversible adhesives, building construction techniques, color-pro- ducing additives/structures, robotic actuators/control systems, thermal management systems, water harvesting/repellent materi- als, and more.\" Learn more: https://www.uakron.edu/bric The Center for Biologically Inspired Design at Georgia Institute of Technology is dedicated “to improving the ability of scientists, engineers, and other professionals to translate biological knowledge into innovative products and processes,\" which is accomplished “through fundamental research, novel interdisciplinary training and education, academic-industrial collaborations at all levels, and public outreach.” Learn more: https://cbid.gatech.edu Europe Biomimicry Europa (https://biomimicry.eu/en) is a Belgium- based international nonprofit association whose activities include promoting biomimicry at exhibitions and conferences and collaborating with institutions and local authorities on research projects, studies, and reports conducted at the national or European level. The nonprofit founded Ceebios (https:// ceebios.com), \"a center for studies and expertise in biomimicry” in Senlis, France, to collaborate with academics, businesses, and communities on the development of “a framework (tools, meth- ods & resources) to catalyze biomimetic innovation\" and \"to integrate biomimicry into industrial and territorial innovation.” The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany seeks \"to mimic the elegance of natural designs, pro- pelling the development of energy-efficient, untethered, and eas- ily controllable autonomous machines.\" Its Biomimetic Materials and Machines Group conducts research within three areas of focus: manufacturing functional materials, sustainable systems, and untethered machines. Learn more: https://is.mpg.de/bmm American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org The Biomimetics-Innovation-Centre at Bremen University of Applied Sciences “supports technology transfer from sci- ence to industry, especially concerning the national and inter- national networking of different actors in the environment of Biomimetics.\" Learn more: https://bit.ly/Biomimetics- Innovation-Centre-Bremen DEGREE PROGRAMS IN BIOMIMICRY As interest in and demand for biomimicry-based innovation grows, degree programs have emerged to prepare professionals and students for careers in this field. For example: Master of Science in Biomimicry (Arizona State University, est. 2015): Encompasses studies in biology, design thinking, chemistry, and sustainability, with an emphasis on interdisci- plinary learning and practical application. Language of instruc- tion: English. Learn more: https://asuonline.asu.edu/online- degree-programs/graduate/master-science-biomimicry International Bachelor\'s in Biomimetics and Biomimetics Master\'s: Mobile Systems (Bremen University of Applied Sciences, est. 2003): Combines biological and engineering content to prepare students for the development of innova- tive technological solutions. Language of instruction: German. Learn more: https://bit.ly/Bremen-biomimetics-bachelors and https://bit.ly/Bremen-biomimetics-masters Biomimetics coursework is also gaining a higher profile within degree programs for sustainability professionals. For example, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design offers a Master of Arts in Sustainable Design, and the curriculum includes the course Systems Thinking Biomimetic. The University of Akron offers the undergraduate courses Biomimicry Foundations and Biodesign, among others. Students can earn a certificate in bio- mimicry by taking these and other courses. For middle and high school students interested in biomim- icry, the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge competition \"is a free, hands-on, project-based learning experience that provides classroom and informal educators with a framework for introducing biomimicry and an interdisciplinary approach to science and environmental literacy.\" Winning 2024 projects can be found at https://www.youthchallenge.biomimicry.org/ challenge-winners. Biomimicry education begins during preschool at Green School Bali in Indonesia (https://bali.greenschool.org). The private school\'s curriculum adheres to the Green Literacies Framework \"to prepare learners not only for the world as it is, but for the world they have the power to shape.\" Additional Green Schools have been opened in New Zealand (2020) and South Africa (2021). ABOUT THE AUTHOR Randy B. Hecht is founder and owner of Aphra Communications (Brooklyn, N.Y.). She works extensively with clients in Europe, Asia, and the Americas on materials science content produced for global audiences. She has written The American Ceramic Society\'s annual report on international ceramics and glass markets since 2009. Contact Hecht at rbhecht@aphra.com. 33 Black Hills Applied Ceramic Engineering: Leveraging local geology for ceramic education By Katrina Donovan and Sarah Keenan KEEP Figure 1. BACE group picture at Mount Rushmore National Monument during the geological tour led by Sarah Keenan, fourth from left. Figure 2. BACE group picture at the Pete Lien & Sons mineral processing facility in Rapid City, S.D. or the past three years, South Dakota For the past three years, South I Donovan has led ceramic engineering efforts at the university, ranging from new ceramic engineering curriculum to a ceramic engi- neering minor. Most recently, she teamed up with Sarah Keenan, associate professor of geology and geological engineering, to propose a new National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site at Mines.¹ grant #2349313, Their proposal, which was awarded NSF is called Black Hills Applied Ceramic Engineering (BACE). BACE is a 10-week summer research program that leverages the local geological resources to promote a fundamental under- 34 34 standing and appreciation for the broad utility of ceramics. In summer 2025, the program commenced with its first cohort of students coming from across the United States and surrounding U.S. territories. While the primary focus of the BACE program is research in geology and ceramic engineering, students also participate in professional and cultural development activities to improve their technical understanding and communication skills. Examples of these activities include geological tours of the Black Hills (Figure 1) and industry tours (Figure 2). The BACE program culminated in the students present- ing their posters at the 2025 South Dakota Mines Summer Research Symposium. The two projects described below highlight the spectrum of research projects within the BACE program (two projects were conducted directly with industry partners). Full abstracts can be found at https://sites.google. com/sdsmt.edu/sdm2025symposium/home. www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Characteristics of claystone beds Sage Robinson, third-year undergraduate student at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D., investigated the chemical and physical characteristics of claystone beds of the White River Formation (Figure 3). The objective of this study was to explore and characterize the chemical and physical properties of a few White River Formation clays near the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition boundary.² Little data is available on the properties of beds in this area despite the potential material resources and clues about the effects of this climatic event on the continental interior. Samples were taken from six clay and mudstone beds exposed in an outcrop of the White River Formation. They were then analyzed using X-ray diffraction (to determine mineral phases), X-ray fluorescence (to determine general elemental chemistry), sediment settling rates (to determine grain size), and a variety of physical tests (to measure shrinkage and firing characteristics). Results showed samples to be broadly similar in chemistry aside from calcium concentration, but they contrasted in their mineral phases and in the results of higher temperature firing. Specifically, the main clay phases shifted from montmorillonite to illite over time, and calcite appeared in the younger beds. High plasticity makes these clays good for ceramic arts, though without temper they have high shrinkage and low dry strength. Furthermore, the flux behavior of calcite in the upper beds make these clays natural glazes at higher kiln temperatures. They may also be useful as the clay component in other ceramics such as bricks. Ultimately, these clays would have been impractical for early people poten- tially looking to produce functional ceramics because they require process- ing and modification to be turned into durable pottery. Ceramic minerals for additive manufacturing Calder Lange, second-year under- graduate student at Middlebury College in Vermont, traveled to South Dakota to investigate the viability of industrial Black Hills minerals for ceramic addi- tive manufacturing. During the BACE program, Calder mentored third-year high school student Brayden Sanderson, an Army Education Outreach Program researcher (Figure 4). This study focused on characterizing the rheological, chemical, and mechani- cal properties of Fuson Shale, a local clay material sourced from Rapid City, S.D. The shale was crushed into a fine powder and tested alongside a commercially avail- able stoneware clay. Shear and compressional rheology tests were performed on the two clays to investigate their viscoelastic behavior during extrusion. Following these tests, both the local and commercial samples were 3D printed and sintered at three different temperatures. Mineralogical phases and structural transformations of the clay bodies at different firing temperatures were analyzed using X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscope imag- ing revealed temperature-based densification patterns, and ASTM c1161 three-point bend testing was performed on the 3D-printed clay to test flexural strength across the various firing conditions. The local formulated clay body outperformed the commercial clay in flexural strength testing, highlighting the potential for local materials to be used in manufacturing. This finding is espe- cially advantageous when applied in remote locations such as the Arctic or extraterrestrial environments. Undergraduate students interested in this summer research opportunity can learn more about the program and apply to be part of the 2026 cohort at https://sites.google.com/sdsmt. edu/bace/home. Figure 3. BACE student Sage Robinson, left, and Sarah Keenan, right, in the field outside of Wall, S.D., examining outcrops of mudstone in the White River Formation. aeop Figure 4. BACE student Calder Lange, left, and his high school Army Education Outreach Program mentee Brayden Sanderson, right, stand next to their poster at the South Dakota Mines Summer Research Symposium. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org Credit: Scott Beeler Credit: Katrina Donovan Ackowledgments The BACE REU site (NSF grant #2349313) is jointly funded by the Department of Defense in partnership with the Division of Earth Sciences (Directorate for Geosciences), the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR), and the Division of Engineering Education and Centers (Directorate for Engineering). High school researchers working with BACE students were funded by the Army Education Outreach Program. About the authors Katrina Donovan and Sarah Keenan are faculty members at South Dakota Mines (Rapid City, S.D.). Contact Donovan at katrina.donovan@sdsmt.edu. References 1\"New summer ceramics engineering program opens at South Dakota Mines,\" South Dakota Mines. Published 17 Oct. 2024. https://www.sdsmt.edu/news/releases/ ceramicsengineeringprogram.html 2A. Zanazzi et al., “Large temperature drop across the Eocene-Oligocene transition in central North America,\" Nature 2007, 445: 639-642. *All references verified as of Oct. 13, 2025. 35 Bulletin Application note IV.SUBBARAO OPPO A76 Subba Rao Example of the sintered cristobalite synthesized through the new rotary kiln- based method. The use of a rotary kiln means no flux is required to achieve complete transformation of the quartz into cristobalite. Sintered synthetic cristobalite: Innovative kiln-based thermal transformation of quartz By I. V. Subba Rao ristobalite, a high-temperature polymorph of silica, is widely used in ceramics, glass, paints, refractories, and dental materials due to its low density, high whiteness, thermal expansion behavior, and mechanical stability. Traditional cristobalite production methods rely on static sin- tering of finely ground quartz at high temperatures (~1,750°C) for extended durations (2-3 hours in burning zone, 6-7 hours from kiln inlet to outlet), which often results in incomplete transformation, high energy consumption, and impurity reten- tion. This article presents a novel rotary kiln-based production route that utilizes mineralogical understanding and controlled thermal regimes to achieve efficient, continuous, and industrial- scale cristobalite production. Transformation mechanics of quartz to cristobalite Mineralogically, both quartz and cristobalite are composed of SiO4 tetrahedra, but they differ in the way these tetrahe- dra are arranged. Quartz crystallizes in the trigonal system as a-quartz at room temperature. When heated above 573°C, a-quartz undergoes a reversible phase transition to ẞ-quartz, which has a hexagonal crystal system. Cristobalite, on the other hand, crystallizes in the cubic system as ẞ-cristobalite at high temperatures, typically forming above approximately 1,470°C under equilibrium conditions. Upon cooling, B-cristobalite transforms into a tetragonal form known as α-cristobalite at about 270°C, which is metastable at ambient conditions. When transitioning from quartz to cristobalite, manufactur- ers must be wary of the formation of tridymite, another silica polymorph with a hexagonal or orthorhombic lattice that forms at temperatures between 870°C and 1,470°C. Avoiding tridymite 36 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Credit: I. V. Subba Rao Credit: I. V. Subba Rao formation and promoting direct transformation of quartz to cristobalite is key to product purity and stability. Bypassing tridymite formation is possible via kinetic con- trol and optimized thermal regime during processing, as demonstrated by the novel rotary kiln-based production method described in the next section. Rotary kiln-based sintering of quartz for direct cristobalite formation The novel cristobalite production method employs a rotary kiln divided into preheating, reaction, and sintering zones with controlled temperature gradients from 1,000°C to 1,700°C. Feed materials are con- tinuously charged and sintered at 1,550-1,650°C for durations sufficient to enable structural conversion Counts 150000- (6-7 hours from kiln inlet to outlet). The tumbling motion ensures uniform heat exposure and crystal nucleation, thus enabling efficient transformation. 100000- 50000 The raw material used in this process is high-purity natural quartz or amorphous silica, optionally pretreated to remove impurities such as iron oxide, titania, and alumina. Grain size ranging from 3 mm to 30 mm is suitable for rotary processing. Unlike conventional flux-assisted processes, this method relies solely on optimized thermal control and feedstock mor- phology to induce quartz-to-cristobalite transformation. No alkali fluxes or chemical catalysts are used. Characterizing cristobalite quality 0 BO.5 1600 படப்டம்பப்பப்டபு Cristobalite low 54.1 % Cristobalite alpha 28.6 % Cristobalite low 1 17.2 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 Position [20] (Copper (Cu)) Figure 1. X-ray diffraction pattern of the rotary kiln-sintered cristobalite. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micros- copy (SEM), and other methods, the cristobalite was confirmed to have high crystallinity (>95%) with minimal impurities. XRD analysis As seen in Figure 1, XRD of the sample sintered between 1,600°C and 1,650°C reveals almost complete cristobalite formation (~90 wt.%), matching the international reference pattern (ICDD Powder Diffraction File 04-002-6313). Minimal residual quartz peaks were observed (~ 10 wt.%), confirming phase purity. There were no amorphous humps typical of glassy phases in XRD, meaning glass phase content is negli- gible or below the detection limit. Based on the XRD results, all cristobalite in the sample had the tetragonal lattice (α-cristobalite). No cristobalite with a cubic lattice (ẞ-cristobalite) was detected, which is expected when cristobalite has cooled below about 270°C. Morphology and microstructure Cristobalite crystals exhibit a dense, fine-grained microstruc- ture under SEM, showing improved homogeneity and particle bonding (Figure 2). This microstructure favors mechanical strength and application-specific performance. Chemical purity and brightness Final sintered products show reduced levels of iron, titania, and alumina, which supports higher brightness and whiteness, a desirable property for optical and ceramic applications. Cristobalite 20 μm Figure 2. Scanning electron microscopy images of the rotary kiln- sintered cristobalite. Conclusions This work demonstrates a novel method for cristobalite syn- thesis using rotary kiln technology and flux-free sintering. The method achieves almost complete quartz transformation under optimized thermal regimes without the use of alkalis or addi- tives, offering industrial viability, enhanced product quality, and broad application potential. About the author I.V. Subba Rao is managing partner and technical advisor at Raghuvamsi Technologies (Kakinada, India). Contact Rao at raatech12@rediffmail.com or raatechs12@yahoo.com. American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 37 Credit: I. V. Subba Rao Jonathon Foreman ACers journals managing editor (retired) O journal highlights Bioinspired materials design and fabrication Nature is a master designer, and recent years have seen more scientists and engi- neers drawing inspiration from the world around them when developing materi- als and technologies (Figure 1). In the November 2025 special issue of Journal of the American Ceramic Society, the promises and challenges of emulating nature are demonstrated through 30 research and review articles with the theme \"Materials Design with Learning from Nature.\" In the feature article \"Nature-inspired hierarchical materials,\"¹ the issue\'s lead editors frame the underlying discussion. Nature excels at using constrained pro- duction conditions (e.g., everyday tem- perature and pressure ranges) to convert limited of building-block materials types (e.g., proteins, minerals, and carbohy- drates) into components with intricate structures that exhibit exceptional per- formance in areas such as toughness. The authors focus on three specific characteristics of the naturally designed components: hierarchical structures, which enable improved mechanical properties; smart surfaces, such as wet- ting and self-cleaning properties; and adaptive functionality, including color- changing capabilities. Regarding the first point, there are many types of hierarchical structures in nature. The authors provide examples of four major types and describe, among other things, how their structures affect toughening mechanisms. 38 • Bone is a composite of proteins and minerals organized across seven hierarchical levels. Each layer of the structure serves a unique purpose. For example, bone\'s dense outer layer provides structural support while the macroporous interior supports cellu- lar functions such as blood flow. • Nacre is the iridescent (pearly) substance that lines the interior of many mollusk shells and protects the animal. It has a \"brick-and-mortar\" construction with minerals serving as the bricks and organic materials as the mortar. Nacre\'s toughness arises from energy dissipation during defor- mation of the organic mortar. • Sea sponge has layered organic (protein) and inorganic (hydrated amorphous silica) skeletal \"spic- ules.\" The line-shaped spicules are arranged in a woven square grid pattern with diagonal supports. This structure enhances crack resistance and improves flexural strength well beyond that of monolithic silica. Spider silk exhibits a combination of toughness and stiffness superior to almost all other materials. It con- sists of multilayered protein fibers bundled in a core-shell design. Products designed to mimic these natural structures are being developed in many areas, including healthcare (e.g., tissue replacement scaffolds), advanced energy (e.g., electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors), and construction (e.g., bridge cables). Researchers utilize model- ing tools to enhance understanding of the underlying mechanisms and to pre- dict new bioinspired designs. For example, Meng et al. reviewed what has been learned about the lamellar structure of conch shells through numer- ical and theoretical modeling along with experimentation.² They first call out three levels of organization, with twinned aragonite building blocks stacked into tilted, rotated layers. They then describe how the toughness is greater than that of aragonite and nacre, attributing this behavior to multiple mechanisms includ- ing zig-zag cracks, debonding of organic interlayers, and lamellar pull-out. Fabrication methods for these bioin- spired designs include both traditional and advanced techniques. For example, Prötsch et al. produced nacre-inspired layered alumina via rapid sintering.³ The nacre-structured layers acted to deflect cracks and limit their penetration com- pared to bulk alumina without the nacre. Credit: Debu55y/Shutterstock Figure 1. The Tower of Light in Manchester, U.K., is a biomimetic structure, with its lattice design based on geometries found in nature. Researchers are also investigating fabri- cation methods that more closely resem- ble those in nature. Hu et al. explored biomineralization-inspired crystallization and densification of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) at low temperatures.4 They found that, without external water, ACC converted directly to anhydrous aragonite (some calcite was found at lower pressures). With external water, ACC crystallized into metastable ikaite at 25°C. At 40-60°C, ACC crystallized into monohydrocalcite. At 80°C and higher pressures, both ikaite and monohydrocal- cite transitioned to aragonite. Many more insights into bioinspired materials design can be found in the JACerS special issue. View the full issue at https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley. com/journal/15512916. References ¹Q. Fu et al., \"Nature-inspired hierarchical materials,\" JACerS 2025, 108(11): e70156. 2Q. Meng et al., “Hierarchical crossed-lamel- lar structure in conch shells: Mechanics and biomimetics,\" JACerS 2025, 108(11): e20465. 3T. Prötsch et al., “Bio-inspired damage-tolerant alumina-based layered ceramics through rapid sintering,\" JACerS 2025, 108(11): e20706. 4H. Hu et al., “Bioprocessing-inspired cold sintering of amorphous calcium carbonate,\" JACerS 2025, 108(11): e20682. www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 JOIN THE GROWING RANKS OF OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS! As of October 2025 ceramics.org/corporate The American Ceramic Society www.ceramics.org DIAMOND PARTNERS Corning Inc. 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ACers meeting highlights OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH GUIDE DISCUSSIONS AT MS&T25 IN COLUMBUS The year 2025 has been filled with many conversa- tions about the state of science research and funding in the U.S. and globally. But during ACerS 127th Annual Meeting at the Materials Science & Technology technical meeting and exhibition, which took place Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio, attendees focused on the positives and discussed ways to support opportunities for growth in the coming years. NURTURING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AT ACERS The American Ceramic Society made noticeable strides toward accomplishing the goals laid out in the 2025-2028 strategic plan, as reported by outgoing Acers President Monica Ferraris during the Annual Business Meeting on Monday, Sept. 29. Regarding the goal to enhance technical content, education, and professional development, ACers an- nounced in August 2025 that it received a two-year extension of funding from the Department of Defense for its \"Professional Development for Hypersonic Materials\" program, coordinated in collaboration with the United States Advanced Ceramics Association. The Society also finalized the details of its continued partnership with Wiley through 2033, which included assuming sole ownership of International Journal of Applied Glass Science. Acers also established several task forces to develop and revise various programs and initiatives to align with the evolving needs of industry, government labs, and international members. The impact of artificial intelligence on scientific research and scholarly publications is a topic of particular interest. As the Society heads into its second year of the stra- tegic plan, incoming ACerS President Mario Affatigato said his priorities in office will be guided by three \"Fs\": finances, fulfillment, and the future. AWARD LECTURES HIGHLIGHT TECH- NOLOGIES FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE Industrialization brought many benefits to society but also new challenges, such as emissions-driven climate changes and a rise in noncommunicable diseases due to increased longevity and more sedentary lifestyles. The award talks at this year\'s Annual Meeting profiled some of the technologies that can allow for healthier living with fewer environmental impacts. The award talks started on Monday morning with the Navrotsky Award for Experimental Thermodynamics of Solids, given by Arizona State University postdoc- toral researcher Konrad Burkmann. He talked about the possibility of using complex metal hydrides for chemical hydrogen storage, and he emphasized the importance of using calculations along with experi- ments to determine the potential of each option. A session sponsored by the Bioceramics Division took place afterward and included three lectures by Bioceramics awardees. Antonia Ressler of Tampere University, who delivered the Global Young Bioceramicist Award, talked about developing multisubstituted calcium phosphate-based scaffolds for bone augmentation applications. Sayoni Sarkar of ETH Zürich, who delivered the Bioceramics Young Scholar Award, shared her research on the develop- ment of oxide bioceramics for use in multifunctional sunscreens. Aldo Boccaccini of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, who delivered the Larry L. Hench Lifetime Achievement Award, overviewed cur- rent and future applications of bioactive glass in his recorded presentation. On Tuesday morning, Tatsuki Ohji, visiting professor at Yokohama National University and Nagoya Insti- tute of Technology and emeritus research councilor at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, delivered the Edward Orton Jr. Memorial Lecture on \"Ceramics for structural applica- tions: Overcoming the challenges of this formidable material.\" He concluded his talk with a beautiful tribute to Edwin Rudolph Fuller Jr., ACerS Fellow, Dis- tinguished Life Member, and past president, who died in August 2025. Ohji made the analogy that both the strongest humans and materials have a softness to them, which allows them to adapt and function under stressful environments. Later Tuesday morning, Morten Mattrup Smedskjaer Aalborg University delivered the Cooper Session Distinguished Lecture on the deformation behavior oxide glasses. He included a section on metal– organic frameworks as well, which coincidentally was the topic of this year\'s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was followed by this year\'s Cooper Scholar recipient, student Wuqian Zhang of Swarthmore College, who discussed the thermodynamic properties of the plati- num-copper-phosphorus bulk metallic glass system. On Tuesday afternoon, Ungyu Paik, distinguished professor in the Department of Energy Engineering at Hanyang University, Korea, delivered the Rustum Roy Lecture on the materials and processing methods used to fabricate high-energy-density lithium bat- teries. After his talk, Ferraris recognized Paik as an ACerS Global Ambassador. The last award lecture took place on Wednesday afternoon. Sossina Haile of Northwestern University delivered the Robert B. Sosman Lecture on the surface chemistry of ceria, an important catalyst material. EMERGING PROFESSIONALS GROW AS LEADERS THROUGH TARGETED COMPETI- TIONS AND EVENTS Scientific conferences are a great opportunity for students and young professionals to grow their net- works and knowledge. ACerS Annual Meeting always features several targeted events for this audience to help them grow as leaders within the materials science community. On Sunday, students competed in the annual Under- graduate Student Speaking Contest, which provides students the opportunity to practice communicating their research to a broader audience. This year, Pavan Kumar Reddy Pothula of The Pennsylvania State University took home first place, Robert David Hiroshi Race of the University of Michigan placed second, Emma Eleson of The Pennsylvania State University placed third, and Casen Legreid of lowa State University placed fourth. On Monday, the Ceramic and Glass Industry Founda- tion hosted the IGNITE MSE symposium and luncheon. This program, which runs in conjunction with selected conferences affiliated with The American Ceramic Society, provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to explore professional de- velopment and career opportunities. It also includes the opportunity to submit a poster on the broader impacts of scientific research to the larger poster session on Tuesday. 40 40 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 ACERS 127TH ANNUAL MEETING WITH Technical Meeting and Exhibition The winners from this year\'s poster session include Undergraduate posters 1. Emma Eleson, The Pennsylvania State University 2. David Gaetano, Yale University 3. Ryan McGinnis, Colorado School of Mines Graduate posters 1. Yolmarie Del Valle Gonzalez, Argonne National Lab 2. Carter Fietek, The Ohio State University 3. Preston Guynup, Alfred University This year, the IGNITE MSE luncheon was co-organized with the ACers Mentor Programs, which are designed to equip participants with the insight, tools, and connections necessary to make a lasting impact in their future career. The famous mug drop and disc golf competitions took place on Tuesday. These annual events, hosted by Keramos, challenge students to fabricate ceramics that can withstand heavy impacts, and each year conference attendees flock to witness the students\' Successes and failures. This year, Dimitri Shultz from West Virginia University took home first place in the mug drop competition. Additionally, Dongyang Li from Wuhan University of Technology was announced as having the most aesthetic mug. In the disc golf competition, Renard \"Montie\" Jenkins from Virginia Tech took home first place for longest successful throw. Meanwhile, Elena Granzeier from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was announced as having the most aesthetic disc. Events for emerging professionals wrapped up on Wednesday morning with a Young Professionals Network breakfast event. ACerS Corporate Partners were invited to attend as well to foster networking and discussions. View more photos from ACerS Annual Meeting at MS&T25 by visiting ACers Flickr page at https://bit.ly/MST25-Columbus. Pictures from the Awards Banquet can be found there as well. Next year, ACerS 128th Annual Meeting at MS&T26 will take place in Pittsburgh, Pa., from October 4-7. MS&T25 MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ACerS President\'s Council of Student Advisors pose for a group photo dur- ing their annual business meeting on Saturday, Sept. 27. This year\'s delegates consist of 46 students from 29 universities, representing seven countries. Tatsuki Ohji, left, accepts the Edward Orton Jr. Memorial Lecture certificate from outgoing ACerS President Monica Ferraris. 300 Booths MBUS GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER Outgoing ACerS President Monica Ferraris, left, passes the ceremonial ceramic gavel to incoming ACerS President Mario Affatigato during the Annual Board Meeting. Finalists of the Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest. From left: Emma Eleson, Pavan Kumar Reddy Pothula, Casen Legreid, and Robert David Hiroshi Race. 400 Booths GEO CONCOURSE EXIT All the competitors in this year\'s disc golf competition with their discs. BLADEL American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org 41 All photos credit: ACerS 50TH The American Ceramic Society ceramics.org The American Ceramic Society ceramics.org UPCOMING DATES JAN. 25-30, 2026 Register to attend! APRIL 12-16, 2026 Register to attend! 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The conference will highlight the breadth and depth of recent world- wide research enabled by neutrons, along with the latest developments in neutron techniques and data analysis. 42 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 calendar Calendar of events January 2026 6-7 Virtual Hypersonic Workshop 2026 - Virtual; https://ceramics.org/course/virtual- hypersonic-workshop-2026 25-30 Golden Jubilee Celebration of the 50th International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, Daytona, Fla.; https://ceramics.org/icacc2026 29-30 Mechanical Properties of Ceramics and Glass - Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, Daytona, Fla.; https://ceramics.org/course/quinn- mechanical-properties March 2026 24-26 ceramitec 2026 - Trade Fair Center Messe, München, Germany; https://ceramics.org/event/ ceramitec-2026 30-April 1 61st Annual Greater Missouri Section / Refractory Ceramics Division Symposium on Refractories – St. Louis, Mo.; https://ceramics.org/ rcd2026 April 2026 12 Introduction to Thermal Spray Coatings: Science, Engineering, and Applications - Bellevue, Wash.; https://ceramics.org/course/berndt- intro-thermal-spray-coatings 12 Fractography of Ceramics and Glass: An Introduction - Bellevue, Wash.; https://ceramics.org/course/swab- fractography 12-16 ACers Spring Meeting - Bellevue, Wash.; http://ceramics.org/acersspring May 2026 5-6 Ceramics Expo 2026 - Cleveland, Ohio; https://ceramics.org/event/ ceramics-expo-2026 31-June 5 12th International Conference on High Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composites and Global Forum on Advanced Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Development - Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego, Calif.; https://ceramics.org/htcmc12_gfmat3 June 2026 7-12 Solid State Studies in Ceramic Science Gordon Research Conference - South Hadley, Mass.; https://www.grc. org/solid-state-studies-in-ceramics- conference/2026 8-10 Structural Clay Products Division & Southwest Section Meeting 2026- DoubleTree by Hilton Canton Downtown, Canton, Ohio; https://ceramics.org/ clay2026 10-12 16th Advances in Cement-Based Materials - Miami, Fla.; https://ceramics.org/cements2026 15-25 CIMTEC 2026 – Perugia, Italy; https://ceramics.org/event/cimtec-2026 July 2026 8-10 International Conference on Self-Healing Materials - Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa.; https://icshm2026.org 12-16 American Conference on Neutron Scattering 2026 - Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, Mich.; https://ceramics.org/ acns2026 August 2026 31-Sept. 1 The International Conference on Sintering - Aachen, Germany; https://www.sintering2026.org/en October 2026 4-7 ACers 128th Annual Meeting with Materials Science and Technology 2026 - David L. 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The American Ceramic Society ceramics.org ceramics.org/divisions Statement of Ownership Ownership, Management and Circulation Statement per 39 U.S. Code 3685 for American Ceramic Society Bulletin as filed Sept. 30, 2025, with the U.S. Postal Service. American Ceramic Society Bulletin is published nine times per year (monthly except February, July and November) by The American Ceramic Society, 470 Olde Worthington Rd., Suite 200, Westerville, Ohio 43082. Publisher is Mark Mecklenborg, and editor is Lisa McDonald. A. Total number of copies (net press run) B. Paid and/or requested circulation 1. Paid/requested outside-county mail subscriptions 2. Paid in-county subscriptions 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other non-USPS paid distribution 4. Other classes mailed through the USPS C. Total paid and/or requested circulation D. Free distribution by mail (samples, complimentary and other free) 1. 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COMPENSATION for papers covering multiple chemical systems: 45 45 45, 46 $150 for the first commentary, plus $10 for each diagram. 45 $50 for each additional commentary, plus 46 $10 for each diagram. 45 FOR DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT: 45 Kimberly Hill www.spectrochemicalme.com 46 www.zircarceramics.com 45 www.zircarzirconia.com 45 NIST MS 8520 Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA 301-975-6009 | phase2@nist.gov Advertising Sales Mona Thiel, National Sales Director mthiel@ceramics.org ph: 614-794-5834 Advertising Assistant Pam Wilson pwilson@ceramics.org ph: 614-794-5826 American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 | www.ceramics.org The American Ceramic Society www.ceramics.org NIST 47 O deciphering the discipline A regular column showcasing the expertise of emerging ceramic and glass scientists, organized by the ACerS President\'s Council of Student Advisors When glass becomes medicine: Therapeutic ion delivery for regeneration When people think of medical treatments, they often imag- ine pills, injections, or surgical procedures. Few would picture glass playing a role in healing the human body. Yet bioactive glasses emerge as powerful tools for regenerative medicine. Why glass? The idea that glass could be \"bioactive\" was first demonstrated in the late 1960s, when researchers discovered that certain glass compositions could form a strong bond with living bone. Unlike traditional implants, which the body treats as inert foreign objects, these glasses interact dynamically with their environment. When special types of glass dissolve inside the body, they release tiny building blocks the body knows well: calcium, sodium, silicon, magnesium, selenium, zinc, boron, and phos- phate. These ions are the same ones our bodies use every day. For instance, more than 99% of calcium is stored in bones and teeth, while the rest circulates in blood and tissues. Magnesium quietly supports hundreds of enzymes that drive metabolism, and boron is found in skin, muscles, bone, and even the liver. 1,2 When glass releases these familiar ions, it sparks a cascade of biological responses. Cells begin to multiply, bone tissue starts to rebuild, and a stable layer of the mineral hydroxyapatite forms.³ The discovery that glass could interact so positively with the body was revolutionary. It redefined glass as a form of \"ionic medicine,\" capable of guiding the body\'s own repair processes rather than simply filling space.¹ The importance of ion delivery A key challenge in regenerative medicine is delivering thera- peutic signals at just the right dosage to induce beneficial-but not harmful effects. The effects of bioactive glasses can be care- fully adjusted by changing their composition and structure. 1,2 The addition of boron ions to bioactive glass, for example, can accelerate bone growth and muscle repair. However, these effects happen only at the right dose: Small amounts (0.1-1 mM) stimulate regeneration, while too much (2-2.5 mM) can be cyto- toxic, damaging cells and slowing wound healing. Meanwhile, silicon (about 0.1-2.0 mM) supports muscle repair and protects against oxidative stress, helping cells survive and fuse together. Zinc offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, and its effects depend on concentration. Below 40 µM, zinc stimu- lates muscle cell differentiation, myotube formation, and tran- scription factor expression; above 40 µM, it promotes prolifera- tion but blocks myotube formation. Magnesium, at concentrations below 4 mM, enhances skel- etal muscle cell growth and blood vessel formation. Adding 48 eneration Bone regene Anti-bacterial By Bahareh Kheilnezhad Denta Cu+ Bioactive glass Mg Nat Released ions Si+ Zn2+ B3+ Ca2+ PO Ag+ Wound healing, Angiogenesis Caries/Sensitivity Guest columnist 35 Remineralization Figure 1. Major application areas of bioactive glasses. 2.5 mM of magnesium to culture media has been shown to promote myogenic differentiation in muscle stem cells and support muscle injury repair.¹ In this way, each ion can be released at levels that mimic the body\'s natural environment, making bioactive glass a gentle partner in the healing process rather than a disruptive force. Broader implications Researchers are continuously exploring ways to improve and expand on the current applications of bioactive glass (Figure 1). For example, incorporating silver and copper ions opens new possibilities: Silver provides strong antibacterial activity, while copper supports angiogenesis and tissue repair and healing. In dentistry, fluoride-containing glasses not only strengthen enamel but also deliver antibacterial effects. These advances highlight how materials science can bridge engineering and medicine, cre- ating solutions that are both functional and biocompatible. Looking ahead As part of the Penn State glass research group, I engineer bioactive glasses to deliver therapeutic ions at concentrations mimicking natural conditions. By studying delivery rates and dosages, we can help shape the future of bioactive glass design. References ¹H.-H. Lu et al., “Ionic medicine: Exploiting metallic ions to stimulate skeletal muscle tissue regeneration,\" Acta Biomaterialia 2024, 190: 1-23. 2Shearer et al., “Modern definition of bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics,\" Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 2023, 608: 122228. ³Shearer et al., \"Trends and perspectives on the commercialization of bioactive glasses,\" Acta Biomaterialia 2023, 160: 14-31. Bahareh Kheilnezhad is a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research involves designing and characterizing (bio)glass and glass-ceramic materials under the supervision of Professors Seong H. Kim and John C. Mauro. She enjoys dancing, fitness, and hanging out with friends in her free time. www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 104, No. 9 Credit: Bahareh Kheilnezhad Boosting NEW TECHNOLOGY Since 1987, the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT) at Alfred University and the New York State College of Ceramics has been a trusted leader in providing comprehensive characterization services for ceramic and glass materials. We are excited to announce a major enhancement to our thermal analysis capabilities: the addition of the Netzsch LFA 427 thermal conductivity and diffusivity system, paired with the Netzsch FLS 701. This advanced system is purpose-built for analyzing high- performance materials across a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, defense, and energy. The laser flash method, employed by this system, is the industry standard for precise thermal diffusivity measurements-essential when understanding heat conduction in various materials. With this upgrade, CACT can now accurately quantify thermal conductivity across a broad spectrum of sample types, including ceramics, glass, metals, powders, fibers, and multi-layer materials. Learn more about how CACT can support your next project at www.alfred.edu/cact. 1836 NEW YORK ECOLLEGE STATE OF Alfred University CERAMICS CACI ALFRED UNIVERSITY Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology 田 AMERICAN ELEMENTS THE MATERIALS SCIENCE MANUFACTURERⓇ H 1.00794 Hydrogen Photo: American Elements CE-OX-01-PP 99.9% Cerium Oxide Polishing Powder Li Lithium Be 9.012182 Beryllium 11 Na 22.98976928 Sodium 12 Mg 24.305 Magnesium K 39.0983 Potassium 20 Ca 40.078 Calcium 21 Sc 44.955912 Scandium Ti 47.867 Titanium B 10.811 Boron 12.0107 Carbon 13 ΑΙ 26.9815386 Aluminum 14 Si 28.0855 Silicon 15 O 14.0067 15.9994 Nitrogen Oxygen NP 30.973762 Phosphorus S 32.065 Sulfur 17 He HH 4.002602 Helium F 18.9984032 Fluorine 10 Ne 20.1797 Neon CI 35.453 Chlorine 18 Ar 39.948 Argon 50.9415 Vanadium Cr Mn 51.9961 Chromium 54.938045 Manganese Fe 55.845 Iron Co 58.933195 Cobalt 28 Ni 58.6934 Nickel Cu 63.546 Copper Zn 65.38 Zinc Ga 69.723 Gallium 32 Ge 72.64 Germanium 33 As 74.9216 Arsenic 34 Se 78.96 Selenium 35 Br 79.904 Bromine Kr 83.798 Krypton Rb 85.4678 Rubidium 38 Sr 87.62 Strontium Y 88.90585 Yttrium 40 Zr 91.224 Zirconium 41 42 Nb Mo 92.90638 Niobium 95.96 Molybdenum 43 TC (98.0) Technetium 2 44 45 46 47 Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd 101.07 Ruthenium Rhodium 106.42 Palladium 107.8682 Silver Cs 132.9054 Cesium 56 Ba 137.327 Barium La 138.90547 Lanthanum Hf 178.48 Hafnium 73 Ta 180.9488 Tantalum 74 W 183.84 Tungsten 75 Re 186.2071 Rhenium Os 190.23 Osmium ས༞བྲཱཧྨས 77 Ir 192.217 Iridium 78 49 In 50 51 Sn Sb Te 121.76 Antimony 127.6 Tellurium Bismuth 83 Bi 208.9804 Lead 114 204.3833 Thallium Pt 195.084 Platinum 79 Au Hg 196.966569 Gold 200.59 Mercury 112 113 、。,,,。 112.411 Cadmium 114.818 118.71 Indium 53 lodine 54 Xe 131.293 Xenon Po (209) Polonium 85 At (210) Astatine 86 (226) Radium (227) Actinium Fr (223) Francium Ra Ac 104 Rf 105 106 Db Sg 108 109 110 Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh FI Mc 116 Lv 117 Ts (267) Rutherfordium (268) Dubnium (271) Seaborgium (272) Bohrium (270) Hassium (276) Meitnerium (281) Darmstadtium (280) Roentgenium (285) Copernicium (284) Nihonium (289) Flerovium (288) Moscovium (293) Livermorium (294) Tennessine Ce 140.116 Cerium Pr 140.90765 Praseodymium 65 Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb 144.242 Neodymium (145) 150.36 Promethium Samarium 151.964 Europium 157.25 Gadolinium 158.92535 Terbium Dy Ho Er Dysprosium 164.93032 Holmium 167.259 Erbium Tm Yb 168.93421 Thulium 173.054 Ytterbium כ 93 95 96 97 Np Pu Am Cm Bk 98 Cf 99 100 Es Fm 101 102 Md No 103 Lu 174.9668 Lutetium 231.03588 Protactinium 238.02891 Uranium (237) Neptunium (244) Plutonium (243) Americium (247) Curium (247) Berkelium (251) Californium (252) Einsteinium (257) Fermium (258) Mendelevium (259) Nobelium (262) Lawrenclum Th 232.03806 Thorium 91 Pa 92 Now Invent. 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