bulletin cover story (Credit: Western Refractory Services, Ltd., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.) Refractory installation of a rotary hearth dome in western Canada.
anada may not be the most promi- Cnent nation to appear in industry headlines, but universities, businesses, and gov- ernment agencies throughout the country are collaborating on impressive advances in ceramic technology. These breakthroughs are being driv- en by a combination of commercial opportunity Canadian and societal demands in areas such as environ- mentalism, which is a particular concern among students and young professionals. ceramic clout “Strictly speaking about ceramics, I would say the big focus is in sustainable use of materials, trying to make materials last longer or degrade less or make them out of materials that are going to pre- Universities, corporations, and government vent fracture or degradation,” says Mary Anne White, University agencies team to foster research advances and Research Professor of Chemistry at Dalhousie University, which commercial opportunities. conducts ceramics research in the departments of chemistry and engineering. “I think that students are going to be ever more con- cerned about energy and sustainability, and I think materials hold a lot of answers to some of our major problems.” Partha Sarkar is principal scientist, environment and carbon By Alex Talavera and Randy B. Hecht management, in the Clean Energy group at Alberta Innovates– Technology Futures, which supports Alberta’s strategy for playing a significant role in the global nanotechnology market. “My projects are geared toward reduction of greenhouse gases and improving environmental sustainability,” he says. “Within our work, we have developed tubular micro solid oxide fuel cells (μSOFC) where we employed an electrophoretic-deposition-based tubular cell manu- facturing method. We have developed a novel concept of ‘porous matrix embedded stack’ to improve the µSOFC performance and mechanical robustness.” Sarkar also is working in partnership with Raj Gupta, a profes- sor at University of Alberta, and AITF’s combustion expert, Allan Chambers, on carbon capture projects related to alternate combus-
20 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 (Credit: ACAMP).
Low temperature cofired ceramic sections for advanced sensor assemblies and processes (left). The assembled device is about the size of a Canadian dime (above). (Credit: ACAMP). tion technology—chemical looping combustion (CLC). “The discovered is found in any given lithium-ion battery on the CLC process has two coupled fluidized-bed reactors, fuel market today. The materials are manufactured in the United and air,” he says. “In the air reactor, a metal is oxidized in States. contact with air. The metal oxide is then supplied to the fuel Canadian graduate students also are active in ceramic reactor, where it supplies the oxygen required for combus- research. One of White’s students, Carl Romao, is attempting tion. The metal oxide is thus reduced and resupplied to the to combine positive thermal expansion and negative thermal air reactor in a continuous process. The metal/metal oxide expansion materials to create composite materials that are solids act as an oxygen carrier. In the CLC process, the fuel immune to thermal stress. does not come in contact with air during combustion, and the fuel reactor exhaust is mainly CO2 and water vapor. The Refractory industry—international and innovative water is condensed and the CO2 is captured.” An interesting characteristic of the refractories sector in Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) presents another area of Canada is that although it is dominated by national and environmental concern and another field in which Canadian international corporations, such as Clayburn Refractories ceramic researchers are seeking solutions in nanotechnol- and Vesuvius, it also allows space for smaller players. Greg ogy. “Some of the extraction technologies today use a lot of Langlois is president of Refractories Plus Inc. in Hamilton, water,” says Ken Brizel, CEO of ACAMP, Alberta Centre for Ontario. “In our business, a lot of it is personal. There’s still Advanced Micro Nano Technology Products. “The nano- some relationship selling here,” he says. “The big players will catalysts that are being created would require a lot less water work with us here.” His operation is nimble enough to react to be able to do the same amount of extraction. That’s work more quickly than some larger companies. His company has that’s going on in a lot of research areas around Alberta. managed to land some big cross-border projects. “I have an Everybody wants to get to be greener.” arrangement with some trading companies in China that we At McMaster University, Igor Zhitomirsky, professor have our own engineers on the ground over there. We were of materials science and engineering, conducts research able to buy better-quality brick at lower cost and bring it focused on nanostructured materials for energy storage and over here.” generation. “The most promising project I have is related to That interaction between small and big business, often electrochemical supercapacitors,” he says. “One of the most in partnership with academic researchers and government- important materials for electromechanical supercapacitors sponsored initiatives, is seen throughout the Canadian is manganese oxide. Our research is focused on fabrication ceramic sector. “There’s one company we work with that’s of nanoparticles, fabrication of composite electrodes, and involved in using titanium dioxide nanomaterials interwoven testing of electrochemical devices.” His team is testing a pro- into aluminum—so they do titanium aluminide. Those are totype device that should be ready to be offered to industry super strong, and they’re used in everything from energy to within the next year or two. automotive applications,” Brizel says. “That’s a startup here White’s colleague at Dalhousie University, professor Jeff in Alberta—90% of the companies we tend to work with Dahn, is leading a team that has been working on materials come right out of universities or someone’s garage.” It is an for lithium-ion batteries and developing new cathode materi- approach that, although centered on small players, is produc- als. Dahn reports that there is a 35% chance that material he ing big results in Canada’s ceramic industry.
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 | www.ceramics.org 21 Canadian ceramic clout
Investing in growth University of Toronto’s Mechanical application of macroporous ceramic The Natural Sciences and and Industrial Engineering Department. materials/structures through chemical Engineering Research Council of • MRI characterization of implant- sintering. Both to Weixing Chen of the Canada (NSERC) “supports university able drug delivery bioceramics. To University of Alberta’s Chemical and students in their advanced studies, pro- Steven Beyea of Dalhousie University’s Materials Engineering Department. motes and supports discovery research, Physics and Atmospheric Science • Solution precursor plasma spray and fosters innovation by encouraging Department. deposition of nanocrystalline functional Canadian companies to participate • Mechanical behavior of zirconia- ceramic coatings. To Thomas Coyle of and invest in postsecondary research based ceramics for use in CANDU the University of Toronto’s Materials projects.” The government agency, supercritical water nuclear reactors. Science and Engineering Department. which was created in 1978, reports that To Lukas Bichler of the University of • Metal and ceramic interactions in during the past decade it has “invested British Columbia’s Okanagan School of materials processing. To Robin Drew of more than $7 billion in basic research, Engineering. Concordia University’s Mechanical and projects involving partnerships between • Fabrication of porous ceramic from Industrial Engineering Department. postsecondary institutions and industry, multilayer-coated SiC particles through • Ceramic electrolytes and second- and the training of Canada’s next gen- sol–gel followed by in-situ polymeriza- ary recovery. To Thomas Etsell of the eration of scientists and engineers.” For tion. To Jamal Chaouki of the École University of Alberta’s Chemical and fiscal year 2011–2012, NSERC awarded Polytechnique de Montréal Génie Materials Engineering Department. grants for pursuit of the following Chimique. • Development of high-toughness ceramic-related research projects: • Advanced ceramic structures and silicon nitride ceramics. To Vladimir • Development of direct fuel injec- coatings for corrosion protection and Krstic of the Queen’s University tion technology based on piezoceramic thermal insulation for generation IV Mechanical and Materials Engineering actuation. To Ridha Ben Mrad of the SCWRs; and Fabrication and potential Department. • Development and characterization of high-performance ceramic–metal Northern (market) exposure composites; and High-performance US–Canadian trade ties create jobs and economic opportunity on both sides of ceramic–metal composites. Both to Kevin Plucknett of Dalhousie the border. University’s Process Engineering and By Alex Talavera and Randy B. Hecht Applied Science Department. Although Canada’s land mass is 61,002 square include motor vehicles and parts, industrial • Amine–borane functionalized miles greater than that of the United States, its machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equip- materials: Hydrogen storage media and citizens number just 11% of the US population. In ment, chemicals, plastics, fertilizers, wood pulp, precursors to boron nitride ceramics. fact, fewer people live in all of Canada than in the timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electric- To Eric Rivard of the University of state of California. In terms of trade with the US, ity, and aluminum. Import volume for 2012 is Alberta’s Chemistry Department. however, Canada bench-presses many times its estimated at $474.8 billion. Leading commodity • Synthesis and characterization of body weight. imports include machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electric- novel biomedical glass-ceramic poly- It is the world’s number one destination of US mer composites. To Amin Rizkalla of exports and is second only to China as a source ity, and durable consumer goods. of goods imported by the US. Prominent among It all adds up to significant economic perfor- the University of Western Ontario’s those imports are oil, gas, uranium, and electric mance and market opportunity in “an affluent, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering power.―Canada is the largest foreign supplier high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar Department. of energy to the US. The petroleum sector is a class,” notes the CIA Fact Book. The US State • Process engineering for smart bio- particularly significant economic driver, and the Department terms this bilateral relationship ceramic cements. To Tom Troczynski country’s proven oil reserves place it third in “among the closest and most extensive in the of the University of British Columbia’s the world, behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. world” and adds that the trading relationship is Moreover, Canada is the world’s fifth-largest “the world’s largest and most comprehensive” Materials Engineering Department. investor in the US. and “supports millions of jobs in each country.” • Laser machining of ceramics For 2012, Canada’s purchasing power GDP is For guidance on competing successfully in with controlled microstructure. To estimated at $1.513 trillion, or $43,400 per capi- Canada and connecting with trading or business Gennady Zak of the Queen’s University ta, which reflects a 1.8% growth rate over 2011. partners there, contact the American Chamber of Mechanical and Materials Engineering This makes Canada the 13th-largest national Commerce in Canada, the Canada–US Chamber Department. economy in the world, although it ranks 37 in of Commerce, or the Canadian–American Moreover, NSERC awarded 13 terms of population. Services generate 69.8% of Business Council. The US Commercial Service GDP, followed by industry (28.5%) and agriculture has published Doing Business in Canada, and ceramic-related research scholarships (1.7%). US–Canada trade news can be followed on the for the 2011–2012 fiscal year. n Canadian export volume for 2012 is estimated website of the Embassy of the United States in at $462.9 billion. Its leading commodity exports Ottawa. n
22 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 Sulfur recovery unit reaction furnace checker wall in a sour gas plant. (Credit: Western Refractory Services Ltd.)
Canada ceramics directory and profiles ACerS Corporate Member Companies and Commercial Barrday Energy Solutions 2409 39 Riedel Street Barrday Protective Solutions Fort McMurray, Alberta T9E 3E1 Enterprises 75 Moorefield Street Phone: 780-790-0464 Alberta Innovates PO Box 790 Fax: 780-790-0475 Website: www.albertainnovates.ca Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1S2 Website: www.clayburnrefractories.com Alberta Innovates functions as a globally competitive re- Toll-free: 800-667-3725 Email: [email protected] search and innovation system where government, industry, Website: www.barrday.com Clayburn’s refractory products include brick, castables, and academia interact to develop solutions to global chal- Founded in 1958, the company is a technical leader in the plastic refractories, anchoring systems, and insulation. lenges and use knowledge for the growth and diversifica- protective, composite, and energy markets. Working in The company has completed installation of castables, tion of Alberta’s economy. Alberta Innovates operates as an the area of advanced material solutions, it develops fiber brick, plastics, and many other high-temperature and integrated system aligned with the strategies and priorities reinforcements, prepregs and laminates, coating adhesives, abrasion-resistant linings on thousands of major projects. of the province. and core materials. Its crews are experienced in bricklaying, casting and pour- ing, ceramic fiber, demolition, guniting, plastic refractory, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Brampton Brick Ltd. shotcreting, and pumping. Website: www.albertainnovatestechfutures.ca 225 Wanless Drive Highly client and industry focused, Alberta Innovates Tech- Brampton, Ontario L7A 1E9 DuraSystems nology Futures advances ideas and innovations, through Phone: 905-840-1011 199 Courtland Avenue applied research and commercialization support, to solve Admin. Fax: 905-840-1535 Vaughan, Ontario L4K 4T2 problems, enhance productivity, and move new products Sales Fax: 905-840-6461 Toll-free: 866-338-0988 and services to market. Website: www.bramptonbrick.com Phone: 905-660-4455 Email: [email protected] Fax: 905-660-8887 Website: www.durasystems.com Antex Western Canada’s second largest manufacturer of clay brick, the Email: [email protected] 1340 Church Avenue company also manufactures stone veneer products and Winnipeg, Manitoba R2X 1G4 concrete window sills. Its concrete interlocking paving Founded more than a half-century ago, this manufacturer Phone: 204-633-4815 stones, retaining walls, garden walls, and environmental specializes in supplying fire-rated systems and assemblies Fax: 204-633-0550 products are manufactured in Canada and sold in Canada to the industrial, commercial, and institutional market Website: www.antexwestern.com and the United States for residential construction and for sectors. The company can provide passive fire protec- Email: [email protected] industrial, commercial, and institutional building projects. tion solutions for telecommunication and electrical power Established more than 80 years ago and employee owned utilities; petrochemical, mining, and resource industries; since 2004, the company is a leader in installing interior Clayburn Refractories Ltd. transportation industry; and offshore oil and gas platforms. commercial building products in Manitoba. It specializes in 33765 Pine Street the commercial construction industry. Abbotsford, British Columbia V2S 5C1 Endurance Technologies Phone: 800-859-4885 71, 4511 Glenmore Trail Southeast Avalon Rare Metals Inc. Fax: 604-8592923 Calgary, Alberta T2C 2R9 1901-130 Adeline Street West Email: [email protected] Phone: 403-720- 3633 Toronto, Ontario M5H 3P5 Toll-free: 877-806-3910 th Phone: 416-364-4938 16010 118 Avenue Website: www.endurancetechnologies.com Fax: 416-364-5162 Edmonton, Alberta T5V 1C6 Email: [email protected] Website: www.avalonraremetals.com Phone: 780-468-4100 Established in 1993 to serve the oil and gas industries with Fax: 780-468-5200 A mineral development company, ARM focuses on rare diffusion alloying technology, the company provides abra- Email: [email protected] metals and materials. sion and corrosion-resistant solutions to clients worldwide. 108 4140 6th Street Northeast Its technology provides protection to materials exposed to Calgary, Alberta T2E 8C8 high-temperature and highly corrosive environments in the Phone: 403-276-4421 process industry. Fax: 403-277-8661 Email: [email protected]
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 | www.ceramics.org 23 Canadian ceramics directory and profiles
IMACRO Inc. Treibacher Industrie AG McGill University 1254 Plains Road East 515 Consumers Road, Suite 212 845 Sherbrooke Street West Burlington, Ontario L7S 1W6 Toronto, Ontario M2J 4Z2 Montréal, Québec H3A 0G4 Phone: 905-634-3133 Phone: 416-535-2600 Phone: 514-398-4455 Website: www.imacroinc.com Fax: 416-535-2602 Website: www.mcgill.ca Email: [email protected] Website: www.treibacher.com/en.html Departmental directory: http://kb.mcgill.ca/kb/?ArticleId= Established in 1988, IMACRO offers refractory products, Email: [email protected] 1251&source=article&c=12&cid=2#tab:homeTab:crum magnesium and aluminum sacrificial anodes, magnesium Treibacher Industrie AG develops and produces technically b:7:artId:1251 extrusions, strontium metal, specialty alloys, and consulting demanding materials and powders for many applications Faculty and staff directory: www.mcgill.ca/directory/staff services to the iron, steel, aluminum, and other nonferrous in the advanced ceramic sector. Its areas of focus include metals and manufacturing industries. precision investment casting, thermal spraying powder, McMaster University engineering ceramics, structural ceramics, sputter targets 1280 Main Street West Jazbrick and evaporation materials, and electroceramics and ionic Hamilton, Ontario L8S4L8 18 Namco Road conductors. Phone: 905-525-9140 Toronto, Ontario M9W 1M5 Website: www.mcmaster.ca Toll-free: 888-772- 8999 Western Refractory Services Ltd. Faculty directory: http://telecom.mcmaster.ca/directory.cfm Phone: 416-741-4498 10008 32 Avenue Fax: 416-741-5657 Edmonton, Alberta T6N 1G7 Queen’s University Website: www.jazbrick.com Phone: 780-466-4540 (24 hours) 99 University Avenue Email: [email protected] Fax: 780-465-5099 Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Phone: 613-533-2000 A leading manufacturer and distributor of brick and Website: www.westernrefractories.com Website: www.queensu.ca/ stone products, Jazbrick also hosts the annual Jazbrick Email: [email protected] Faculty and departmental directory: http://www.queensu. Forum to share information about new technology, green A privately owned Canadian company established in 1984, ca/search/people certification, and other topics for builders, developers, and Western Refractory Services has completed refractory architects. projects throughout Canada and supplied engineering, Thompson Rivers University materials, and supervision for projects worldwide. The 900 McGill Road Refractories Plus Inc. company’s turnkey services span planning, engineering, Kamloops, British Columbia V2C 0C8 600 Wentworth Street North and dryout. Phone: 250-828-5000 Hamilton, Ontario L8L 5X3 Fax: 250-828-5086 Phone: 905-540-4224 Zochem Inc. Website: www.tru.ca Website: www.refractoriesplus.com 1 Tilbury Court Faculty directory: http://kamino.tru.ca/telbook Refractories Plus has installed refractory and insulation Brampton, Ontario L6T 3T4 Toll-free: 800-324-1806 products in almost every application. It specializes in ser- University of Alberta Phone: 905-453-4100 vicing the iron and steel, aluminum and nonferrous metals, 116 Street and 85 Avenue Fax: 905-453-2920 industrial, and ceramic and glass sectors. Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3 Mailing address: Phone: 780-492-3111 Sanjel Corporation PO Box 1120 Website: www.ualberta.ca nd 200, 505 2 Street Southwest Brampton, Ontario L6V 2L8 Directory: http://faculties.ualberta.ca Calgary, Alberta T2P 1N8 Website: www.zochem.com/ Phone: 403-269-1420 Email contact form: http://zochem.com/contact-us/ University of British Columbia Fax: 403-716-4024 Established in 1933, Zochem is Canada’s largest zinc oxide Vancouver Campus Website: www.sanjel.com/Index.cfm manufacturer and the second-largest single-site producer 2329 West Mall Sanjel offers two specialized products: pressure pumping in North America. Its complete line of zinc oxide grades Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4 and completions. Each product offering is complete with its serves the needs of most industries, including rubber Phone: 604-822-2211 own innovative engineering products and custom-designed products, chemicals, ceramics, paints, pharmaceuticals, Okanagan Campus and manufactured equipment. and agriculture 3333 University Way Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7 SIMCO Technologies Inc. Phone: 250-807-8000 2666, Boul. du Parc-Technologique Website: www.ubc.ca Suite 100 Universities and Research Faculty directory: www.ubc.ca/directories Quebec QC G1P 4S6 Phone: 418-656-1003 Institutes University of Manitoba Fax: 418-656-6083 Dalhousie University Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 Website: www.simcotechnologies.com Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 Phone: 800-432-1960 Email: [email protected] Phone: 902-494-2211 Website: www.umanitoba.ca Established in 1997, SIMCO offers integrated solutions for Website: www.dal.ca Faculty and departmental directories: http://umanitoba.ca/ optimum design and maintenance of concrete infrastruc- Faculty directory: https://directory.dal.ca/ faculties/info_links.html ture that combines sophisticated materials analysis tech- niques and leading-edge service life predictive software. Polytechnique Montréal (École Polytechnique de University of Toronto Montréal) 563 Spadina Crescent Morgan Thermal Ceramics 2900, Boul. Édouard-Montpetit Toronto, Ontario M5S 2J7 Thermal Ceramics Canada Université de Montréal Campus Phone: 416-978-2011 1185 Walkers Line 2500, Chemin de Polytechnique Website: www.utoronto.ca Burlington, Ontario L7M 1L1 Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4 Faculty and departmental directories: http://directory. Phone: 905-335-3414 Mailing address: utoronto.ca/phonebook/pages/admin/main.xhtml Website: www.morganthermalceramics.com C.P. 6079, Succ. Centre-ville Morgan Thermal Ceramics supplies intelligently engineered Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7 University of Windsor insulation solutions to a wide variety of industries and Phone: 514-340-4711 401 Sunset Avenue market sectors. Its advanced ceramic insulation products Website: www.polymtl.ca/en Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4 include insulating fibers, firebrick, and monolithics. Faculty and other directories: http://www.polymtl.ca/ Phone: 519-253-3000 bottin/en Website: www.uwindsor.ca Faculty and departmental directories: http://apps. uwindsor.ca/uwincpb/jsp/DirectoryServices.jsp
24 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 bulletin cover story Modern Mexico– Far-reaching research From nanotechnology to dental ceramics to clean energy, Mexico plays a global role in advanced research and commerce.
By Alex Talavera and Randy B. Hecht
he phrase “Mexican ceramics” T may first call to mind images of objects of art and tableware created by artisans whose work follows centuries-old and even pre-Columbian traditions. That’s understandable: In Mexico City, Puebla, and other major urban areas, there are multistory buildings whose entire exteriors are covered in handcrafted tile as shown in the image to the left. But those images do not begin to encompass the full range of advanced technological projects being researched, developed, and manufactured in contemporary Mexico’s ceramic sectors. Nanotechnology is one area of strong focus and will be in the spotlight during the Nanotech Biotech 2013 New Venture Competition being held November 7–8 in Monterrey, one of the country’s largest business and industrial centers. Its purpose is to spark the launch of high-value busi- nesses—in particular, small and medium enterprises—that work with emerging technologies. Since 2000, the ceramics industry in Mexico has been advancing its work in research and development of applica- tions in the area of nanotechnology. Growth in this area has been promoted by such institutions as the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), the National Petroleum Institute, the National Polytechnic Institute, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Work in the area of nanotechnology engineering has resulted in the launch of a range of new products and appli- cations related to the manufacture of electricity-generating equipment and electrical apparatuses and computers, commu- nications, and peripheral equipment. Product development has focused on the use of nonmetallic minerals in the manu- facture of glass, cement, ceramics, refractories, and abrasives. In the research arena, the Advanced Materials Research Center (a division of CONACYT known by its Spanish acro- nym CIMAV) published articles during 2013 on • Microemulsions as reaction media for the synthesis of mixed oxide nanoparticles: Relationships between micro- (. Credit: Tlavera.)
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 | www.ceramics.org 25 Modern Mexico—Far-reaching research emulsion structure, reactivity, and For a full listing of this year’s tion. The goal is to generate energy nanoparticle characteristics; research projects—there are 45 in based on technologies that are emerg- • Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxic- all—and English-language abstracts, ing internationally. ity, and inflammatory response of novel visit http://cimav.edu.mx/investigacion/ Torres and her team work in col- plastics embedded with silver nanopar- listado-articulos/listado-articulos- laboration with industry to bring the ticles; 2013/#articulo1. fruits of their research to market. “Our • Corrosion behavior of AISI 409Nb This research is based on current research has had an indirect impact on stainless steel manufactured by powder industrial needs and on projections the US market, because the majority of metallurgy exposed in H2SO4 and NaCl of future economic opportunity. the businesses with which we’ve worked solutions; According to a study by NANOTECH, on development are transnational and • Density functional theory study of Mexico’s National Nanotechnology offer their products in the interna- indigo and its derivatives as photosensi- Lab, worldwide demand for specialists tional market,” she says. With market tizers for dye-sensitized solar cells; in microtechnology and nanotechnol- globalization, companies have come to • Influence of sugar-cane bagasse ash ogy will grow to two million jobs by recognize the connection between sup- and fly ash on the rheological behavior 2015. Companies and universities, porting research into advanced tech- of cement pastes and mortars; therefore, see the field as one that will nologies and sustaining cross-border • Magnetic susceptibility studies of help Mexico remain competitive in the competitiveness. the spin-glass and Verwey transitions in world economy. magnetite nanoparticles; Another area of activity that reflects Dental ceramics—Restoring smiles • Effect of sintering temperature global concerns relates to sustainabil- Ceramic dental prostheses are anoth- on the electric properties and micro- ity. Leticia Torres, of the Department er area of focus in Mexico. Statistics structure of SnO2–Co3O4–Sb2O5–Cr2O3 of Ecomaterials and Energy at the reported by the country’s National Oral varistor ceramics; Autonomous University of Nuevo Health Program indicate that an elevat- • ZnO-Ag ceramics for ethanol sen- León’s Institute of Civil Engineering, ed number of people in the country are sors; leads an investigation into the develop- suffering from severe dental problems. • Essential work of fracture: An ment of advanced materials that can For this reason, businesses and labora- approach to study the fracture behavior aid the improvement of the environ- tories that specialize in ceramic dental of acrylic bone cements modified with ment through the use of clean technol- prostheses are working on advances comonomers containing amine groups; ogies and processes. Her areas of inquiry that use CAD/CAM and robotic tech- and center on superfunctional materials and nology in the construction of devices • Alumina-toughened zirconia clean, nonrenewable energy alterna- made of metal–porcelain and zirconia. (ATZ) nanocomposite incorporating tives that offer integrated solutions to One of the advances in dental tech-
Al2O3 whiskers. promote environmental decontamina- nology involves the development and use of porcelain veneers, a process that is more economical and improves the aesthetics of a partial reconstruction of a broken tooth. The technique is the work of Mexico’s American Academy of Dental Technology. Further ceramic- based innovations in odontology have led to the development of metal-free implants that incorporate new applica- tions of such materials as lithium sili- cate, fluorapatite, and zirconium oxide. Ivoclar Vivadent is among the Mexican companies leading the explo- ration of these new applications. “The development of ceramics that our brand has implemented and disseminated has established us as pioneers in fields related to cosmetic dentistry. This has sparked considerable global fanfare with regard to the strength of metal-free (Credit: CNyN.) ceramics, which are without a doubt Scientists at the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CNyN) in Ensenada, Mexico, have engaged in ceramics research since its founding in the 1980s, including one of the alternatives preferred by work on doped oxides, ferroelectrics, and catalysts. both middle and high-end customers in
26 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 need of dental restoration,” says Sergio Hernandez, coordinator of the com- pany’s Council for Open and Distance Education’s Professional Services. “Today we explore possibilities that involve the use of diverse materials, including lucite, lithium silicate, and zirconium, in order to realize a wide range of restorative procedures in the reconstruction of lost dental structures. Our objective is to achieve a solution that delivers an excellent long-term biological, functional, and aesthetic integration. At the global level we see high rates of successful application of this type of restoration, with product (Credit: Herrera; CNyN.) lifespans in excess of five years.”
Refractories—Steel and cement Graduate student Luz Zavala studies cathodoluminescence of doped hydroxyapatite materials to determine dopant distribution in powders and films at CNyN. This labora- enablers tory is under the direction of Manuel Herrera. Of course, refractories also play a prominent role in Mexico’s ceramic and that the steel industry was invest- to four million vehicles a year by 2017. industry and national economy. ing $3 billion on factory improvements In Mexico, the manufacture of cru- Mexico’s history of ceramic production to catch up to that hike in produc- cibles for induction stoves is advanc- dates to pre-Columbian times. The tion, which the Mexican Automobile ing via the use of graphite clay, which city of Monterrey, capital of the border Industry Association projects will grow allows nonferrous metals, such as state of Nuevo León, began its ascent to business and economic prominence with the growth of its steel and cement Billion-dollar (a day) border industries. As our third-largest trade partner, Mexico powers US economic growth. Steel production, which stood at By Alex Talavera and Randy B. Hecht 13.3 million tons in 2001, rose to 17.6 Mexico’s 758,449 square miles of territory are and agriculture (4.1%). The industrial production million tons by 2007 but plummeted fol- home to a population of 116,220,947. With an growth rate for 2012 in estimated at 3.6%. Key lowing the global economic crisis to 14.1 economy in the trillion-dollar class, this market is industries include food and beverages, tobacco, million tons in 2009. By 2012 the indus- attractive to US businesses because of its prox- chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, try had recovered and surpassed that imity and free trade agreements and because textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer 2007 high. Production last year reached of the size of the opportunity it represents. “The durables, and tourism. United States and Mexico trade over $1.25 billion a volume of 18.1 million tons, accord- Mexican export volume for the year is estimated in goods and services each day, a number we ing to CANACERO, the country’s at $370.9 billion, up from $349.4 billion in 2011. expect to grow as we help more US companies Leading commodity exports include manufac- national chamber of the iron and steel succeed in Mexico,” says US ambassador to tured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, industries. However, production remains Mexico E. Anthony Wayne. vegetables, coffee, and cotton. Import volume on unsteady footing: The organization The CIA Fact Book reports that since the North for the year is estimated at $370.8 billion, up announced on July 8 that volume had American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went from $350.8 billion in 2011. Leading commodity fallen from 1.6 million tons in March into effect in 1994, Mexico’s share of US imports imports include metalworking machines, steel to 1.4 million tons in April, the most has increased from 7% to 12%. The US is the mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical destination of 78% of Mexican exports and equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts severe drop in the preceding 13 months. the source of 50.5% of the country’s imports. for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts. In March, Alonso Ancira Elizondo, “Mexico is the United States’ second-largest For guidance on competing successfully in CANACERO’s president, told the export market (after Canada) and third-largest Mexico and connecting with trading or busi- Mexican daily newspaper El Universal trading partner (after Canada and China),” the US ness partners there, contact the United States– that he anticipates a “tsunami” of steel State Department notes. Mexico Chamber of Commerce or the American imports into Mexico. Skyrocketing For 2012, Mexico’s purchasing power GDP is Chamber of Commerce of Mexico. In addition, automobile manufacturing in Mexico estimated at $1.799 trillion, or $15,600 per the US Commercial Service has published Doing will spur part of that increased import capita, which reflects a 3.9% growth rate over Business in Mexico. US–Mexican business news 2011. On that basis, Mexico is the 11th-largest and links to business data can be found on the demand. An April 17 Bloomberg article national economy in the world. Services gener- website of the Embassy of the United States in reported that Mexico’s automobile ate 61.8% of GDP, followed by industry (34.2%) Mexico City. n production nearly doubled since 2009
American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 | www.ceramics.org 27 Modern Mexico—Far-reaching research zinc, tin, bronze, and aluminum, to be heated to high temperatures without melting. Among the Mexican compa- nies manufacturing crucibles to this standard is C.E. Fire, which specializes in crucibles and refractories for walls, vaults, work areas, and doors that can withstand a variety of heat treatments. Another essential advance for the industry in Mexico is the development of concrete refractories to construct structures that contact molten metals or abrasive environments. They resist thermal shock and can be used for (Credit: iStock.) repairs in high-temperature environ- Central University Campus of the Mexico National Autonomous University. The image ments. shows the Central Library Building covered with tile works from Juan O’Gorman. Each of these areas of research, spectrum of ceramic products and tech- academic, technological, and human development, and new product launch- nologies. As the world sees continued resources necessary to remain an impor- es builds on Mexico’s long history demand for further advances in ceramic tant global player in the industry’s of using and commercializing a wide applications, Mexico is investing in the future. n
Mexico ceramics directory and profiles Companies and Commercial C.E. Fire Email: [email protected] Enterprises Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 6100 B21 Comercializadora de Minerales Cerámicos, S.A. de C.V., Col Satelite was founded in 2003 to meet the market demand for raw AFIBRA Monterrey, Nuevo Léon materials used in the manufacture of industrial ceramics. Av. 8 de Julio 1653 Phone: 52 81 8103 2233 or 52 81 8103 2239 Col. Morelos Website: www.ce-fire.com/ Endress+Hauser México Guadalajara, Jalisco CP 44910 English language website: www.ce-fire.com/English.html Fernando Montes de Oca 21 Website: www.afibra.com/sitio/index.php?lang=en The company supplies such refractory products as insulat- Edificio A Piso 3 English language website: www.afibra.com/sitio/index. ing firebrick, ceramic filters, refractory castables, firebrick, Frac. Industrial San Nicolás php?lang=en mortars, and metallic and refractory anchors as well as Tlalnepantla de Baz, México CP 54030 Email: [email protected] ceramic fiber and insulation, high-temperature textiles, and Phone: 52 55 5321 2080 Phone: 52 33 3810 6625 or 52 33 3810 6629 microporous insulation. Fax: 52 55 5321 2099 The company has more than 40 years of experience manu- Website: www.mx.endress.com facturing fiberglass. Working with materials that include Cerconsult Email: [email protected] wood, stone, brick, twig, quarry, reed, and bamboo, among Phone: 52 81 8133 3741 Endress+Hauser was founded in 1953 in Switzerland, home others, it creates materials that require less maintenance Website: www.cerconsult.com to its global headquarters, and is a global leader in mea- and weigh less than those built conventionally. Email contact form: www.cerconsult.com/contact.html surement instrumentation, services, and solutions for indus- Founded in Italy in 1994, the company has expanded to of- trial process engineering. The company entered the Mexican Aislamientos y Control de Fluidos, S.A. de C.V. fices in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Its North American market in 1999 and has sales offices in many cities. Website: http://www.empaqacf.com/ACF/Pagina_de_ operations are concentrated in Mexico. Inicio.html Innovaseals Email: [email protected] Concejo Cerámico de Norte América Website: www.innovaseals.com.mx The company has 30 years of experience in the manu- Batallón de San Patricio #109, Oficina 627 Directory of offices, phone numbers, and emails:www. facture and commercialization of a variety of packing Col. Vallle Oriente innovaseals.com.mx/contac.php materials, including fiberglass, chrysotile, tetrafluoroethyl- San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo Léon CP 66269 Founded in 1997, Innovaseals conceptualizes, designs, ene, graphite, kevlar, and other materials used in industrial Phone: 52 81 8625 3306 manufactures, repairs, and develops technological applica- maintenance and repair. Fax: 52 81 8133 2707 tions for a variety of mechanical seals. Website: www.tcna.com.mx/perfil.htm Arta Cerámica Email contact form: www.tcna.com.mx/contacto.htm Ivoclar Vivadent Grecia 87 Member directory: www.tcnatile.com/es/resources/ Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 863, Piso 14 Col. Los Encinos product-locator.html?categoryid=3 Col. Nápoles Tlalpan/Ajusco, México DF The Consejo Cerámico de Norte América―México (TCNA― México DF CP 03810 Phone: 52 55 5630 3142 México) was created in 2005 as a subsidiary of the Tile Phone: 52 55 5062 1000 Website: www.artaceramica.com Council of North America. Its goal is to develop the industry, Fax: 52 55 5212 0585 Email: [email protected] or proyecto@ expand the market, and represent the interests of Mexico Website: www.ivoclarvivadent.com.mx/es-mx/ artaceramica.com in an international context. Directory of contacts: www.ivoclarvivadent.com.mx/ Arta Cerámica designs and produces decorative ceramic es-mx/contacto/contacto objects that have been exhibited at national and inter- COMINSA Ivoclar Vivadent is a global leader in innovative materials national fairs and expos. The company has collaborated Calle del Molino #117 and processes for esthetic dentistry. Its products include di- on projects with the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Frac. Industrial el Obispo rect restoratives as well as fixed and removable prosthetics. architectural firms, and restaurants. Santa Catarina, Nuevo León CP 66359 Launched in Zurich in 1923, its Mexican operations have Phone: 52 81 8316 8019 advanced the development of lucite, lithium, and zirconium Website: www.cominsaminerales.com ceramics used to replace lost or damaged dental structures.
28 www.ceramics.org | American Ceramic Society Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 8 Mexico ceramics directory and profiles ACerS Corporate Member
Krohne de México, SA de CV Prolec SA de CV ITAM Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México Poza Rica 706 Blvd. Carlos Salinas de Gortari km 9.25 Campus Río Hondo Col. Petrolera Apodaca, Nuevo León 66600 Río Hondo #1 Tampico, Tamaulipas CP 89110 Phone: 52 81 8030-2553 Col. Progreso Tizapán Phone: 52 833 217 3830 Fax: 52 81 8030-2500 Deleg. Álvaro Obregón, México DF CP 01080 Website: www.krohnemexico.com Website: www.celeco.com.mx Email: [email protected] Campus Santa Teresa Celeco manufactures electrical porcelain insulators for Av. Camino a Santa Teresa #930 Krohne’s Mexican operations handle service and sales for a distribution and medium power (up to 138 kV) class. Col. Héroes de Padierna region that spans Mexico, Central America, and the Carib- Celeco is the most modern facility in its field, reaching an Deleg. Magdalena Contreras, México DF CP 10700 bean. The company’s high-performance ceramic products annual capacity of 12,000 tons. Its principal products are Phone: 52 55 5628 4000 include electromagnetic, variable area, ultrasonic, mass, transformer bushings, cutouts, arresters, and transformer Website: www.itam.mx/es and vortex flowmeters as well as flow controllers. components. Email directory: www.itam.mx/es/contactos/ contactos.php Laboratorio Nacional de Nanotecnología Refractarios Sajuri, S.A. de C.V. Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C. Zahuatlan 366 EGAP Gobierno y Política Pública del Tecnológico de Miguel de Cervantes 120, Comp. Ind. Chihuahua Col. La Romana Monterrey Chihuahua, Chihuahua CP 31109 Tlalnepantla, México CP 54030 Eugenio Garza Lagüera y Rufino Tamayo Website: www.nanotech.cimav.edu.mx/# Phone: 52 55 5565 8281 Col. Valle Oriente Email: [email protected] Fax: 52 55 5390 1965 San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo León CP 66269 The National Nanotechnology Laboratory promotes the Website: www.sajuri.com.mx Phone: 52 81 8625 8300 advance of nanoscience and nanotechnology in Mexico by Email: [email protected] Website: www.egap.itesm.edu/wps/portal/egap?WCM_ supporting the academic and manufacturing sectors. Its Email contact form: www.sajuri.com.mx/formulario.html GLOBAL_CONTEXT= mission is to serve as a hub of Mexico’s national nanotech- Founded 20 years ago, the company develops and manu- Email: [email protected] nology network. factures refractory products for a wide variety of industries. Tecnológico de Monterrey Nitropiso Vitro Cerámica de México, S.A. de C.V. Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur Eje 140 #1000, Zona Industrial Website: www.vitroceramica.com.mx/vitro/index.asp Col. Tecnológico Deleg. la Pila, San Luis Potosí Directory of locations and phone numbers: www. Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849 Phone/Fax: 52 444 832 0100 vitroceramica.com.mx/vitro/english/contacto.htm Phone: 52 81 8358 2000 Website: www.nitropiso.com English language website: www.vitroceramica.com.mx/ Website: www.itesm.edu Email contact form: www.nitropiso.com/contacto vitro/english/index.asp English language website: www.itesm.edu/wps/wcm/ Founded in 2003, the company produces flooring and Founded in Hermosillo in 1991, this ceramic tile company connect/ITESM/Tecnologico+de+Monterrey/English ceramic tile for domestic and international clients in one of has expanded operations to Culiacán, Torreon, Ciudad the world’s most modern manufacturing plants. Juárez, Mexicali, and Tijuana. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Instituto Literario # 100 Polarimundo Col. Centro Azalea Mz. 41 Lt. 22 Universities and Research Toluca, México, CP 50000 Santa Rosa, Chicoloapan Phone: 52 722 226 2300 Website: www.polarimundo.mex.tl/12733_Quienes- Institutes Website: www.uaemex.mx somos-.html Acta Universitaria Faculty and administrative directory: www.desarrollo. Email contact form: www.polarimundo.mex.tl/?mail=1 Website: www.actauniversitaria.ugto.mx/index.php/acta/ uaemex.mx/directorios A specialist in the use of nanotechnology for ultraviolet index protection of industrial glass, the company develops and This scientific journal, which operates under the auspices Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León manufactures ceramic nanoseals that reduce ultraviolet of the Universidad de Guanajuato, is published six times a 2013 Pedro de Alba s/n exposure by 99%. year in print and digital editions, in English and Spanish. San Nicolás de Los Garza, Nuevo León Website: www.uanl.mx Porcelanas Dentales Centro de Investigación Cinvestav English language website: www.uanl.mx/utilerias/follet- Hamburgos 108 Desp. 304 Av. Industria Metalurgica #1062 ouanl_ingles.pdf Col. Juárez Parque Industrial Saltillo-Ramos Arizpe Cuauhtemóc, México DF CP 06660 Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, CP 25900 Universidad de las Américas Puebla Phone: 52 55 5511 5582 Website: www.cinvestav.edu.mx/saltillo Sta. Catarina Mártir Fax: 52 55 5525 8141 Cholula, Puebla CP 72810 Website: www.porcelanasdentales.com.mx Foro Consultivo Científico Tecnológico Phone: 52 222 229 2000 Website: www.udlap.mx/home.aspx The company develops and manufactures metal-free Insurgentes Sur No. 670 piso 9 porcelain, ceramic metal, and other resin, titanium, and Col. del Valle Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara laser products for dental use. Deleg. Benito Juárez, México DF CP 03100 Phone: 52 55 5598 8940 or 5598 8986/ 5611 8536 Periférico Sur Manuel Gómez Morin 8585 Tlaquepaque, Jalisco CP 45090 Praxair México Website: www.foroconsultivo.org.mx/home Phone: 52 33 3669 3434 Website: www.praxair.com.mx English language website: www.foroconsultivo.org.mx/ Website: www.portal.iteso.mx/portal/page/portal/ITESO Directory by state: www.praxair.com.mx/portal/site/ home_ing Departmental email and phone directory: www.portal. praxair/Sucursales Email: [email protected] iteso.mx/portal/page/portal/ITESO/Informacion_ Email form: www.praxair.com.mx/praxair_view/jsp/ Established in 2002, the Foro Consultivo Científico y Institucional/Contactanos sendlink_mail.jsp Tecnológico (Science and Technology Advisory Forum) is Praxair Specialty Ceramics, a commercial segment of an autonomous and impartial body in charge of analyzing Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Praxair Surface Technologies, pioneers the development of the development of science, technology, and innovation in Av. Universidad 3000 products that make use of emerging technologies and have Mexico. Its Board of Directors includes 21 representatives Coyoacán, México DF 04510 a variety of industrial applications, including microelec- from the research, technology, and business sectors. Phone: 52 55 5622 2522 tronic circuits, solid oxide fuel cells, superconductor cables, Website: www.unam.mx and cellular technology. Instituto Politécnico Nacional English language website: www.unam.mx/index/en Av. Luis Enrique Erro S/N Phone and email directory: www.directorio.unam.mx/ Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Zacatenco consultasvarias.htm Deleg. Gustavo A. Madero, México DF CP 07738 Website: www.ipn.mx/Paginas/inicio.aspx English language website: www.ipn.mx/english/Paginas/ Inicio.aspx
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