The German Ceramics Association (DKG), the German Ceramics Industry Association (VKI) and the German Society for Materials Science (DGM) worked closely with industrial professionals and leading research institutions to prepare and publish an expert study on future challenges and fields of research for ceramic materials. Ceramic experts from CeramTec’s research and development department are included among the study’s authors and contributors.

The study covers the scientific, technical and economic aspects of existing and new technical ceramics applications in the fields of the future including energy, chemicals, machine and plant engineering, mobility, electrical engineering, optics and medical engineering. The study also examines interdisciplinary technical and scientific topics that will play a key role in future developments and can thus offer important insight and impetus to innovations today.

The participating associations DKG, VKI and DGM are pleased with the level of interest in this study and hope to use it as a springboard for intensifying collaboration efforts in the development and integration of advanced ceramics systems across value chains, particularly among industrial users.

Advanced ceramics as a Key Component in solving the Challenges of the 21st Century

Ceramics have been a part of human life for close to 30,000 years. Their aesthetics and functional characteristics have become an indispensable part of daily life. In our rapidly changing world, advanced ceramics – often tucked away in intricate technical systems – play a crucial role in ensuring that these complex units function properly and are able to operate at peak performance. Ceramic joint replacements and dental implants are popular with a wide spectrum of users today. But who knows how many different types of ceramics are built into modern cars or cell phones? The energy transition in Europe has had a major impact on growth in the field of advanced ceramics.

Their unique structural and functional properties make ceramics the ideal choice, especially for thermally, mechanically and chemically demanding applications. Consequently, ceramics will play a key role now and in the future in securing resource-friendly technologies along with a sustainable, affordable supply of energy and mobility. Requirements are constantly rising when it comes to design, property profiles, reliability and costs.

Germany is a leading international competitor in the ceramics industry and has a tightly-knit network of university and non-university educational and research facilities. “The future potential of advanced ceramics” is an expert study that includes the updated challenges for fundamental, preliminary and applied research and development of advanced ceramics with a focus on goals for the energy transition in the application and technology fields of the future such as energy, chemicals, machine and plant engineering, mobility, electrical engineering, optics, life sciences and interdisciplinary technologies.

Expert Study Publishers

The German Ceramics Association [Deutsche Keramische Gesellschaft e.V. (DKG)] has more members than any other ceramics association in Europe and is one of the oldest trade associations in the world. DKG has been the go-to forum for technical and scientific questions of all kinds related to ceramics. The organization maintains a one-of-a-kind “ceramic contact forum” that connects users, industry manufacturers, research, science and education. The association currently has over 600 individual and around 250 legal (institutional) members from every area of ceramics and related branches of industry both in Germany and abroad.

The German Ceramics Industry Association [Verband der Keramischen Industrie e.V. (VKI)] represents the economic interests of and negotiates wage policies for the fine ceramics industry throughout Germany for crockery and decorative porcelain, earthenware and porcelain manufacturers along with the technical ceramics and stove tile industries. In addition, VKI negotiates wage policies for abrasives manufacturers in the German federal states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony and Thuringia, while also representing the interests of other sectors that fall under fine ceramics industry.

The German Society for Materials Science [Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde e. V. (DGM)] is a technical/scientific society active in the field of materials science and technology. The society concentrates on the materials science aspects of manufacturing, processing and the application of metallic and non-metallic materials. The organization’s aim is to foster insight and spread knowledge in the fields of science and technology and implement scientific discoveries in practical industrial applications.