American Ceramic Society (ACerS) –
The Refractory Ceramic Division (RCD)

The Beginning
Brick men setting out for the 1898 convention of the National Brick Manufacturers’ Association had no reason to think that year’s event was going to be extraordinary.  They didn’t expect much difference from every meeting from the previous 11 years, and most of them were not looking for change. They liked what they had in store – a holiday that relieved the year’s bleakest season with the promise of three days in Pittsburgh’s luxurious Monongahela House. They knew they’d find plenty of good company, good food, brandy and cigars, and brick discussed from every angle.  They planned to trade tips, indulge in conviviality and present papers with titles such as “The Use of Electric Tramways in Hauling Clay.” But among the practical, meat-and-potatoes topics, one presentation stood out. 

On February 16, a young man named Elmer E. Gorton, representing the American Terra Cotta & Ceramic Co. of Terra Cotta, Illinois, addressed the gathered conventioneers to deliver his paper, “Experimental Work, Wise and Otherwise.” It was change in the making, although most of the brick men didn’t recognize it at the time. The substance of the paper was deceptively simple. It was the energy of the question it raised that would mark the ceramic industry for the next 100 years. In this paper, Gorton described his efforts to develop a glaze for terra cotta. The topic wasn’t out of line with the sort of thing that the brick manufacturers were hearing from other presenters, but Gorton’s approach was unique.

It was the first paper on a chemical topic ever presented to the National Brick Manufacturer’s Association. It became the spark that created The American Ceramic Society. Edward Orton was named as provisional secretary. They determined that membership shall be selected from those who are actively engaged in technical ceramic operations and who are qualified by education and experience to contribute to the advancement of ceramic arts. It was agreed that “…the subjects which we wish to discuss are those connected with the application of science to the practical needs of the clay industry…chemical technology, the physics of drying and burning, the mechanics of manufacturing and in short all and any branches of technology touching this great industry will find welcome admission to our program.”  At the next meeting, participants were to be “…prepared with a paper or note or some specific item of interest as his contribution to our first meeting.” 

Today
With nearly 5900 members worldwide the American Ceramic Society Refractory Ceramic Division is still a viable division within the society. As our humble beginnings attest, there is something about the people that make up our industry that goes beyond the scientific or academic community. Embracing both industry and research, refractories has a need to be filled by both. Applied science that is the installation and performance evaluation end of the refractories industry has made significant contributions to the ongoing studies of monolithic properties.

The St. Louis section meeting held annually as a joint meeting with the Refractory Ceramics Division embraces this concept. The St. Louis section mirrors the orgins of the American Ceramic Society as the large brick industry that was in this region spawned the section and the symposia that will be the 46th in 2010. Working together, this meeting represents the finest collection of refractory technologists in the world and incorporates both academia and industry. We try to bring a timely topic to each symposia and our success is dependent upon those who work each and every year to make this happen. This is an excellent opportunity to meet many of the decision makers in the industry or those who influence the purchase of materials and equipment.
We are committed to making the St. Louis meeting an excellent destination for all of our members, and would ask each member to contact our board concerning any topics of interest or ideas that you would like to see brought forward.
Educational outreach is a recent issue that we wish to develop further over the years by incorporating poster sessions, working with the Presidents Council of Student Advisors, and using funds to sponsor student attendees. This is an area we need to cultivate and welcome input from all. The Refractory Ceramic Division and the St. Louis Section of the American Ceramic Society are extending a hand to all interested parties in the global refractory community to share knowledge and experience regarding refractory problems and solutions.

www.ceramics.org

Association of the German Refractory Industry

The Verband der Deutschen Feuerfest-Industrie e.V. (VDFFI) (German Refractories Association – GRA) was founded in 1949, so it recently became 60 years young. The Association’s goal is to promote the common interests of its members in the refractories industry. It currently represents the interests of 40 company members as a trade association. Its purpose is to represent sector concerns in dealings with all institutions and social forces such as governments, parliaments, universities, but also other associations. To sustainably represent its interests, the Association is a member of the Bundesverband Baustoffe Steine und Erden (BBS) – (German Building Materials Association), which in turn is a member association of the Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie (BDI – Federation of German Industries). On international level, it cooperates, for example, in the Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Produits Réfractaires (PRE) and through the Deutsche Institut für Normung (DIN – German Standards Institute) in the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) as well as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The Association of the German Refractories Industry is one of the founding members of the “Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories” (UNITECR). In Tokyo in 1987 it teamed up with the American Ceramic Society (ACerS), the Technical Association of Refractories Japan (TARJ) and the Association Latinoamericana de Fabricants de Refractarios (ALAFAR), to arrange a world conference for the refractories industry to alternate on a two-year cycle in the three parts of the globe. Germany hosted this international conference from 18 to 21 September 2007 in Dresden.

The Association members receive information and advice on all aspects of the Association’s work. These are very wide ranging, spanning from trade policy through taxes, legislation, environmental protection, research and engineering to standardization, just to name just a few. For its member companies, the Association organizes information events on current issues, e.g. environmental protection and the new EU REACH regulation on chemicals.  In the past year, the Association launched an initiative to attract young people into the industry. Interested young people can obtain information on the refractories industry from a specially compiled homepage on the Internet. The address is  HYPERLINK "http://www.feurige-karriere.de" www.feurige-karriere.de.
Organizational structures of the Association are the General Meeting and the Executive Board. Technical cooperation is directed by the Technical Advisory Committee. Besides these bodies, there are other committees and, if necessary, ad hoc working groups are formed. The Association is financed with the member fees.

In 1994, the Association spun off its research institute, which had been managed as an independent department, as a subsidiary under the name DIFK Deutsches Institut für Feuerfest und Keramik GmbH (DIFK). As an independent testing laboratory, this undertakes material and process analyses. The institute improves existing testing methods and develops new ones.
In March 2009, another subsidiary was established under the name ECREF European Centre for Refractories gemeinnützige GmbH (ECREF). Its purpose is the European-wise promotion of science and research as well as education and vocational training in refractories. Plans are underway, with the support of the German Land of the Rhineland-Palatinate, to build a new modern education and research centre in order to establish a European competence centre for the refractories industry. 

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde e.V.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde is a non profit society for materials science comprising more than 2200 personal members and over 170 industry companies. The society covers the materials science from ceramics via polymers to metals. The main activities are the organisation of conferences on a national and international basis as well as carrying out advanced training courses for adults. The society also provides advice with regard to questions related to materials science, equipment and literature.

www.dgm.de

European Federation of the Refractory Producers

PRE, the European Refractories Producers Federation, represents the interests of the European refractory industry towards the European and international institutions. Through regular contacts with the European Parliament and Commission we address the key issues of the industry with the relevant policy makers, inform our members of upcoming legislation, and act as a forum for exchange with other refractory associations. PRE belongs to the umbrella organisation Cerame-Unie, which represents the ceramics industry as a whole, thereby giving our common messages more leverage.

PRE was set up in 1953 in Zurich and is located in Brussels since 1992. Its members are national associations in 16 European countries and 4 direct multinational companies. PRE represents more than 22 000 employees with a total sales of EUR 3,3 billion and a production of nearly 5 Mt/a, covering the vast majority of European production and sales. The coordination of the association’s activities is in the hands of an Executive Committee, represented by the PRE President, Dr. Robin Schmidt-Whitley and the Secretary-General, Ms Astrid Volckaert.

The decreased availability and increasing prices of refractory raw materials coming from China is high on the PRE agenda. Other key topics PRE is currently active on are REACH (legislation on the registration and authorisation of chemicals) and other environmental legislation which places a heavy burden on industry such as the Emissions Trading Scheme for CO2 and the revision of the IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) Directive. The effects of the economic crisis are also of great concern. This has been addressed recently at a Presidents meeting with the Commission.
PRE also prepares detailed members-only annual statistics and will start with the publication of a regular sector specific newsletter on European initiatives and events, which affect the European refractory industry. News of general interest is also posted on the PRE website www.pre.eu.

www.pre.eu

FIRE The Federation for International Refractory Research and Education

FIRE is a worldwide network of academic and industrial partners promoting research and education in refractory engineering.

FIRE has been incorporated as a non-profit organization, in Canada, in May 2005, initially with 4 academic poles: Austria, Brazil, France and USA, as well as 3 industrial partners: RHI, Magnesita and Pyrotek.

Today, FIRE is active on nine different campuses: Leoben (Austria), São Carlos (Brazil), Limoges and Orléans (France), Freiberg and Aachen (Germany), Nagoya (Japan), Rolla and Alfred (USA). FIRE is financially supported by 10 industrial partners: Alcoa, Almatis, ANH, Calderys, Kerneos, Magnesita, Pyrotek, RHI, Rio Tinto Alcan, Tata-Corus.

The goals of FIRE are:

• to organize an international network of academic and industrial partners to address refractory education and refractory research needs
• to pool the expertise, the experience and the willingness of the worldwide most competent persons, institutions and companies, to define precompetitive research projects, tailored to facilitate graduates and post-graduates exchanges and to generate double degree programs.

FIRE’s function is to stimulate and reinforce the higher education system in refractory materials engineering in order to fulfill the cultural educational and research related needs of the refractory industry.

FIRE’s strength is in its unique grouping of expertise and the interplay amongst its members: academic researchers and producers learning from each other what to do to train qualified human resources to fill the demands of an international market place.

FIRE is the vehicle to carry forward the refractory industry in a cooperative and consolidated effort that will benefit each individual member involved (academics and producers).

FIRE is committed to providing responsive education and research programs for the refractory industry that ensure its members are well positioned to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, at home and in the world, and enhancing the reputation of the university’s members.

Membership is granted to any company or educational institution that shares interest and supports the interests of FIRE. Companies are either producers of refractories, users of refractories, suppliers to the refractories manufacturers or servicing the industry. Educational institutions are accredited universities responsible for students’ instruction and research, to support the refractory industry.

FIRE secretariat is located at Ecole Polytechnique, Campus of  University of Montreal. More details on the by-laws, rules, education and research programs, and other news of general interest are posted on FIRE’s website: www.polymtl.ca/fire

www.polymtl.ca/fire

Research Association of Industrial Furnace Manufactures – Joint research for the future

International competition is mainly focusing on innovation. New technologies are significantly influencing the production and working conditions within the companies in all business areas. Technology itself is the „raw material“ required by any enterprise. Only those who are innovative are capable to adapt themselves to market conditions. In order to meet these challenges the Research Association of Industrial Furnace Manufactures – FOGI – was founded by the member companies of the Thermo Process and Waste Treatment Technology Association (TPT) within VDMA. The member companies are working in the fields of
• heating, melting and casting of metals
• heat and surface treatment of metal, ceramics and glass
• combustion technology.
Statutory organs of the FOGI are the Board, the Scientific Advisory Board and the Meeting of members, which is an assembly of full members and scientific institutes from Germany and other countries, dealing with heat technology and thermoprocess engineering. The aim of FOGI is to protect and develop the international competitiveness of the member companies by doing collective research in pre-competitive fields. The collective research forms the basis for own product-related company developments.
An intensive and practice-related research is required especially in the field of thermoprocess technology in order to meet the high technical and economical standards. Enterprises in the branch of furnace manufactures benefit from the basic research work on heat transfer, manufacturing cycles and combustion processes by common research work by independent research institutes.
The main research activities of FOGI are the development and optimization of thermoprocess technology and equipment in the fields of
• Preserving resources (energy efficiency, retrieval of resources, economical cycles, CO2- and NOX reduction, combustion processes)
• Safety of processes (process control, risk reduction)
• Man-machine interaction (safety of working places, working place conditions, plant safety)
• Materials for industrial furnaces (environmental compatibility, chemical and thermal constancy)
• Optimization of production processes (automation, process simulation, visualization of the plant condition).
The ceramic branch and the refractory industry both benefit from the multitude of research activities engaged in current problems concerning thermal problems especially of these branches. The close cooperation between FOGI and the German Ceramic Association (DKG) is therefore consequent and can be considered as a success for the members of both associations.
The research challenges are financed by member fee or by public funds of the federal ministry for economics (BMWi). FOGI is a member of the consortium of industrial research associations (AiF) via the mechanical engineering research curatorium (FKM).
Thermoprocessing plants and burners which are meeting the future requirements have been developed on the basis of research results achieved during the last few years. The development process was strongly influenced by the research activities of FOGI and its members.
www.fogi-ev.de

HVG and DGG

The “Hüttentechnische Vereinigung der Deutschen Glasindustrie e.V.” (HVG) is an association of glass manufacturers or suppliers to the glass industry. HVG, the research association of the German glass industry, carries out investigations in the field of glass and offers services to glassworks. The object of HVG is to advance science, environmental control and research in the field of glass as well as related materials. The association especially focuses on the promotion of efficient and environmentally compatible production of glass. In order to achieve this, HVG carries out investigations relevant to industrial practice and offers services to the glass industry.
The “Deutsche Glastechnische Gesellschaft e.V.” (DGG) is an organisation open to all persons who deal with technology, physics and chemistry in the field of glass as well as glass art and history. As a mediator between science and industrial practice, DGG organizes annual meetings as well technical committee sessions on defined topics. The results of these events are published in the “European Journal of Glass Science and Technology” and the German-language “dgg journal”, respectively.
DGG has an extensive reference library on all aspects of the topic “glass”. Currently, it contains about 13 420 books from the 18th century until today, numerous pamphlets and university publications, 7680 volumes of journals, and approx. 250 current issues of journals and other periodicals. The specialized DGG library supports not only the scientific activities of HVG and DGG, but also those of any person interested in the field of glass.
HVG and DGG offer various services in the field of glass. The palette comprises comprehensive solutions to problems in glass technology,   measurements in glassworks and/or in the HVG lab, informative advanced training courses as well as the HVG and DGG publications.
www.hvg-dgg.de

Indian Refractory Makers Association

Indian Refractory Makers Association (IRMA) is the national organization for the refractory manufacturing companies in India. It was set up in 1958 and completed its golden jubilee in 2008. The main function of IRMA is to work for the healthy growth of the refractory industry in India.
All the prominent refractory makers of India (more than 75) have the membership of IRMA.  These units produce a wide range of world class refractories used in the steel, cement, non-ferrous metals and other such industries. In addition, there are a number of associate member companies producing raw materials, additives/binders, equipment and testing apparatus, and consultancy agencies used by the refractories industry.

The principal services of the IRMA are – providing trade information, representing to the authorities on issues of common concern to members, extending advisory services to the members on import/export policy, organizing technical training programmes, preparation of background notes and reports, publication of the quarterly IRMA Journal, organizing seminars including biennial India International Refractories Congress (IREFCON) and conferences on technical and management aspects etc.
The members are encouraged in total quality management, energy conservation and pollution control, exports, human resource development etc. It also extends information and data-bank services on refractories specifications, applications in different kilns and furnaces to others interested and serves as a storehouse for dissemination of information on Indian refractory industry. More information about the activities of IRMA may be found at www.irmaindia.org.

www.irmaindia.org

Refractories Window in China

The Association of China Refractories Industry  (ACRI), Refractories Window mainly specializes in providing the China refractory market information on global refractories makers, users, and traders. Refractories Window has two versions of websites, one in English – www.refractorieswindow.com – and the other in Chinese – www.fm086.com –,   both of which have collected thousands of members.  Also, Refractories Window publishes two monthly magazines – one in English electronic version and the other in Chinese as printed version.

Meeting of Refractory Experts Freiberg e.V. - MORE-Freiberg e.V.

One of the main purposes of MORE is the contribution for an international refractory chain based on and for students, docents and industry people from all continents. All experts will be included, that means from the raw materials supplier to the binder producer, the refractories producer, the plant engineer and the final user, i.e. the metal melter.

The purpose of this association is to encourage refractory and thermal insulation materials research and to encourage scientific exchange and dialogue between research establishments and industry both in Germany and abroad. Furthermore, the purpose of the association is to encourage innovative research projects and to promote young researchers, in particular students and university staff members. In particular, the purposes of the association shall be fulfilled through:

• Holding training courses
• Holding information meetings for the professional and technical public
• Realising research and development projects
• Organising national and international conferences and exhibitions
• Encouraging intercourse between industry and universities
• Supervising and encouraging of students
• Awarding scholarships
• Performing duties of study and profession information
• Encouraging the preparation of original scientific papers on refractory and thermal insulation materials topics
• Encouraging international cooperation, in particular with regard to integration of Eastern Europe.

Every year since 2008, MORE awards the Theodor Haase Prize for excellent performance to young experts (Master or Diploma Thesis) on the field of refractories and refractory high-temperature applications.

www.more-freiberg.de

The Spanish Ceramics and Glass Society (SECV)

The Spanish Ceramics and Glass Society (SECV) was founded in 1960 through the impetus of a large group of scientists, technicians and business associations from the sector, coordinated by A. García-Verduch, founder of the Institute of Ceramics and Glass. The fundamental objectives of SECV outlined below have, thus, been continuously fulfilled.

• to bring about scientific, technical and artistic advances in the fields of ceramics and glass
• to stimulate and drive the growth and improvement of the ceramic and glass industries through scientific research
• to spread scientific and artistic knowledge of ceramics and glass
• to encourage, empower and promote teaching of ceramics and glass in Spain.

SECV will take advantage of the 50th anniversary to contribute towards a re-launching of the sector upon foundations which will, inevitably, include raising of the technological level and a greater openness towards new products and processes.

The members of the SECV are researchers, technicians, teachers and artists involved in scientific, industrial, educative and creative activities, in addition to science institutes, businesses and professionals involved in the ceramics and glass sector.  There are currently over 500 members.  They regularly receive information concerning society activities, as well as news of professional associations and national and international sectors with which agreements of exchange of information and collaboration are held.  Among such associations are included: ASCER (ceramic floorings and coatings), ASEBEQ (consumer goods), ANFECC (frits and enamels), ANFRE (refractories), HYSPALIT (tiles and bricks), AINDEX (ceramic raw materials), CEPCO (construction materials), ANFEVI (Glass) and the professional associations ATC, ANPEC, Spanish Materials Society, AITEMIN, Ceramology Association etc.

In order to conduct its activity, the SECV receives support from numerous public research centres and universities, among which the Institute of Ceramics and Glass of the CSIC (Madrid) and the University Jaume I (Castellon) stand out.

Corporate members include more than 150 companies, national and international research centres, professional and educative associations linked to the production, research, teaching, artistry and dissemination of knowledge of ceramics and glass.

Since 1977, the SECV has contributed substantially to the improvement of the quality, production and design of ceramic products through the Alf de Oro prizes, which are granted annually at the International Fair of Valencia, CEVISAMA.

Since 1960, the SECV publishes a bimonthly journal “Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio” which is sent to all society members.  The complete content of the journal is available on-line ( HYPERLINK "http://www.secv.es/boletin" www.secv.es/boletin.

In 1998, the Spanish Society of Ceramics and Glass was one of the founding members of the European Ceramic Society, which is presently formed from the national societies of over 20 countries.

The SECV also forms part of the International Commission on Glass, the International Enamellers Institute and the International Ceramic Federation, which groups together the ceramic societies of America, Japan, China and Europe.

Of special mention is the role the Society of Ceramics and Glass has played in developing the creation of the Latin American Society of Ceramics and Glass, in which it has assisted in the staging of conferences, courses and regional seminars, as well as the creation of networks within the area. Likewise, Iberoamerican networks have been created for Glasses and Electroceramics within the program CYTED (Science and Technology for Development).  The SECV is an active member of the Latin American Association of Refractory Manufacturers (ALAFAR) and Glasses (ALAPROVI).

www.secv.es

The Technical Association of Refractories, Japan

Since foundation in 1948, Technical Association of Refractories, Japan (TARJ) has been promoting the development & improvement toward further durable refractories, the innovation of refractories construction technology, and the progress & spread of the fundamental scientific research on refractories in order to contribute to the development of the domestic high temperature dealing industries. TARJ consists of individual members from refractories makers, refractories raw materials suppliers, import trading companies, refractories users, and administrative & academic sectors.  Integrating the technical information from the members, TARJ is continuing to extend the range of activities from basic research to practical applications of the refractories.

In the steel industry consuming the highest amount of refractories, for example, the specific consumption of refractories in Japan is the world’s top level, and the high quality refractories have contributed to stable operation and quality improvement of their products. Such performance so far results in increasing technology export of the refractories and has contributed to the growth of global refractories technology.

The latest change in trends surrounding the industrial world in Japan, such as a further inclination of increasing efficiency and quality improvement, and a rise of social concern on the environmental consciousness to decrease CO2 with saving both resources and energy, etc., has demanded the technical development of excellent refractories which can be used efficiently and safely at high temperature fields beyond the frame of traditional industry.

Although there is an increasing trend in the usage of imported refractrories in Japan, only domestic refractories industry can exactly satisfy the technological needs of the users, which are aiming to the world’s top technology. The “refractroies” as a term is rather unpopular, nevertheless, the newest materials science has been applied for their technical development.

The technical field related to the refractories is diverse to the various kinds of production industry. In the future, TARJ is expected to expand the activity as a technical core organization in connection with the refractories industry and other industries where refractories are used.

www.tarj.org

VDEh Committee on Refractory Materials

The Committee on Refractory Materials aims to bring in contact the decision makers for refractory materials in the steel works, the main refractory manufacturers as suppliers and the relevant research institutes. The committee organises the scientific / technical exchange between the member works of Steel Institute VDEh. Founded in 1981, the committee is organised as a sub-committee of the steelworks committee of Steel Institute VDEh, Düsseldorf. 24 steel producing companies cooperate in this body with 11 producers of refractory materials and 6 university or private R&D institutes. Most of the participants come from Germany but there also are involved companies from other European countries, e.g. Austria, Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Netherlands and even Czech Republic. The members of the committee represent the technical and scientific competence to deal with all kind of questions about refractory lining and relining of metallurgical steel works components like oxygen converters, electric arc furnaces, ladles, aggregates for secondary metallurgy or tundishes for continuous casting. The members from steel producing works are responsible for the refractory lining concepts in their steel works. The suppliers contribute knowledge about latest development in refractory application, new products and raw materials availability. The institutes contribute new research results and are ready to perform research within consortia from partner steel works and / or refractories producing industry depending on the topics to be solved. The relevant tasks of the committee work are:

• technical exchange and networking between the steel works, refractories producers and research institutes
• to collect and share information regarding refractories between the members of the committee
• technical exchange and mutual support in questions regarding refractories and its application in the steel works and
• enquiries, evaluation and discussion of refractory deposits (e.g. quality, reservoir, availability) and refractory production sites.

The committee meets twice a year. To prepare the meetings, the committee usually agrees on actual important topics in advance. During the meetings, all the committee members are invited to contribute to and discuss these topics free and open.

Key topics of the discussions are among others:

• materials and lining concepts for metallurgical aggregates in the steel works – choice and experiences
• erosion of refractories driven by the processes
• application of functional components and functional products
• safety at work and operating reliability
• business organisation of the departments for refractory materials in the steel works
• availability of raw materials and
• new developments of refractory materials.

Further typical issues arise from politics like the REACH chemicals regulation or from research like the German Research Foundations special research programme “FIRE”, which is dedicated to development of new refractories and of high interest for the next years. The meetings usually take place on invitation by a member work, so that they can be combined with steel works visits or visits at production sites. The committee on refractories is a cross-linked knowledge platform on refractory materials in steel works applications. By delegation of experts as speakers or chairman it supports international congresses like the International Colloquium on Refractories in Aachen.

www.stahl-online.de/VDEh/startseitevdeh.asp