| | SMAHT Ceramics, Inc. (SMAHT-CERAM) is an independent small business that was formed recently through the purchase of the assets of the monolithic ceramics operations of COI Ceramics Inc. (a subsidiary of Composite Optics, Inc., an Affiliate of Alliant Techsystems Inc.) in Salt Lake City, UT. COI Ceramics' division in Salt Lake City (which was formerly LoTEC, Inc.) was originally created to commercialize low thermal expansion ceramics with a very strong emphasis on production and commercialization of ceramic technologies. SMAHT-CERAM has now acquired COIC-SLC's research and manufacturing capabilities, any ongoing technological development programs, and its commercial product line based on NZP ceramics.
NZP ceramics have very unique (and tailorable) properties such as low thermal expansion, excellent thermal shock resistance, high melting temperatures, and good creep resistance. Besides, their crystal structure is amenable to numerous ionic substitutions which make it possible to develop a range of NZPs with characteristics ranging from ‘negative thermal expansion' to ‘catalytic activity'.
Having all the intellectual and technological rights to the low thermal expansion and highly thermal-shock resistant NZP ceramics technologies, SMAHT-CERAM (which specializes in 'Stable Materials At High Temperatures') will focus on production of NZPs and R&D of NZP-based technologies. NZP-based monolithics, composites, and coatings are on the roadmap for possible commercialization as substrates for slumping and flowing of ultra-low expansion (ULE) glass mirrors, insulating liners in diesel engines, and as protective coatings - TBCs or EBCs - for turbine engine components. Other noteworthy development projects include the fabrication of large NZP substrates for glass-mirror processing for Eastman Kodak and Corning Inc. This program is at a technology readiness level (TRL) of 6 out of 10 levels, where 10 represents successful commercialization.
Processing technologies that SMAHT-CERAM uses cover both bulk fabrication and coating deposition approaches, including the well-established slip casting process, low-pressure injection molding (LPIM), and sol-gel forming. Among other process-related activities, SMAHT-CERAM is poised to conduct process refinement and scale up of LPIM (injection molding) through funded research.
SMAHT-CERAM's vision is to have a strong world-wide reputation for technological innovation and manufacturing of advanced ceramic materials, primarily oxide monolithics. Its mission is to be a successful business that develops and commercializes advanced materials technologies and provides high quality products and services to all its customers. | |
