Coffee Break: Colors of Ceramics

摘要

It has been nearly two years since I changed fields from peirologist, my major in college, ceramic manufacturing. New that I have finally overcome the feelings of both confusion and excitement as a beginner, I can focus more energy into my job without being nervous. The production of ceramics seems like assembly-line production. It is actually composed of mixing, molding, and sintering. In the sinter-ing process, once the temperature schedule is set and the electric furnace turned on nothing can be done the ceramics and remover. Among these three process, I regard sintering as the most thrilling. 1 am currently working with proton conductive ceramics. This material is difficult to handle because if the temperature schedule is not right, the sample will warp, crack, or not densify. Furthermore, even if the schedule is correct a smal1 difference of the sintering atmosphere makes the color of sintered material different. This material can absorb hydrogen from the water vapor in the atmosphere at high temperatures; accordingly, the concentration of the hydrogen in the ceramic depends on the humidity in the atmosphere. In addition, the color of the oxide changes when the hydrogen concentration increase or decrease. This special property is very exciting to one.