Organic Additives and Ceramic Processing

This volume is intended to be used as a textbook for teaching pur­ poses and also as a reference source for working engineers. Therefore, a wide range of subject matter must be covered, starting with funda­ mental explanations for students, and extending to advanced applica­ tions for development workers and factory problem-solvers. Such an ambitious task is being attempted only because of the present lack of resources which might otherwise fill the need. The author planned the book for use as the primary text in an un­ dergraduate course in processing, which he teaches at Rutgers University. However, the book could also be used as a supplementary text for more general courses in related subjects. Powder metallurgy, printing inks, and paints involve many of the same organic additives as ceramic processing. These specialized fields of technology are usually covered somewhat by very general college courses in metallurgy, materials science, and chemical engineering, but there appears to be a need for more specific training in the area of the organic additives used in those fields. The formulators, for lack of confidence and better understanding, often rely on simple waxes or acrylates, when a higher level of technological knowledge could provide improved results. It is intended that this book will be useful as a supplementary source of information for those fields also, both as a self-teaching tool and for college coursework.