Advances in Cement-Based Materials: Manufacturing, Hydration, Admixture Interaction, Properties/Characterization, Modeling and Degradation/Durability

Focus: Advances in the chemical, structural and mechanical aspects of cementitious systems.

Topics: Manufacture of next generation cements; advanced and novel methods for characterization of manufacturing processes, hydration, mechanical response, transport properties and degradation; chemical, mineral and chemically inert admixtures and their interactions in cementitious systems; properties of fresh and hardened cement-based materials; modeling of chemical, physical and mechanical phenomena.

Environmental Degradation of Nonmetallic Materials and Sensors

Focus: Environmental degradation of nonmetallic materials and monitoring.

Topics: Ceramics; glasses; lubricants; modeling.

Environmental Issues in the Material Science and Technology Industries

Focus: Relationships between the materials science and ceramic industries and the environment.

Topics: Environmental impact of advanced materials and ceramic products and processes; alternative technologies with lower environmental impact; waste minimization technologies; green materials; green processing; nanotechnology for environmental remediation and protection; materials recycling.

Innovative Processing and Synthesis of Ceramics, Glasses and Composites

Focus: Processing, performance characterization, manufacturing and product development of ceramics, glasses and composites.

Topics: Reaction forming; microwave and plasma processing; polymer precursor and sol-gel techniques; oxidation and mechanical alloying; coatings and composites.

Joining of Advanced and Specialty Materials IX

Focus: Recent developments in joining of advanced and specialty materials including processing methods, materials characterization, joint performance and modeling.

Topics: Joining of steels; joining of ceramics; micro/nano-joining; repair/manufacture of aero-engine components; failure analysis of weldments; joining and sealing for fuel cell applications.

Lead-Free Solders: Emerging Issues in Manufacturing, Performance and Reliability

Focus: Issues in lead-free solders apparent as a result of widespread implementation.

Topics: Performance and reliability of lead-free solders in diverse environments; tin whisker prevalence, characterization and prevention; lead-free solder development; properties of assemblies prepared with lead-free solders.

Surface Engineering Using Hybrid Plasma Assisted PVD and CVD Technologies

Focus: Developing surfaces with unique functional properties using combinatorial layout of different vapor plasma sources, integrated in one surface engineering process.

Topics: Plasma assisted PVD and CVD technologies; deposition of complex cermet and ceramic compound coatings; kinetics and thermodynamics of synthesis of multielemental, multiphase materials by combinatorial hybrid vapor plasma deposition; synthesis and characterization of nanostructured cermet and ceramic coatings; surface engineering; in situ vapor plasma diagnostic tools.