The future of materials: Advanced Ceramics

Google Tech Talks March, 7 2008 ABSTRACT The world has evolved a long way from the Stone Age to the Iron age, and we are now in the new age of engineered materials. Today's discussion will focus in the realm of advanced ceramics, materials that aren't typically found in nature and can withstand extreme conditions. These materials are being used to stop bullets, enable diesel engines to run more efficiently, produce solar cells, and much more. We will focus on Boron Carbide, Silicon Nitride, Silicon Carbide and a few other materials, where you will learn about how they came to be, how they are made, and where they are used. Speaker: Peter Goldstein Peter has been fascinated with the world around him and always wanted to develop new materials since he was a child. He earned B.S and M.S. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida, focusing on ceramic materials. He is currently employed at Ceradyne, Inc. a high growth, cutting edge Advanced Technical Ceramics company as a Sales Engineer. He works on developing new applications with his customers using the materials Ceradyne offers, and as a hobby enjoys making glass sculptures at his home glass-blowing studio which he built. There he gets to make new creations beyond the constraints of the ordinary world by shaping glass with jet-engine like flames. He is also newly married to a wonderful woman, Jessica, and they live happily together in Huntington Beach, CA.