ABSTRACT
Ceramic coatings are an important and widespread application of ceramics. Examples include corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings, thermal barrier coatings, environmental protection coatings, optical coatings, electrical insulator and semiconductor coatings or layers, stealth coatings, and even key ingredients in makeup and sunscreen. Many options for materials and processing of nanoscale ceramics are currently being pursued, and new ones are being reported virtually every month. Ceramic engineers developing improved thermal barrier coatings and the environmental barrier coatings materials face a multitude of challenges. Ceramics technology is contributing to the remediation and cleanup of pollution and has a key role in developing new reuse and recycling options for many wastes. Achieving more sustainable development is a key social, economic, and technical driver and a key consideration in assessing the relative value and quality of future developments. The volumes of materials consumed, the amounts of waste sent for disposal, and the amount of energy used are key indicators of sustainability.
