The challenge for ceramic materials

This paper deals with new avenues of R+D which presently lead to the development of new ceramic materials. It points out that the equilibrium diagrams constitute a basic tool to design monolithic ceramics. This is the case of mullite and silicon carbide based materiales. New routes to design materials inspired in Nature, laminate, functionally graded materials and artificial opals are also reported. Sequential slip casting route is proposed to obtain layered and functionally graded ceramics. A new route for the obtention of fiber reinforced ceramic material composites with a weak fiber/matrix interfase resistant to oxidizing atmosphere by reactive coatings is also proposed. Finally controlled sedimentation is offered as a new route to obtain artificial opals.