Scientific and technological advances shape the face of industry today. In order for engineers, technologists and managers to keep up with the swift changes in the field, they must be lifelong learners.
For those interested in increasing their expertise in the field of ceramics and glasses, or those just being introduced, short courses are a good option. Designed for professionals in the ceramics and glass industry, these intensive courses offer a chance to update your knowledge of the field in a short period of time. Courses range from detailed, in-depth examinations of very specific topics to broader introductory classes.
This course covers the examination and interpretation of markings on fracture-exposed surfaces of glasses, polycrystalline ceramics, and single crystals, and the analysis of crack systems, i.e., fractography. Further, it covers using fractography in failure analysis, strength testing, and fracture-mechanics testing. The mechanisms by which fracture markings are produced will be explained, and the information provided by the markings (e.g., in locating and identifying fracture origins and in estimating stress at failure) will be emphasized. Observation and documentation techniques will be covered.
The role of fracture analysis in failure prevention (i.e., ensuring mechanical reliability) is emphasized throughout the course. This is a hands-on course in which the students will view fractured glass and ceramic samples with stereographic optical microscopes and other tools.
Most of the examples that will be examined by the participants early in the course will be glass specimens, since fracture markings are most clearly seen in glass. Ceramic examples and specimens will be covered in depth in the later days of the course. In-depth coverage will be provided on equipment, documentation, formal fractographic standards, and quantitative fractography, with an emphasis on determining the stress in the part at fracture. Ample time is devoted to covering grinding and machining flaws in glasses and ceramics, the fractography of polycrystalline and single crystal ceramics, fracture toughness determination, and Weibull strength correlations with fractographic analysis. Links between fractography and failure prevention are included in the discussions, case studies, and examples.
Who Attends
The course is designed to meet the needs of people interested in glasses or ceramics. The course limit is 18 participants. This limit matches the number of microscope stations in the Optical Microscopy Lab in the McMahon Engineering Building.
Overview of Topics
Fundamentals of fractography
Explanations of fracture markings
Examination of specimens
Equipment for observation and documentation
Fracture origins in glasses and ceramics
Quantitative fractography in testing (strength, fracture mechanics) and failure analysis
Examples of fracture in polycrystalline ceramics
Using fractography in failure prevention
Attendees may bring one or two specimens for after-class inspection.
Schedule
Extensive hands-on examination of specimens is dispersed throughout the entire 4.5 days of the course. Adjustments to this outline may be made as appropriate, but the subjects listed below will be covered.
Days 1 and 2 (8:30 am - 4:30 pm): Equipment and techniques, stress/strain basics, crack patterns (a first look), fracture markings (with hands-on examination of examples), fracture mechanics, stress corrosion, contact damage by particles, contact damage by grinding and machining, specimen reconstruction.
Day 3 (8:30 am - 12:00 pm): Thermal-shock origins in glass, glue chipping, common conditions of failure, fracture mirror constant (definition and measurement). Class participants will have the opportunity to visit the Corning Museum of Glass in the afternoon.
Day 4 (8:30 am - 4:30 pm): Further discussion of fracture mirrors, making and using replicas of fracture surfaces, fractographic standards, origins in ceramics, machining and grinding cracks in glasses and ceramics.
Day 5 (8:30 am - 12:30 pm): Single crystals, Weibull strength analysis and fractography, case studies.
Cost
Standard Rate: $2,500
Fee includes Fractography of Ceramics and Glasses practice guide, one dinner, three lunches, and beverage breaks. We do not issue refunds, however, another person from the same company can replace a student that cannot attend.
About the Instructors
Dr. James Varner is a Professor of Ceramic Engineering Emeritus at Alfred University. He received his PhD in Ceramics at Alfred University. His interest in fractography of glass and ceramics dates to his senior thesis done under the supervision of Prof. Frechette. He continued this interest throughout his professional career. He has taught this course for over 35 years.
Dr. Jeffrey J. Swab earned his BS in Ceramic Science & Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, followed by an MS and PhD in Materials Science & Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and SUNY-Stony Brook, respectively. With over four decades of experience in fracture analysis of advanced ceramics and glasses, he played a pivotal role in organizing and leading the first and largest international round robin exercise on ceramic fractography. His contributions were instrumental in developing and publishing the world’s first fractography standard for ceramics (ASTM C1322). After serving as a ceramic research engineer with the Army Research Laboratory for 41 years, Dr. Swab retired and established Swab Consulting LLC, dedicated to providing mechanical testing and fracture analysis of ceramics and glasses.
Glass processing is fraught with challenges that require a comprehensive control on melt chemistry. This short course will cover the basics of glass science from a perspective of predicting outcomes. When you can predict outcomes, you can help solve challenges in glass manufacturing. We hope to reinforce and connect concepts in glass melting in a practical manner so that you can become a better glass maker.
To understand the core concepts around viscosity, diffusion, batch composition, raw materials, oxidation-reduction, furnaces, refractory corrosion, strengthening and durability, students will link the melting process to the glass produced.
Practical problems sets involving redox and viscosity will be solved. Strengthening predictive capacity will help glass engineers who want to improve their processing but may lack the knowledge to do so.
Who Attends
Engineers, scientists and technicians interested in learning about glass manufacturing through the fundamental structure property relationships. Limit of 18 students (core course); Limit of 6 students (per optional laboratory experience.)
Overview of Topics
SLS structure and properties
Fluidity and Viscosity
Diffusion and rates of processes
Batching versus Glass Chemistry
Oxidation-Reduction processes
Furnaces influence on melting & corrosion
Glass strength & surfaces
Chemical Durability & mitigation strategies
Spectroscopy to Improve Quality control
Optional Hands-On Experiences
Glass Melting of Redox Sensitive Elements
UV-Vis, XRF, and Raman Spectroscopy
Cost
Standard Rate: $1,500
Glass Melting Lab Add-On: $500
UV-Vis, XRF, and Raman Spectroscopy Lab Add-On: $500
Both Lab Add-Ons: $2,500
Resources
A classroom and furnaces for melting for one day and the spec lab for half of the day will be available.
About the Instructors
Dr. Dan Swiler is a glass industry veteran with 45 years of experience. He is an Alfred alumnus who went on to work for 20 years with Drakenfeld developing pigments and coatings for glasses and ceramics while developing quality control procedures for plants internationally. He spent another decade with O-I developing vacuum melting and novel refractories while working on improving furnace life and production problems. During this time, he spent effort in glass strengthening, durability and fining as these were persistent issues. Since 2022 he has taught a industrial glasses course at Alfred University and consults for the industry at large.
Dr. Benjamin Moulton is an assistant professor in Glass Science and Engineering at Alfred University with a decade of expertise in glass structure-property relationships worldwide. His emphasis has been using Raman, IR, and X-ray spectroscopies to interrogate glass structure in situ at gigapascal pressure and melt temperatures. He has used spectroscopy to identify problems in the bulk as well as in glass beads. bubbles and fibers. His work has been aimed at finding the limiting conditions on glass behavior and extending our predictive capacity by looking for global, rather than local, solutions.
Phase equilibria present challenges that require a comprehensive understanding of composition, temperature, and thermodynamic relationships. This short course will cover the fundamentals of binary and ternary phase diagrams from the perspective of predicting material behavior during solidification and processing as well as high temperature material interactions. The goal is to reinforce and connect concepts in phase equilibria in a practical manner so that you can become more effective in designing compositions, controlling microstructures, and troubleshooting casting processes.
To understand the core concepts surrounding binary and ternary phase diagrams, attendees will link phase relationships to melting, solidification pathways, eutectic and peritectic reactions, phase transformations, and the microstructures produced during casting. Emphasis will be placed on applying phase diagrams to real processing problems in both metal and ceramic systems.
Practical problem sets involving phase rule calculations, tie lines, lever rule applications, and interpretation of binary and ternary diagrams will be solved.
Who Attends
Engineers, scientists and technicians interested in learning about the interpretation and applications of phase diagrams in casting operations and other high temperature contexts. Limit of 20 students.
Overview of Topics
Gibbs phase rule
Unary phase diagrams and phase transformations
Binary phase diagrams
Ternary phase diagrams
Principles of solidification
Equilibrium and non-equilibrium solidification
Cost
Standard Rate: $1,500
About the Instructor
Dr. MarioCacciais an Assistant Professor in Ceramic Engineering in the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University. He received his Bachelors in Geological Engineering, and his Masters and PhD in Materials Science from the University of Alicante in Spain. Dr.Cacciaserved as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a Senior Research Engineer at Purdue University. Prior to his appointment at AU he served for three years as an Assistant Professor in the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department at Montana Tech. His expertise lies in the broad field of ceramics processing, and his research focuses on processing of high temperature ceramics and ceramic-based composites as well as high temperature melt properties (wettability, surface tension, solidification). Additionally, he is actively involved in applied research focused on structure-property relationships and elucidating processing-performance relationships for various kinds of materials (metals, oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics).
Ceramic processing presents challenges that require comprehensive control over powder characteristics, interparticle interactions, and forming conditions. This short course will cover the fundamentals of ceramic processing from the perspective of understanding and predicting processing outcomes and minimizing defects in products. This course aims to reinforce concepts for non-ceramic engineers working in the ceramic industry so that they can better contribute to their processes.
To understand the core concepts surrounding colloidal stability, rheology, powder characterization, and forming techniques, students will link powder behavior to processing performance and the properties of the final ceramic produced.
Practical problem sets involving suspension stability, rheological behavior, and powder characterization will be solved, while laboratory sessions will provide hands-on experience with forming methods and characterization tools. Strengthening fundamental processing-property knowledge will help engineers, improve their processing, troubleshoot manufacturing problems, and better control ceramic production.
Who Attends
Non-ceramic engineers and scientists interested in learning about ceramic manufacturing through fundamental processing-structure-property relationships or ceramic engineers in need of a refresher. Limit of 20 students.
Overview of Topics
Raw ceramic powder characterization
Mixing and milling
Processing additives and processing consistencies
Formulations and batch calculations
Colloidal stability and rheology
Forming operations
Firing and sintering
Cost
Standard Rate: $2,500
About The Instructors
Dr. Mario Caccia is an Assistant Professor in Ceramic Engineering in the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University. He received his Bachelors in Geological Engineering, and his Masters and PhD in Materials Science from the University of Alicante in Spain. Dr. Caccia served as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a Senior Research Engineer at Purdue University. Prior to his appointment at AU he served for three years as an Assistant Professor in the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department at Montana Tech. His expertise lies in the broad field of ceramics processing, and his research focuses on processing of high temperature ceramics and ceramic-based composites as well as high temperature melt properties (wettability, surface tension, solidification). Additionally, he is actively involved in applied research focused on structure-property relationships and elucidating processing-performance relationships for various kinds of materials (metals, oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics).
Matthew Creedon, Ph.D. is a ceramic engineer and materials scientist with over four decades of experience developing advanced ceramic materials for defense, industrial, and commercial applications. Creedon earned both his B.S. in Ceramic Engineering (1984) and his Ph.D. in Ceramics (1996) from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. His doctoral research, funded by the Office of Naval Research, focused on piezoelectric composite materials for hydrophone applications.
His career began at United Technologies Optical Systems, where he spent nearly a decade developing silicon carbide components for high-energy lasers and space-based optics. He subsequently held positions at Allied Signal (now Honeywell FM&T), studying the effects of aging on ceramic and glass components from decommissioned defense systems. That was followed by a nearly a decade at Ferro Electronic Materials Systems, where he developed dielectric ceramic powders and processing. He then served as Process Development Manager at Unifrax (now Alkegen), advancing ceramic fiber manufacturing for the automotive sector, followed by roles at Saint-Gobain Ceramic Materials and, most recently, Washington Mills Electro Minerals, where he led R&D for fused minerals, silicon carbide and boron carbide powders through 2025.
Today, Creedon is active across several professional roles. He serves as a Research Scientist at the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology at Alfred University, continuing his long association with the institution where he trained. He also provides technical guidance as an advisor to Blue Star Advanced Manufacturing. In addition, he is the founder and Principal Consultant of MC Squared Consulting, through which he draws on his broad industry expertise to support clients in ceramics, materials processing, and advanced manufacturing.
Throughout his career, Creedon has been recognized with multiple innovation awards, holds a U.S. patent in multi-phasic ceramic composites, and has contributed to NASA research on lunar regolith simulants. He is an active member of the American Ceramic Society — currently serving as Chair of the Coble Award Committee — and sits on several university advisory boards. He was listed in Marquis Who's Who in America in 2024.
We Can Develop a Course to Fit Your Needs
Many of the short courses we offer can be adjusted to fit the specific technological needs of your organization, or we can create a course individually designed to your specifications. These programs provide intensive instruction to your key people, who in turn disperse their new knowledge throughout the organization, providing a big return on your investment.
Since there are no employee travel expenses, the cost per employee (with an enrollment of ten or more) can be significantly less than the overall cost of sending staff to campus
Questions pertaining to your organization's needs can be confidentially discussed.
The course can be modified to address topics important to your organization, deleting those of little interest or expanding on areas of high priority. Short course programs of several days' duration offer extensive in-depth coverage of materials and provide opportunities for greater interaction by participants.
To discuss the possibility of having a course designed especially for your company and presented on-site, contact: David Gottfried.
