Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology
McMahon Engineering Building
CACT and CAMP have, for over 30 years, been partners in solving a wide range of materials-science technical challenges for our industrial partners. The jointly developed Nanomaterials Pilot Plant provides facilities and expertise for the synthesis of nano-sized ceramic powders, from which can be manufactured specific electronic components and devices for consolidation into nano-structured electroceramic components with enhanced properties, such as multi-layer capacitors, zinc-oxide varistors, solid oxide fuel cells and ferrite inductor cores.
A class-10,000 clean-room facility, located at the Alfred IncubatorWorks site, provides access to a number of electro-ceramic device fabrication techniques including tape casting, screen printing, lamination, die-pressing, and isostatic pressing. Innovative firing techniques in addition to conventional fast-fire processing such as microwave sintering are also used to retain the nano-structure.
Researchers with CAMP design and produce novel process intensification reactors for pilot scale synthesis of nano-particles. CAMP uses these techniques to increase production capacity of particles known to have applications in advanced electronic materials but are currently available only in small quantities. The intensified modular plant is capable of delivering pilot-scale throughput of up to 1 kg / dry powder per day and is adaptable to different types of chemical synthesis. Once nano-powders are prepared, they are sent to Alfred for further processing into electroceramic devices.
In 2017, SUNY and the State of New York made a significant investment at Alfred University in the form of a $7.75M award to create the Ceramic Research, Education and Technology Enterprise (CREATE). CREATE focuses on three key areas, supporting the development of the technical ceramics and glass fields, including Additive Manufacturing, Ceramic Machining, and High Temperature Characterization.
In support of the development of new techniques for additively manufacturing with ceramic materials, CACT has partnered with Rochester Institute of Technology’s CAT – the Center for Additive Manufacturing and Multifunctional Printing, or AMPrint Center.
AMPRINT is focused on a number of key technical challenges including:
This important partnership brings a full suite of capabilities to industrial partners looking to develop new technologies and materials used in the field of additive manufacturing.
Buffalo Manufacturing Works helps innovation-driven organizations excel by partnering with their internal manufacturing, engineering, and R&D teams to deliver better products, grow and compete. If you want to innovate, expand into new markets or boost productivity, Buffalo Manufacturing Works can help. Their collaborative network is designed to give your business the tools you need to grow, improve your bottom line and compete—while stimulating economic development throughout the Buffalo Niagara Region.
EWI brings together an unmatched, diverse, and solution-focused team of experts in 3D printing processes and design; and supporting engineers and scientists from disciplines such as fusion and solid state welding technologies (laser, arc, ultrasonic, friction), materials science, process sensing and controls, non-destructive evaluation, modeling and simulation, and structural mechanics. Their metal 3D printing process capabilities include laser and electron beam powder bed fusion, laser and arc directed energy deposition, binder jetting, and access to ultrasonic additive manufacturing through our affiliate Fabrisonic. EWI also has consumer- and industrial- grade polymer 3D printers for prototyping and studying design for additive manufacturing. In addition to process technologies, we possess powder and surface characterization capabilities, metallurgical characterization, mechanical testing, NDE capabilities, and will be installing powder production, x-ray computed tomography, and large-scale deposition facilities in the next 12 months.
