Innovations in ceramic powder preparation.

In a review some five years ago, various nonconventional ceramic powder preparation techniques were described and categorized. (1) The purpose of this current overview is to update that compilation relying heavily on methods utilized in the past five years and stressing innovative techniques. Again these methods will be categorized in the broad areas of solution methods and vapor phase methods. Recent interest in solution techniques emphasize various sol-gel methods, the use of metallo- organic reactants and the preparation of monosized monodisperse particles. The adaptability of vapor phase methods to nonoxide ceramics has led to new methods and potential applications in structural ceramics.