Are you one of those who are drawn to the hugely fascinating world of glass and ceramics? If you are, indeed, charmed by the various forms of these extensively used materials, then you could become a researcher. Facilities for research in glass and ceramics are limited even at the global level. But we in India have a research center of rare distinction in this field — Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), 196, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata – 700032; Phone: 033-24733476; website: www.cgcri.res.in.
Before we talk about CGCRI, we give you an insight into why glass and ceramics are increasingly popular.

GLASS

Glass is used in a vast array of items from kitchenware to spaceships. This material is obviously as ubiquitous as it is versatile. The reason for its widespread application is that there are innumerable types of glass with diverse properties. And with goal-driven research more and more new types emerge regularly.

Optical glass is a strategic material used as lenses and prisms for making periscopes, binoculars, range-finders, gun-sights, fire directors, and scientific, photographic and instruments such as microscopes, telescopes, cameras, projectors, and theodolites.

CEREMICS

The word “ceramics” brings to mind cups and saucers and clay products, but the term embraces objects from common pottery to high-tech semiconductors. Ceramics are hard. They normally resist deformation, temperature, and corrosion. Alumina, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, zirconia, and sapphire are forms of ceramics.

Ceramics are often combined with other materials to form ceramic composites.Whitewares, glass-ceramic composites, capacitors, ceramic fibers, cements, refractories, abrasives, catalytic converters, optical fibers, optical switches, space shuttle tiles, fuel cells, microwave transducers, thermistors, dental restoration, bone implants, missiles, ferroelectric components, microelectronic packaging, superconductors, and laser amplifiers are some of the applications.

THE CENTRAL GLASS AND CERAMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE

It has two extension centers — one at Naroda (Gujarat) and the other at Khurja (Uttar Pradesh). The institute has a checkered history beginning from 1950, punctuated by several milestones of achievement. Apart from routine research, CGCRI focuses on import substitution.

The institute is currently engaged in six sectors namely materials, minerals and manufacturing, communication and instrumentation, health care, energy and environment, water technology, and rural development.

The clientele of the institute includes several prestigious organizations such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai / Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore / Ministry of Defence / Steel, and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.
Optical glass was developed in the early 1960s. The 1970s saw the initial development of laser glass, infra-red transmitting filters, synthetic quartz single crystal, high temperature protective enamels, high alumina ceramic seals and spacers. The 1980s witnessed the invention of optical fiber for telecommunication, sol-gel processing of glass and ceramic materials, production of glass fiber-based composites and application of ceramic materials in electronics. In the 1990s, the emphasis was on the three major sectors of national security, industrial development, and societal activities.