Title: New materials technology in Japan

Authors: Gene Gregory

Addresses: Professor of International Business, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract: A major part of R&D effort in the Japanese economy is being channelled into the development of new materials. Demand is expanding for materials which are lighter, stronger, energy and labour saving, lower in cost and less dependent on imported resources. The main areas of materials research in Japan are listed. It is shown how Japanese companies are leaders in carbon-fibre reinforced plastics, a position which is reflected in international arrangements to cooperate in Ramp;D. Projections are made of new developments and applications for engineering plastics and various types of amorphous metals. It is argued that the most significant new materials will be the fine ceramics. This paper investigates new Japanese developments of ceramic materials in electronics, in automotive engines, as a structural material for hot environments, in sensors, bio-ceramics and materials which combine ceramics and metals.

Keywords: amorphous metals; carbon fibre reinforced plastics; ceramic engine components; ceramic fibre reinforced metals; electrically conductive polymeric materials; Japan; engineering plastics; high performance ceramics; materials R&D; new materials; research and development; materials research; amorphous metals; bioceramics; materials technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1987.036759

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1987 Vol.2 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Published online: 07 Nov 2010 *

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