Science Past from the issue of July 15, 1961

CERAMICS PROVED BEST FOR POWER GENERATORS — Ceramics have proved to be the best material for checking the white-hot stream of gases in a new kind of electric power generators. Westinghouse Electric Corporation scientists, Pittsburgh, Pa., believe ceramics will be superior to iron and steel for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) electric power generators. They found that ceramics, relatives of those widely used for making bricks, tile and pottery, could be used to line the walls of the MHD generators and to project into the stream of gas that provides the electric power. Magnetohydrodynamic is one of the newest methods for direct generation of electricity without using a steam turbine or rotating electric generator.