Ceradyne Inc., a Costa Mesa-based high-tech ceramics...

Ceradyne Inc., a Costa Mesa-based high-tech ceramics company, lost $868,000 during the first quarter, contrasted with a profit of $89,000 for the comparable period a year earlier. Sales declined 8% to $6.4 million from nearly $7 million a year ago. The company attributed the loss primarily to lower sales in the company’s defense-related product lines.