Ceramic Materials Frequently Used:
- Alumina
- Silicon Nitride
- Boron Carbide
- Zirconia
- Macor
- Silicon Nitride
- Boron Nitride
Aluminum Oxide
Aluminum oxide is the workhorse of advanced technical ceramics. It has good mechanical and electrical properties, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. It has relatively poor thermal shock resistance. It is used as an electrical insulator for a number of electrical and electronic applications, including spark plug insulators and electronic substrates. It is also used in chemical, medical and wear application.
Zirconium Oxide
Zirconium oxide has the highest fracture toughness of any advanced technical ceramics. Its toughness, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance make it ideal for medical and selected wear applications. Its thermal expansion coefficient is ver colse to steel, making it an ideal plunger for use in a steel bore. Its properties are derived from a very precise phase composition. Some environmental conditions can make the materials unstable, causing it to lose its mechanical properties. Its relatively low hardness and high weight also limit its broad use in wear applications.
Boron Carbide
Boron carbide is the hardest material after diamond, giving it outstanding wear resistance. Its mechanical properties, especially its fracture toughness, are low, limiting its application. However, it is used extensively for ballistic armor and blast nozzles. Boron carbide is also a neutron absorber, making it a primary choice for control rods and other nuclear applications.
Silicon Nitride
Silicon nitride has the best combination of mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of any advanced technical ceramic material. Its high strength and toughness make it the material of choice for automotive and bearing applications.
Some of the highly desirable properties of ceramics are:
- High Strength
- High Fracture Toughness
- High Hardness
- Excellent Wear Resistance
- Good Frictional Behaviour
- Anti-Static
- Non-Magnetic
- Low Thermal Conductivity
- Corrosion Resistance in acids and alkalis
- Excellent Surface Finish (0.006 µm Ra)
- Modulus of Elasticity similar to steel
- Thermal Expansion Coefficient similar to cast iron
Ceramic Parts & Components include:
- microwave loads
- high temp clamps
- abrasive nozzles
- brazing fixtures
- heater cores
- ceramic guides
- ceramic discs
- high temp wear parts
- ring laser gyro bodies
- corrosive atmosphere manifolds
- electrical feed-throughs
- high temp clamps
