Silicon carbide consists of the chemical elements silicon (like in sand) and carbon, and is very hard. Due to the good chemical resistance, silicon carbide can be applied very well under extreme conditions.
high stiffness
good thermal conductivity
chemical resistant
good thermoshock resistant
low density
very wear-resistant
Due to its crystal structure, silicon nitride is one of the toughest ceramic materials. Furthermore it has a very good thermoshock resistance and good tribological properties.
high wear-resistance
high strength and ductility
chemical resistant
thermoshock resistant
electrically insulating
low thermal expansion coefficient
Aluminum oxide (or alumina) is the most widely applied type of ceramics, often used as electrical insulator and for wear-resistant applications. The material is available in several grades.
electrical insulator
wear-resistant
high temperature resistant
high stiffness
very pure
Aluminum nitride combines a high thermal conductivity with a very low electrical conductivity. This heat conductor and electrical insulator is suitable for many electrical and electronical applications.
high thermal conductivity
chemical resistant
electrical insulator
Zirconium oxide (or zirconia) is a type of ceramic with the highest fracture toughness. Due to the average crystal size of 0.5 microns, this material is very suitable for making, for example, ceramic knives.
impact resistant
low thermal conductivity
high flexural strength
high toughness
high mechanical strength
electrical insulator
In contrast to other ceramics, boron nitride with the hexagonal crystal structure is soft and easy to machine. Special property: BN is not wetted by liquid metals such as aluminum.
good machineable
high temperature resistant
electrical insulator
thermoshock resistant
is not wetted
Boron carbide is an extremely hard type of ceramic with a low weight. This makes the material extremely useful for nozzles and ballistic applications.
high hardness
wear-resistant
low weight
Ruby is monocrystalline aluminum oxide where some of the aluminum atoms have been replaced by chromium atoms in a controlled way. This replacement is the cause of the typical ruby (red) colour.
high surface quality
chemical resistant
Sapphire is monocrystalline aluminum oxide with controlled traces of other elements. As a transparent material, sapphire is suitable for optical applications.
electrical insulator
wear-resistant
high temperature resistant
high stiffness
very pure
Macor is the trade name of a machineable glass-ceramic, often used for electrical applications and at high temperatures.
electrical insulator
poor thermal conductor
high temperature resistant
ZTA and ATZ
Combining aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide results in a composite material with, among other things, improved fracture toughness.
impact resistant
low thermal conductivity
high flexural strength
high toughness
high mechanical strength
electrical insulator
In order to make ceramics tougher and more thermoshock resistant, embedding of ceramic fibres in a ceramic matrix is a solution.
high flexural strength
high tensile strength
high ductility
thermoshock resistant