Introduction
Advanced ceramics, non-metallic and inorganic, are processed through high-temperature sintering, delivering remarkable hardness, thermal resilience, and corrosion resistance. These qualities make ceramics essential in industries such as aerospace, electronics, and healthcare. This article explores the properties and applications of advanced ceramics, supported by a detailed table, to highlight their role in modern technology.
Properties of Advanced Ceramics
Advanced ceramics offer a broad spectrum of mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, tailored for specific industrial applications. Below are their key characteristics:
- Extreme Hardness: Ranges from 2.3 GPa (Macor) to 33 GPa (Boron Carbide), ideal for wear-resistant applications.
- High Thermal Resilience: Operates up to 1750°C (Alumina 99.95%), suitable for high-temperature environments.
- Superior Insulation: Volume resistivity up to >10¹⁷ ohm-cm (Macor), ensuring electrical reliability.
- High Strength: Flexural strength from 94 MPa (Macor) to 1800 MPa (Zirconia 3YZ), supporting structural components.
- Thermal Stability: Low CTE (e.g., 2.5 × 10⁻⁶/K for Silicon Nitride), maintaining dimensional stability.
Detailed Properties Table
The table below provides a comprehensive overview of advanced ceramics’ properties, focusing on mechanical, thermal, and electrical characteristics.
Material | Density (g/cm³) | Flexural Strength (MPa) | Hardness (GPa) | Thermal Conductivity (W/mK) | CTE (10⁻⁶/K) | Max Temp (Air) (°C) | Dielectric Constant | Volume Resistivity (ohm-cm) |
Alumina 96% | 3.75 | 200–300 | 12 | 25 | 6.3 | 1600 | 9.8 | >10¹⁴ |
Alumina 99.7% | 3.95 | 250–350 | 14 | 33 | 6.5 | 1700 | 9.9 | >10¹⁴ |
Alumina 99.95% | 3.98 | 500–600 | 18 | 45 | 7.5 | 1750 | 9.9 | >10¹⁶ |
ZTA | 4.1 | 600 | 16 | 20 | 7 | 1500 | 10 | >10¹⁶ |
ATZ | 4.18 | 850 | 21.5 | 20 | 7.5 | 1500 | 10 | >10¹⁶ |
5.5 | 1800 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 1200 | 25 | >10¹² | |
3.32 | 350 | 10 | 170 | 4.5 | 1200 | 8.8 | >10¹³ | |
3.1 | 410 | 28 | 102.6 | 4.02 | 1200 | N/A | 10²–10¹¹ | |
2.52 | 420 | 33 | 20–40 | 90 | 1800 | 5–8 | N/A | |
3.2–3.4 | 730 | 15 | 25 | 2.5 | 1200 | 8 | >10¹⁴ | |
Shapal Hi M Soft | 2.88 | 300 | 3.8 | 92 | 4.8 | 1000 | 6.8 | >10¹⁵ |
Macor | 2.52 | 94 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 9 | 800 | 6 | >10¹⁷ |
1.9 | 13–29 | N/A | 21 | N/A | 850 | N/A | >10¹⁴ |
Table Notes:
Mechanical Strength: Flexural strength (e.g., 1800 MPa for Zirconia 3YZ) supports structural applications.
Thermal Conductivity: High values (e.g., 170 W/mK for Aluminum Nitride) ensure effective heat dissipation.
Electrical Insulation: High dielectric strength (e.g., 65 kV/mm for Shapal Hi M Soft) ensures reliability in electronics.
Applications of Advanced Ceramics
Advanced ceramics are applied across multiple industries due to their unique properties. Below are their key uses:
- High-Temperature Environments: Silicon Carbide and Boron Nitride (up to 1800°C) are used in furnace linings and aerospace parts.
- Electrical Insulation: Alumina (>10¹⁴ ohm-cm) and Aluminum Nitride (170 W/mK) excel in electronic substrates and heat sinks.
- Wear-Resistant Parts: Silicon Nitride (15 GPa hardness) and Zirconia (1800 MPa strength) are ideal for bearings and cutting tools.
- Biomedical Devices: Zirconia (fracture toughness up to 17 MPa m¹/²) suits dental implants and joint replacements.
- Semiconductor Production: Shapal Hi M Soft (92 W/mK) supports precision semiconductor components.
- Prototyping: Macor’s machinability enables rapid creation of complex shapes.
Conclusion
Advanced ceramics provide a unique combination of hardness, thermal resilience, and electrical insulation, making them vital for applications in aerospace, electronics, and healthcare. Their properties drive innovation in modern technology.
Heeger Materials is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality ceramic products in form of plates, sheets, rods, tubes, crucibles, substrates, and customized parts, offering customized solutions for various industrial and research applications.