Technical Ceramics - Pressed Ceramic Materials

Aluminum Oxide or alumina is the most versatile engineered ceramic because of its high temperature service limit along with its chemical, electrical and mechanical properties. It is also relatively low cost, is easily formed and finished using a number of fabrication methods. It is often compounded with silica or trace elements to enhance its properties or fabrication and commonly will range from 92% to 99.9% Al₂O₃. Alumina engineered ceramic parts can be formed by single axis pressing

Aluminum Oxide is one of the most widely specified, general-purpose technical ceramics. All aluminas are very hard and wear resistant, with high compressive strength even against extreme temperatures and corrosive environments. Aluminum Oxide is also excellent electrical insulators and is gas tight.

Boron Nitride - BN

Born Nitride is compacted at temperatures up to 2000˚C and pressures up to 2000 psi to form a dense, strong engineering material that is easily machined. It is available in standard and custom hot-pressed shapes and has several unique characteristics and it physical properties which make it valuable for solving tough problems in a wide range of industrial applications.

The unique combination of being both an excellent electrical insulator and thermal conductor makes BN very useful as a heat sink in high power electronic applications. Its properties compare favorably with beryllium oxide, aluminum oxide and other electronic packaging materials, yet it is easier to form and finish.

Temperature stability and excellent resistance to thermal shock makes BN the material of choice in the toughest high temperature applications such as equipment for plasma arc welding, diffusion source wafers, and semiconductor crystal growth equipment & processing.

Silicon Carbide - SiC

Silicon Carbide is among the hardest of ceramics, and retains hardness and strength at elevated temperatures, which translates into among the best wear resistance also. Additionally, silicon carbide has a high thermal conductivity, especially in the CVD (chemical vapor deposition) grade, which aids in thermal shock resistance. It is also half the weight of steel.

Based on this combination of hardness, resistance to wear, heat and corrosion, silicon carbide is often specified for seal faces and high performance pump parts. The material can also be made an electrical conductor and has applications in resistance heating, flame igniters and electronic components. Structural and wear applications are constantly developing.

Silicon Nitride - Si₃N₄

Silicon Nitride's unique processing and properties make it cost effective for many mechanical and wear applications.

Full density and structure impart strength, hardness, toughness, wear, corrosion resistance, high temperature capability and low weight that make it useful for many applications.

Silicon Nitride is one of the best ceramic for wear applications

Aluminum Nitride - AlN

Aluminum Nitride ceramic material offers excellent thermal conductivity for use in semiconductor, microwave, optical, electronic and other high performance applications.

Aluminum Nitride is becoming the material of choice for thin film, thick film and DBC applications due to its high thermal conductivity eight times higher than alumina, non-toxicity, low dielectric loss and reasonable price.

Boron Carbide - B₄C

Boron carbide is one of the hardest materials known, ranking third behind diamond and cubic boron nitride.

Boron carbide is a high performance abrasive material with chemical and physical properties similar to diamonds in chemical resistance and hardness. It is so hard that is has become one of the leading grinding materials. Ceramics grades as well as nuclear grades for neutron absorption are available.

Boron carbide is available in difference shapes and sizes for a variety of applications

Additional Pressed Materials

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by FELDCO International.

For more information on this source please visit FELDCO International.