Technical Ceramics

Ceramics are among the earth's most flexible building materials. Ceramics are widely employed in practically all industries in addition to being used in artwork all around the world. Ceramic art has a lengthy history in most civilized societies. The ceramic idea has long been a source of inspiration for artists, as shown in anything from ancient pottery to contemporary ceramic-inspired artworks.

The evolution of ceramics has introduced the world to the new concept of "technical ceramics." The technical ceramics' qualities can be adjusted to fit a wide range of demanding situations by changing their chemical composition.

What are Technical Ceramics?

Technical ceramics refers to ceramic items created for technical applications. The variety of qualities provided by the materials used to produce components justifies the use of technical ceramics in a broad range of applications. Technical ceramics, also referred to as engineered ceramics or advanced ceramics having the best mechanical, electrical, and thermal characteristics, come in a variety of forms. Their exceptionally high purities, which are typically metal compounds mixed with oxides, carbides, or nitrides, play a part in their excellent performance.

Technical ceramics, also commonly referred to as high-performance, are actually inorganic ceramic materials that excel in areas where other materials fall short due to their unique mix of physical and thermal characteristics. They present fresh opportunities for the fields of mechanical and plant engineering, foundries, automotive, textile, electrical, and medical technology.

Advantages of Technical Ceramics

As evident from its name, technical ceramics are the ceramics that have superior qualities distinguishing them from ordinary ceramics as far as their chemical and physical characteristics are concerned. Following are some of the useful advantages:

• High Hardness

Extreme hardness (and stiffness) is one of the most typical characteristics of technical ceramics; some are up to four times harder than stainless steel. Because of their great hardness and outstanding wear resistance, many technical ceramics can maintain their exact, high-tolerance finishes for a significantly longer period of time than any other material.

• Enhanced Compressive Strength

Technical ceramics are extremely strong, but only when crushed. For instance, several technical ceramics are capable of withstanding stresses that range from 1000 to 4000 MPa. However, despite being an extremely hard metal, titanium only possesses a 1000 MPa compression strength.

• Excellent Wear Resistance

Many technical ceramics can tolerate extraordinarily high temperatures and keep their mechanical and electrical characteristics. Technical ceramics will continue to operate with consistent performance and dependability, but all metals and polymers will start to lose some of their qualities. Technical ceramics are suitable for usage in very high-temperature applications, including furnaces, jet engines, brake systems, and cutting tools, thanks to this characteristic.

• Improved Electrical Properties

The majority of technical ceramics make good electric insulators (high dielectric strength). They are particularly helpful in high-temperature applications where the mechanical and thermal qualities of conventional materials tend to deteriorate. A lot of new products have been developed as a result of the ability to mix an insulator with a structural element.

Featured Products at LSP Industrial Ceramics

LSP Industrial Ceramics offers a diverse range of technical or advanced ceramic materials to their customers, some of which are given below:

• Silicon Nitride Solutions
• Steatite Ceramic Products
• Boron Nitride
• Zirconia Ceramic
• Alumina Ceramic Products

Applications of Technical Ceramics

In this section, the application of two of the premium products of LSP Industrial Ceramics is demonstrated, i.e., Alumina & Boron Nitride.

• Alumina

Following are its useful applications:

1. Abrasives

Due to its exceptional strength and hardness, alumina is frequently utilized in a wide range of industrial abrasive materials. Similar to that, alumina can be coated to prevent abrasion.

2. Refractories

Due to its high melting point, alumina is also extensively utilized in refractory materials. It is particularly well suited to difficult applications where the refractory's strength must be maintained at high temperatures.

3. Glass

Alumina is frequently used to produce glass products, improving their strength; it has even been investigated for the possibility of producing glass that cannot shatter.

Boron Nitride

Following are some of its useful applications:

1. Lubricant

For usage as a lubricant in paints, cosmetics, pencil lead, and dental cement, boron nitride is available in hexagonal form. It is a suitable component for vacuum systems because of its lubricating feature, which manifests itself even in the presence of no gas or water molecules within the compound layers.

2. High Heat Equipment

Due to its remarkable heat resistance, the compound can be used in a wide range of applications demanding very high temperatures. Due to its thermochemical characteristics, boron nitride is a useful component of reaction vessels and crucibles.

3. Boron Nitride Nanoparticles

Boron Nitride nanoparticles have created a stir in the field of ceramics. In nanofluids, Boron Nitride nanoparticles' high heat conductivity is used. Conventional heat transfer fluids' thermal conductivity is increased by the addition of BN nanoparticles, which also improves thermal transport. For applications requiring quick cooling or heating, nanofluids can be employed in heat exchangers.