Technical ceramics are among the most advantageous engineering materials ever developed, characterized by a diverse range of chemical, electrical, and thermomechanical properties. From hard-wearing silicon carbide (SiC) armour plates to piezoelectric zinc oxide (ZnO), components based on fine ceramic materials have permeated a broad range of market sectors. This far-reaching applicability stems from the compositional variety of ceramic compositions.
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Alumina (Al2O3), otherwise known as aluminum oxide, is an advanced refractory belonging to the oxide group of technical ceramics. It is an extremely versatile material that can be bonded and formed using a broad range of consolidation and sintering techniques, yielding precise near-net shapes in a range of purities.Continue reading
Technical ceramics are unique among structural materials for their extraordinary performance in challenging conditions. While each specific beneficial thermal or mechanical property depends on both the underlying material and the application, technical ceramics are typically renowned for their:
There are a myriad of different welding methods available today, such as metal inert or metal active gas (MIG/MAG) welding, high-frequency electric resistance welding (HF-ERW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), and many more. Technical ceramics can be used in tandem with practically any welding type, but they are typically restricted to high-value industrial processes due to their relatively high costs.Continue reading
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Silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics offer some of the best-in-class tribological properties, with outstanding nominal fracture toughness (Syalon 101 = 7.7 MPa m1/2) and exceptional strength characteristics (compressive, flexural, etc.). This combination makes silicon nitride ideal for precise wear applications where components are subjected to significant ongoing stress throughout service: dies, weld rolls, and cutting tools for example.Continue reading
Humanity’s technical achievements have been founded on the ability to reinvent and revolutionise existing innovations. At one point in history, the use of draft animals was the height of labour efficiency. This was surpassed by the genesis of steam power which liberated manufacturers and ushered in a new age of mechanization. Gas, oil, and electricity eventually surpassed steam, and nuclear power ultimately overtook those. Each of these innovations was so profound that they have come to define three distinct eras based on their industrial capacities; also known as the first three industrial revolutions.Continue reading
Technical ceramics like sialons and zirconia are among the most advanced materials ever engineered by mankind, enabling new application areas that were practically impossible before their commercial realisation. With many technical ceramics, there is a substantial overlap between their thermomechanical and chemical properties, which can complicate ideal material selection for distinct applications. In the case of sialons and zirconia however, the materials can be easily and respectively distinguished as a non-oxide and an oxide ceramic.Continue reading
Last week two long-serving employees of International Syalons (Newcastle) Ltd. celebrated their 25 Years of Service Anniversary.
Technical ceramics represent the cutting-edge of industrial materials. Engineered to withstand some of the harshest operating conditions ever conceived, technical ceramics are increasingly pushing the frontiers of market segments around the world.
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