The term “advanced ceramic” is used to describe a certain specialized ceramic material and its components. These are used in a wide range of industries.
Where are they used?
Some applications for advanced ceramics include aerospace, marine, medical, and defense applications. These industries use the “alumina ceramic” for the ignition systems of jet engines, and medical sensors. High temperature bearings also use it.
This material comes with different ratings of purity, that vary depending on what it will be used for. It can range from 85% to up to 96%. Corrosive environments often call for a higher level of purity.
Steatite is another popular form of “advanced ceramic” that is used in many industrial applications. Electrical applications often favor it, since it possesses excellent properties for insulation. Thermostats and heating ranges use it, along with HVAC systems.
A third component is known as Zirconia, or zirconium dioxide. In recent years, it has grown in usage for applications like structural ceramics, dental ceramics, and automotive oxygen sensors. It’s very resistant to wear and tear, and also has a great mechanical strength in comparison to many other materials. This makes applications ideal for things like grinding media and bearings.
Choosing One
It is best to have a mechanical engineer assist you when it comes to selecting the right material for the job. Different types of advanced ceramics are used for different things, and you’ll also need to look at the purity rating depending on the end product and its temperature range and use.
Most companies can offer dry pressing, which is a service that allows these materials to be molded into all sorts of shapes and sizes. This gives inventors and manufacturers versatility in the build process. Unfired and post-fired options are typically available at most companies.
List of Applications
In addition to those listed above, these industries use advanced ceramics to make many different productions:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Defense
- Health care
- Lighting
- Microelectronics
- Marine systems
- Resource exploration and recovery
- Storage
- Telecommunications
As you can see, advanced ceramics have a wide variety of uses. And thanks to today’s technology, they can be used in a variety of applications through different firing and drying processes that allow them to be shaped into virtually any geometry.
Pricing
The price of materials is always changing and is dependent on multiple factors. The company you source your material from will be able to quote you depending on how much you need and how often you plan to purchase. The process they will need to use, like dry pressing for example, may also affect the final price of your materials.
The best thing to do is to contact a company (or multiple) and talk with them. They should refer you to their mechanical engineering team who will be able to assist you in locating the right material and process for the job. After you have these details figured out, you’ll be able to get a price quote and move forward in the selection process.
