The World of High Tech Ceramics
Areas of application and markets for technical ceramics
As diverse as the advantages of high-performance ceramic materials are, so are the applications of technical ceramics in Automotive, Mobility & E-Mobility | Electrical Engineering & Electronic Applications | Environmental Technology & Power Engineering | Mechanical & Plant Engineering | Medical Technology
CeramTec ceramic materials
Advanced ceramic materials make applications possible today that were virtually inconceivable just yesterday. Due to their unique material properties, technical ceramics are considered to be one of the most efficient materials of our time.
Technical ceramics make decisive contributions to mobility. In the field of e-mobility, components made of high-performance ceramics have the potential to make a significant contribution to future-oriented, resource-saving and environmentally friendly mobility.
Technical ceramics are widely used in electronics and electrical engineering as well as in information and communication technology. Technical ceramics are used in a variety of applications such as circuit carriers, core materials, protective components, actuators and sensors.
Components made of ceramic materials perform their service in many technical systems and devices. Technical ceramics enable the safe functioning of plants, machines and equipment, the control of processes, the reduction of emissions and a responsible use of our resources.
Advanced ceramic materials make applications possible today that were virtually inconceivable just yesterday. Due to their unique material properties, technical ceramics are considered to be one of the most efficient materials of our time.
Advanced ceramics provide the basis for CeramTec products. This material is also referred to as technical ceramics, engineering ceramics or industrial ceramics. These terms cover many different and in part highly-specialized ceramic materials with unique mechanical, electrical, thermal and biochemical properties and property combinations.
These specific characteristics can be further developed, optimized and matched for use in technical applications. It is also possible to combine different properties. Materials like these can be used to design advanced components that perform the required tasks with optimum precision and can be light years ahead of competing materials such as metal or plastic in the respective field of application. Components made from ceramic materials are increasingly the only solution available for technical challenges that cannot be overcome with conventional materials.
Technical Ceramics Manual
The chapters of this manual include an overview of materials, manufacturing processes, ceramic-oriented component design and examples for applications.
Download nowTechnical Ceramics – Materials Groups
Technical ceramics from CeramTec can be divided into four major groups of ceramic materials: Silicate ceramics, oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics and piezo-ceramics. Silicate ceramics are the oldest type of ceramic materials for technical applications and are made primarily from natural raw materials in conjunction with alumina (aluminum oxide, aluminum silicate). The oxide ceramics group contains materials that consist primarily of metal oxides such as aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum titanate or dispersion ceramics. Non-oxide ceramics represent a materials group comprised of ceramic materials based on carbon, nitrogen and silicon compounds such as silicon carbide, silicon nitride and aluminum nitride. Piezo-ceramics (also known as functional ceramics) represent a group of materials used to convert mechanical parameters into electrical parameters or, conversely, to convert electrical signals into mechanical movement or vibration.
Technical Ceramics – Material Properties
- Flexural strength
- Biocompatibility
- Chemical resistance
- Density and stiffness (Young’s modulus)
- Compressive strength
- Electrical insulation
- Dielectric strength
- Hardness
- Corrosion resistance
- Food compatibility
- Piezo-electricity and dynamics
- Temperature resistance
- Thermal shock and fluctuation resistance
- Metalization (joining technology)
- Wear resistance
- Thermal expansion
- Thermal insulation
- Thermal conductivity
These diverse properties make it possible to use technical ceramics in a variety of applications in the automotive industry, electronics, medical technology, energy and environment and in general equipment and mechanical engineering. CeramTec’s current product portfolio comprises well over 10,000 different products, components and parts, and a broad spectrum of advanced ceramic materials along with CeramTec’s own proprietary developments based on this fascinating material.
Technical Ceramics – Experience it live
You will find technical ceramics at a number of international trade fairs and events. Moreover, a visit to the “Technical Ceramics” exhibition at the Deutsches Museum in Munich or Porzellanikon, the European Museum for Technical Ceramics in Selb, is always worthwhile. CeramTec helped develop a variety of exhibits featuring ceramic materials for both museums. We also recommend reading the article about advanced ceramics on Wikipedia and visiting the web pages of the Ceramics Industry Association, were you will find specific information on this topic.