The World of High Tech Ceramics
Advanced ceramic materials make applications possible today that were virtually inconceivable just yesterday. Thanks to its unique material properties, technical ceramics is considered one of the most efficient materials of our time - and can be divided into four major ceramic material groups.
As diverse as the advantages of advanced ceramic materials are, so are the applications of technical ceramics in Medical Technology | Automotive, Mobility & eMobility | Cutting Tools | Electrical Engineering & Electronic Applications | Mechanical & Plant Engineering.
Let yourself be inspired by this unique material and its impressive performance!
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.
Materials Groups
Technical ceramics from CeramTec can be divided into four major groups of ceramic materials: Silicate ceramics, oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics and piezoceramics.
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. Piezoceramics (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.
Cutting Tools
For over 60 years the CeramTec’s SPK® brand has stood for powerful, efficient design in machining processes with ceramic cutting tools, PcBN grades and cermets. Thanks to its matching tooling systems and comprehensive application expertise, the CeramTec SPK® Solution Team is able to create practically oriented solutions in the fields of automotive engineering and aerospace, the transmission and bearing industry, in mechanical engineering and in wind power.
Electronic Applications
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.
Technical Ceramics Experiences
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.
