A ceramic is an inorganic, non metallic solid prepared basically by the action of heat and instant cooling. The materials made by ceramic may have crystalline or partially crystalline structure. It may also be amorphous. The type of material is used widely in our daily routine. The category of material includes plates, glass, and bricks etc. Depending upon the type of formation, ceramic can be dense or lightweight. It can also be formed to serve as materials preventing the flow of electricity, electrically conductive materials, objects allowing electricity to pass through their mass, or insulators.
Even there are some ceramics (like superconductors) that also displays magnetic properties. Once the ceramic product is shaped, it is heated under high temperature ovens commonly known as kilns. There are different types of ceramics:-
1. Silicon Nitride
Due to thermal shock resistant property, silicon nitride is preferred over other ceramic materials. It provides an excellent blend of high strength, low thermal expansion, low density, good corrosion resistant as well as fracture toughness.
Its application includes:-
i. Aerospace and automotive engine components
ii. Armor
iii. Burner nozzles
iv. Papermaking machine wear surfaces
v. Molten metal processing parts
2. Zirconia
This ceramic material is popular for its high strength and high toughness property at room temperature. The fine grain size of it makes it perfect for smooth surfaces and sharp edges. The applications of zirconia are in:-
i. Slitters
ii. Knives
iii. Scissors
iv. Metal forming tools
v. Fixtures
iv. Wire drawing rings
vii. Bearing sleeves and valves
viii. Pump shafts
3. Alumina
It is most commonly used ceramic material. Main features of this material consists high performance, high strength, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and affordable price. The main advantage of Alumina lies in its high dielectric property that makes them suitable to be used in electronic products. Alumina ceramic has its application in these industries:-
i. Semiconductor processing equipment parts
ii. Armor
iii. Faucet disc valves
iv. Electronic substrate
v. Industrial machine components
vi. Seals
4. Sapphire
Silicon crystal sapphire offers excellent mechanical properties. It is also offer high chemical stability which is coupled with light transmission. Applications of sapphire ceramic include:-
i. POS scanner window
ii. Gas carrier plate
iii. Microwave plasma windows and tubes
iv. Blue LED
v. Fixtures for high temperature equipment
5. Silicon Carbide
This ceramic material has superior corrosion resistance than all other advanced ceramic materials. It also maintains its strength at temperature even about 1400 Celsius. It also provides thermal shock resistance and high wear resistance. Silicon carbide is used in variety of applications and these are:-
i. Mechanical seals
ii. Nozzles
iii. Pump parts
iv. Armor
v. Silicon wafer polishing plates
After describing types of ceramics, it is the time to mention about different types of products that are manufactured from ceramic. For convenience or ease of people, these ceramic products have been categorized into four categories. Let's have a look over it:-
1. Structural
It includes bricks, floors, pipes, and roof tiles
2. Refractories
Refractories include gas fire radiants, kiln linings, steel, and glass making crucibles
3. Whiteware
Examples of whiteware are wall tiles, tableware, sanitary ware, and pottery products
4. Technical
It can further be classified into three parts:-
i. Oxides
Its examples are zirconia and alumina
ii. Non oxides
Its examples are Carbides, borides, nitrides, silicides
iii. Composites
Examples are particulate reinforced, combinations of oxides and non-oxides
Reputed delite ceramic Machinery manufacturer equipment are supplying all types of ceramics. These manufacturers also have wide online presence so that customers can easily find them. Hope the information was useful!
