Technical ceramics
Technical Ceramic Material Selection
Ceramic selection should begin with the dominant service requirement: electrical insulation, thermal conduction, wear, fracture resistance, temperature or vacuum compatibility.
Oxide ceramics
Alumina is widely considered for electrical insulation, vacuum components and wear-resistant parts. Zirconia is evaluated where toughness, impact resistance and low thermal conductivity are more important.
Nitride ceramics
Aluminium nitride is evaluated for electrically insulating components requiring efficient heat transfer. Silicon nitride is considered for demanding mechanical, wear and thermal-shock conditions.
Carbides and machinable materials
Silicon carbide is associated with stiffness, wear resistance and high-temperature use. Boron nitride grades may be selected for machinability, electrical insulation and high-temperature fixtures, subject to grade and atmosphere.
Drawing requirements
A manufacturable drawing should identify material grade, dimensions, tolerances, surface finish, flatness, hole and thread details and any inspection requirements.
- Material and grade
- Critical dimensions/tolerances
- Surface finish
- Flatness/parallelism
- Operating temperature
- Electrical or thermal requirement