Materials

Properties

Some applications

SiC
silicon carbide

Wear resistant
Excellent chemical resistance
Good thermal shock resistance
Low density

Sliding bearings (SiC on SiC)
Mechanical seals
Cylinders
Plungers
Blast nozzles
Crucibles

Si₃N₄
silicon nitride

Wear resistant
High strength, toughness
Good thermal shock resistance
Chemical resistant
Electrically insulating or conductive (special)

Ball bearings
Dies
Valves
Crucibles
Thermocouple tubes

B₄C
boron carbide

Very hard
Wear resistant

Spray drying and powder blast nozzles
Dies
Heavy-duty armour plate
Lapping and polishing powders

BN
boron nitride

Relatively soft
Good machinable
Is not wetted by liquid metals
Electrical insulator

Crucibles
High-voltage insulators
High-temperature lubricant and positioning tools

AlN
aluminium nitride

Good heat conductivity
Chemical resistant

Heat Sinks
Substrates

ZrO₂
Zirconia

Impact resistant
Heat insulator
High strength and toughness

Welding pins
Positioning tools
Machine components

AI₂O₃
alumina

Electrical insulator
Wear resistant
Resistant to high temperatures

Components for furnaces
Thermocouple tubes
Machine components

Ruby

High surface quality
Chemical resistant

Precision balls 0.1 micron tolerance
Ball valves up to 1,000 bar

Sapphire

Transparent

Optical precision components