Ceramics made of different materials have great differences in performance. We will introduce you to the classification and application of various ceramic materials.
Classification by Ceramic Material Composition
Ceramic materials can be roughly divided into four categories according to their composition: oxide ceramic materials, non-oxide ceramic materials, silicate ceramic materials and glass ceramic materials.
Below we will introduce you to these ceramic materials and understand their uses.
Oxide ceramic materials
Oxide ceramics are very common in both industry and daily life. In the large family of oxides, the most representative ones are alumina, zirconium oxide, silicon dioxide, etc.
Generally, oxide materials have the following distinctive characteristics:
Wear resistance: high hardness, strong wear resistance, suitable for grinding and cutting and other purposes.
High temperature resistance: the melting point is relatively high, and it has good stability in various high temperature environments. It is a very common refractory material in industry.
Corrosion resistance: the chemical properties are stable, it is not easy to react with various acids, alkalis and salts, and it is suitable for various corrosive environments.
Here are some common oxide materials:
Alumina: This is one of the most widely used ceramic materials. Ceramics sintered from alumina are used in all aspects of our lives. They can be seen in electronics, medical and industrial parts. It is one of the most basic materials in modern manufacturing!
Zirconia: Zirconia has stronger toughness than alumina. Its strong hardness and crack resistance make it suitable for high-strength applications such as dentistry and knives.
Silicon dioxide: It also has excellent strength, high-temperature stability and corrosion resistance. It is widely used in various optical devices, glass manufacturing and semiconductor industries.
Non-oxide Ceramic Materials
There are many non-oxide ceramic materials, the most common ones are nitrides, carbides, borides, etc. Non-oxide ceramic materials can be applied to various fields according to their outstanding performance. For example, nitride ceramics can be used in some turbine blades and engine parts due to their superior high temperature resistance; carbide ceramics can be widely used in various cutting applications due to their excellent hardness; borides can be used in rocket nozzles and thermal protection systems in ultra-high temperature environments.
Introducing common non-oxide ceramic materials:
Aluminum nitride: This material has excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation. It serves as a heat dissipation substrate and electronic packaging material in many electronic products and devices.
Silicon nitride: It has strong heat resistance and mechanical strength. It is often used in various engine components and high-temperature bearing structures. It is widely used in automobiles and aviation.
Silicon carbide: Silicon carbide is a material with extremely high hardness and good high-temperature resistance. It is used in some mechanical seals and wear-resistant materials. In addition, it is also widely used in high-temperature and high-pressure applications of various semiconductor devices.
Boron nitride: The hexacrystalline structure of boron nitride has good electrical insulation, heat resistance and chemical inertness. It can be used in various lubricants and refractory materials.
Glass Ceramic Materials
Glass ceramics are a composite ceramic material obtained by crystallizing glass. This material combines the advantages of glass and ceramics, making it have both the characteristics of glass and the advantages of ceramics! Glass ceramics are often used in high-temperature kitchens and are made into heat-resistant baking trays and various cooking utensils. In addition to superior hardness and heat resistance, glass ceramics also have good biocompatibility.
Silicate Ceramic Materials
Silicate ceramic materials are ceramics with silicate minerals as the main component. If they are subdivided, they can be mainly divided into two types: aluminum silicate or magnesium silicate. They are used in our daily life and construction. In the construction industry, silicate ceramics can be tiles, bricks and cement because of their superior wear resistance and excellent durability and corrosion resistance. In addition, we can also find silicate ceramic products in daily necessities, such as some ceramic tableware, sanitary ware, etc. Even in the electronics industry, silicate ceramics can also be used to make insulators and capacitors, and their application is very extensive.
Classification by Ceramic Use
Ceramics can be divided into traditional ceramics and advanced ceramics. The raw materials of traditional ceramics are commonly found in various clays, silica, feldspar, quartz, etc. These materials will form traditional ceramic products after high-temperature firing. Advanced ceramics are made of a variety of oxides, nitrides and carbides.
Different ceramics have different applications. Traditional ceramics are more inclined to daily necessities, while advanced ceramics are widely used in industry and some high-tech fields.
Glass
Glass is a common ceramic material. From the windows we see everywhere in our daily lives to the glasses we wear, many people may not know that glass is actually a silicate ceramic.
The main component of silicate ceramics is silicon dioxide (SiO2). If we add other oxides to it, the properties of the glass will change. For example, if we add sodium oxide (Na2O), the melting point of the glass will be lowered, which is more conducive to our molding; and adding aluminum oxide (Al2O3) will further improve the hardness and heat resistance of the glass; if we want to change the color of the glass, we can add some iron oxide (Fe2O3), so that the glass will appear green or brown. These measures can not only make the glass more beautiful, but also make its performance more superior.
Clay Ceramics
The most common clay ceramic products are various porcelains, such as tea sets, bowls, ceramic bottles, etc. Clay ceramics not only have superior performance, but also become very beautiful if the appearance is specially treated. They are very good for decoration and daily use.
Abrasive Ceramics
Ceramics are hard and tough, making them excellent materials for grinding and cutting. Common abrasives include diamond, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silica sand, etc.
Advanced Ceramics
There are many types of advanced ceramics, each with superior performance. These materials are widely used in aerospace, medical devices, electronic equipment, etc. due to their excellent physical and chemical properties.
Summarize
Ceramics is a diverse material that is widely used in all aspects of our lives. Its various superior properties complement each other, making it suitable for use in a variety of fields.
GORGEOUS has a wide variety of ceramic products for you to choose from, including alumina, zirconium oxide, beryllium oxide, aluminum nitride, boron nitride… If you need customized advanced ceramics, our professionals are always available to work on your ceramic project to meet your needs.