Передача тепла керамическими материалами: 10 лучших вариантов для различных применений

Modern electronics generate more heat than ever before. You need ceramic materials that can help you move this heat quickly and safely. Poor heat management destroys expensive equipment and creates safety risks in today’s high-performance applications. Choosing the right ceramic thermal conductivity materials makes the difference between system success and costly failures.

What Makes Ceramics Excel At Heat Transfer

Ceramic thermal conductivity works through crystal vibrations called phonons. You get electrical insulation combined with heat conduction something metals cannot provide. Thermal shock resistance helps ceramics survive rapid temperature changes while chemical stability means longer-lasting heat transfer properties with less maintenance.

Best 10 Ceramic Materials For Excellent Thermal Conduction

1. Beryllium oxide (BeO) - Maximum Thermal Conductivity Champion

Thermal conductivity: 200-330 W/mK

Beryllium oxide achieves the highest thermal conductivity among oxide ceramic materials. This performance is comparable to many metals while maintaining excellent electrical insulation.

Applications of thermal conduction

• Electronics cooling for high-power devices

• Aerospace thermal management systems

• Nuclear reactor components

• Laser heat sinks

Main advantages: BeO provides maximum heat transfer efficiency while being lightweight. Because the thermal expansion factor is low, it matches silicon and is suitable for semiconductor applications.

Important Limitations: Beryllium compounds are toxic during processing. Requires certified suppliers with appropriate safety protocols. Because of the high cost, use is limited to important applications.

2. Aluminum Nitride (AlN) - Electronics Industry Standard

Thermal conductivity: 150-250 W/mK

Aluminum nitride combines excellent thermal conductivity with excellent electrical insulation. This balance makes it the most widely used high performance ceramic material for electronics.

Applications of thermal conduction

• LED heat sink for lighting system

• Electronic substrates for semiconductors

• Power Electronics Package

• Microprocessor cooling solution

Main advantages: AlN maintains stable thermal properties up to 1000 ° C. Its thermal expansion coefficient is perfectly consistent with silicon for reliable electronic component assembly.

Commercial Benefits: Mass production has significantly reduced the cost of aluminum nitride. Now, you can cost-effectively specify AlN for neutral applications.

3. Silicon Carbide (SiC) - Specialist In High Temperature Heat Transfer

Thermal conductivity: 120-250 W/mK

Silicon carbide excels in heat transfer applications at extreme temperatures. Maintain thermal conductivity and mechanical strength even in places where other ceramics are completely out of function.

Heat Transfer Applications

• Heat exchanger for chemical processing

• High temperature furnace parts

• Electric Vehicle Power Electronics

• Gas turbine heat management

Main advantages: SiC corresponds to temperatures above 1500 °C while conducting heat efficiently. Excellent chemical resistance and effective in corrosive environments.

Design advantages: silicon carbide components reduce system weight compared to metal alternatives. This helps automotive and aerospace applications achieve efficiency goals.

4. Boron Nitride (BN) - Machinable Thermal Conductors

Thermal conductivity: 20 to 300 W/mK (depending on type and direction)

Boron nitride provides its own advantages to custom thermal conduction solutions. You can easily process complex shapes while achieving excellent thermal performance.

Heat transfer applications

• Thermal interface materials for electronics

• Heat spreader for LED assembly

• High temperature crucible

• Thermal Control Film

Main Advantages: Boron nitride is machined like graphite, but electrically insulated. Boron nitride cubic crystal approaches diamond hardness with excellent thermal conductivity.

Advantages of processing: BN does not require diamond tools for machining. This significantly reduces the production cost of complex heat transfer components.

5. Diamond Ceramics (Polycrystalline) - Ultimate Thermal Conductivity Performance

Thermal conductivity: 1000-2000 W/mK

Diamond ceramics provide the highest thermal conductivity available in any material. This extreme performance justifies costs in specialized heat transfer applications.

Heat Transfer Applications:

• Laser diode heat sinks

• High-power RF device cooling

• Cutting tool thermal management

• Specialized electronic packages

Key Advantages: Nothing matches diamond’s heat transfer efficiency. You get maximum thermal performance with excellent hardness and chemical stability.

Cost Considerations: Diamond ceramics cost significantly more than other options. Use them only when maximum thermal conductivity is absolutely required for system performance.

6. Silicon Nitride(si₃n₄) - Strong Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity: 15-180 W/mK

Silicon nitride maintains a balance between ceramic heat conductivity and excellent mechanical properties. This combination is suitable for demanding heat transfer applications.

Heat transfer applications

• Automotive Engine Parts

• Gas turbine heat parts

• High temperature bearing

• Semiconductor Process Equipment

Main benefits:  Si3N4 are stronger in thermal shock and mechanical stress than most ceramics. Its toughness prevents failure under harsh usage conditions.

Reliability benefits: Silicon nitride maintains thermal properties throughout thousands of temperature cycles. This reduces maintenance costs for industrial heat transfer systems.

7. Titanium Diboride (TiB₂) - Specialist In High Temperature

Thermal conductivity: 60-120 W/mK

Titanium diboride effectively conducts heat to accommodate extreme temperatures. Due to its stability, it is valuable in special thermal conduction applications.

Thermal conduction applications

• Molten metal processing equipment

• High temperature crucible

• Advanced Cutting Tools

• Aerospace Heat Parts

Main Advantages: Because titanium diboride is chemically inert, it is resistant to deterioration by molten metal.

Application: Titanium diboride is used when reliable thermal conduction is required in extremely harsh environments where other materials cannot be used.

8. Aluminum Oxide (alumina- Al₂O₃) - Cost Effective Thermal Conductors

Thermal conductivity: 20-39 W/mK

Aluminum oxide provides you reliable ceramic heat conductivity  at reasonable cost. Recent developments have greatly improved the thermal conductivity of premium grades.

Thermal conduction applications

• General Electronic Equipment Packaging

• Consumer LED Heat Sink

• Electrical insulation for heat dissipation

• Industrial heating element

Key Benefits: Alumina provides the best balance of performance, availability and cost for moderate thermal conduction needs.

Economic benefits: Standard aluminum oxide is much cheaper than luxury ceramics. Suitable thermal management without excessive use of expensive materials.

9. Magnesium Oxide (MgO) - Electrical Insulation With Thermal Conduction

Thermal conductivity: 40 to 60 W/mK

Magnesium oxide has excellent ceramic heat conductivity and electrical insulation. Therefore, it is useful for electrical heat transfer applications.

Heat transfer applications

• Electrical insulators that require heat dissipation

• Heat resistant parts

• Heating element support

• High voltage heat management

Main advantages: MgO maintains electrical insulation while conducting heat efficiently. High temperature stability and suitable for electrical applications.

Precautions in processing Magnesium oxide absorbs moisture in the air. Proper storage and handling are necessary to maintain material properties during processing.

10. Zirconia (ZrO₂) - Thermal Insulation To Control Thermal Conduction

Thermal conductivity: 2–3 W/mK

Цирконий controls thermal conduction for thermal barrier applications. The thermal conductivity is low, but this property is valuable for certain applications.

Thermal conduction applications

• Insulation coating

• Furnace insulation system

• Engine heat protection

• Heat resistant lining

Main advantages: Zirconia has excellent heat shock resistance and high temperature stability. Low thermal conductivity protects the underlying parts.

Design applications: Use zirconia when it is necessary to limit, rather than to promote heat transfer. This ceramic helps to form thermal barriers in high temperature systems.

Heat Transfer Performance Comparison

How To Choose Ceramic Materials Suitable For Heat Transfer Applications

Performance Requirements Analysis

Before choosing a material, figure out what you actually need:

• Your thermal needs: Most projects work without problems with moderate thermal conductivity rather than expensive premium options.

• Temperature range: Silicon carbide corresponds to abnormal high temperatures, while aluminum nitride performs best at below 1000 °C.

• Heat Load: Calculate the amount of heat you need to actually move.

• Environment: Think about exposure to chemicals, heat cycles and mechanical stress - these are as important as thermal numbers.

Cost-To-Performance Optimization

• Total cost analysis: Premium ceramic materials often reduce system complexity and operating costs, although initial costs are high.

• Production considerations: In mass production applications, molds are justified for optimizing expensive materials such as aluminum nitride.

• Supplier Evaluation: Work with certified suppliers who provide technical support and consistent material properties for critical heat transfer applications.

Selection Guide By Application

Choose the right material for your actual use:

• Electronics cooling: Using aluminum nitride or beryllium oxide provides excellent thermal conductivity while maintaining electrical safety. Ideal for LED heat sinks, chip packages and high temperature power electronics.

• High temperature materials: Silicon carbide и titanium diboride are allies when things get unusually hot. These are effective in places where other materials are used, such as heat exchangers, furnace parts and gas turbine parts.

• Low budget project: Aluminum oxide и magnesium oxide are effective when appropriate thermal conductivity is required without spending much money. Suitable for excessively flashy materials such as general electronics, daily necessities and basic cooling.

• Strange shape: Boron nitride is great because it can be processed to any funny shape if necessary. Ideal for thermal interfaces, special parts and prototypes that do not work well with standard shapes.

Final Consideration

Select ceramic materials based on actual heat transfer needs rather than maximum thermal conductivity. The best solution is to balance performance requirements and cost constraints for specific applications and conditions of use. Contact GGSCERAMIC for expert guidance on selecting ceramic materials suitable for heat transfer applications.