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Technical ceramic
0.8-45 usd/kg
Technical ceramics, also called advanced ceramics, are a group of very hard, inert, and dimensionally stable oxides, carbides and nitrides. They are formed from powder, solid or gas, into engineering components and coatings used in some of the most demanding and extreme applications.
The chemical composition of these materials is carefully controlled and adjusted to suit the requirements of an application. 3D shapes are formed by pressing a powder into shape, CNC machining and sintering (fusing with heat). A range of processes exist for this, including those suitable for high volumes, such as die pressing (compacting into a mould) and ceramic injection moulding (a binder is added to the powder to help it flow into the mould under pressure). Isostatic pressing is used for smaller volumes. Powder is placed into a flexible mould (membrane) and pressure is applied by liquid or gas. With cold isostatic pressing (CIP), a second sintering step is required. In the case of hot isostatic pressing (HIP), the powder is sintered as it is formed, resulting in superior mechanical properties and surface finish.
With these processes it is possible to make parts with extremely precise dimensions and very thin wall sections. Applications span aerospace, architecture, military, industrial, automotive, electrical and medical applications.
As well as bulk 3D parts, technical ceramics are applied as coatings onto metal, glass and plastic by vacuum deposition. This technique is used by many industries – tooling, solar panels, medical, lighting, consumer products, jewellery and so on – to create thin film ceramic coatings for enhanced protection, performance and colour.
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Sustainability concerns
Non-renewable ingredients
Raw material generates polluting by-products
Low circularity potential
Technical ceramics are applied as a thin-film coating, down to just a few microns, on a range of substrates by vacuum deposition.
– Titanium nitride (TiN, Ti-N), dark gold, formed by depositing titanium in a nitrogen atmosphere. It is extremely hard and durable up to around 450 degC, and used on titanium, steel and aluminium to enhance surface properties in architectural, tooling, jewellery and medical applications.
– Titanium carbonitride (TiCN, Ti-C-N), rose gold, formed with titanium, a tiny amount of carbon and nitrogen. Compared to TiN it has enhanced lubricity, and is used in tooling to enhance corrosion resistance and reduce the use of lubricant.
– Zirconium nitride (ZrN, Zr-N), light gold, is slightly more expensive than TiN and TiCN, and slightly higher performing in cutting and sliding applications.
– Aluminium titanium nitride (AlTiN, Al-Ti-N), black, and titanium aluminium nitride (TiAlN, Ti-Al-N), purple, were developed from TiN and offer higher mechanical properties at elevated temperatures, up to 800 degC.
– Chromium nitride (CrN, Cr-N), silver, is not quite as hard as TiN, but performs better at higher temperatures, up to 700 degC. It outperforms hard chrome.
– Aluminium chromium (AlCr, Al-Cr), dark grey, has very high resistance to oxidisation, up to around 1,000 degC. It is applied to mechanically and thermally highly stressed tools for machining.
– Zirconium nitride (ZrN, Zr-N) and zirconium carbonitride (ZrCN) coatings show blue, golden brown or bronze colours, with colour depending upon the precursor composition. By mixing zirconium with reactive gases, it is possible to produce colours not possible with natural metals. They are extremely durable with high resistance to wear.
– Silicon nitride (SiN, Si-N), blue, has very good chemical, wear and optical properties. It is used in solar panels (photovoltaics) for example, as an anti-reflective coating (ARC), and is why they may appear blueish – colours depends on thickness, ranging from gold through purple and blue. Plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) is the coating method.
