Ceramics
At CERAM, our extensive experience of ceramic materials extends from those used in traditional areas, such as tableware, sanitaryware, tiles and refractories, to advanced technical ceramics, seen in industries as diverse as aerospace, medical and communications.
CERAM began life as the British Refractories Research Association in 1920 and merged with the British Ceramics Research Association in the late 1940s. Over those 90 years we have helped the ceramic industry move from craft-based activities to efficient and sophisticated industrial operations and now, our knowledge of advanced technical ceramics, combined with our expertise in materials and process development is helping manufacturers to develop new products, processes and applications.
Why Use Ceramic Materials?
- They offer combinations of properties, making them uniquely suited to certain high performance applications
- Often they are the only class of materials which can operate in hostile environments
- They are, generally, hard, stiff, and resistant to high temperatures
- Some ceramic materials can be fabricated to yield specific properties such as piezoelectrics, superconductors, optical and magnetic properties and biocompatibility.
Different Ceramic Materials - Different Properties
- Traditional ceramics – aesthetic, non toxic, easy clean
- Zirconia – biocompatible, strong, stiff, tough, ion conducting, thermally insulating, corrosion resistant
- Alumina - biocompatible, strong, stiff, electrically insulating, hard, impact resistant
- Complex oxides (Titanates, Stannates, Cuprates and Ferrites) – dielectric, piezoelectric, environmental, magnetic, superconductive
- Silicon nitride – strong, thermally conductive, thermal shock resistant, corrosion resistant
- Silicon carbide - strong, thermally conductive, thermal shock resistant, corrosion resistant, electrically conductive
- Aluminium nitride – thermally conductive, impact resistant
- Boron nitride - thermally conductive, thermal shock resistant, corrosion resistant, electrically conductive
- Boron carbide – hard, abrasion resistant, low density, high neutron capture cross section
- Steatite and Cordierite - electrically insulating, tailored thermal expansion, thermal shock resistant.
Different Industries - Different Applications
| Industrial Sector | Application Examples |
|---|---|
| Domestic and construction | Tableware, tiles and sanitaryware |
| Medical | Joint prostheses, dental crowns, retainers, sensors, actuators |
| Industrial Components | Wear resistant components, cutting blades, structural components, sensors, rotating shaft seals, high temperature crucibles, evaporation boat, neutron absorbers |
| Energy | Fuel cells, electronic substrates, accelerometers, antennas, fuel cells, electrodes, electrical insulators, furnace components |
| Aerospace & Defence | Thermal barrier coatings, ballistic armour, piezo-electrics, electric motors, sensors, wear parts |
| Automotive | Spark plug insulators, optical components, water pump seals |
| Electronic | Capacitors, resistive and semiconducting components, substrates |
Ceramics Projects at CERAM
- Design and development of thermal barrier coatings, layers and components
- Ceramic materials innovation for stronger, lighter design of protective personnel and vehicle armour
- Materials selection, integrated component design and testing for extreme temperature and shock in operation
- Long-term evaluation of ceramic materials and component performance in simulated use
- Rational materials selection of ceramics and design for minimised environmental impacts
- Ceramics component design and near net shape fabrication processes
- Process improvement for bio-ceramic materials
- Batteries and energy generation
- Electroceramics and printed electronics
- Studies into Rapid Manufacturing as a Tool for Advanced Ceramics
- Additives for Improved Workability of Whiteware Bodies
- Microwave Assisted Firing of Engineering Ceramics
- Additive Optimisation for Improved Ceramics (ADOPTIC)
- Nano Structured Thermal Barrier Coatings.