Ceramic materials
From structural oxides to advanced electronic ceramics, ceramics offer combinations of hardness, heat resistance, insulation and chemical stability.
Major groups
Clay products, refractories, glass and cement-based materials.
Alumina, zirconia and other oxides used for wear, insulation and high-temperature service.
Silicon carbide, silicon nitride and boron compounds for demanding thermal/mechanical applications.
Piezoelectric, dielectric, magnetic and ionic-conducting ceramics used in electronics and energy systems.
Engineering behavior
Ceramics can offer high hardness, compressive strength, temperature capability and corrosion resistance, but many are brittle and sensitive to flaws. Design therefore requires attention to fracture mechanics, thermal shock, joining and manufacturing tolerances.
