IntermediateTopic 37 of 100Materials & Chemical
Advanced ceramics
Alumina, silicon carbide and zirconia for demanding uses.
In depth
Advanced ceramics: alumina (insulators, wear parts), zirconia (toughened by transformation; dental, fuel cells), silicon carbide (abrasives, armour, power electronics), silicon nitride (bearings, turbochargers), piezoelectrics (PZT) and ceramic matrix composites for hot sections.
Key points
- Transformation toughening
- Sintering with additives
- Nitride bearings
ExampleSilicon nitride ball bearings run faster and last longer than steel in some applications.
Advanced ceramics combine hardness, heat resistance and electrical properties, so they are used in demanding engineering parts.
What is Advanced ceramics?
Alumina, silicon carbide and zirconia for demanding uses.
Why is it important to understand advanced ceramics?
Advanced ceramics combine hardness, heat resistance and electrical properties, so they are used in demanding engineering parts.
What is zirconia toughening?
Transformation of zirconia particles under stress absorbs energy and inhibits crack growth, which increases toughness.
Why is silicon carbide used in seals?
Its high hardness and wear resistance give long life in abrasive and corrosive environments.
How is Advanced ceramics used in practice?
Typical applications include making a seal ring from silicon carbide for a pump that handles abrasive slurry, using zirconia for a dental crown with high toughness and choosing alumina for an electronic substrate with good insulation.
What should I learn before Advanced ceramics?
Study "Cement and refractories" first (topic 36 of 100 in Materials & Chemical). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Advanced ceramics?
Transformation toughening. Sintering with additives. Nitride bearings.
Can you give an example of Advanced ceramics?
Silicon nitride ball bearings run faster and last longer than steel in some applications.
What comes after Advanced ceramics?
The next topic is "Polymers", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Advanced ceramics?
It is classed as Intermediate in Materials & Chemical (topic 37 of 100). It is an intermediate topic. Work through the beginner topics in Materials & Chemical first.