EBB212 RAW MATERIAL AND STRUCTURAL CERAMICS

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SCHOOL OF MATERIALS AND MINERAL RESOURCES EBB 212 RAW MATERIALS & STRUCTURAL CERAMIC Title: Ceramic Oxides
Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hasmaliza bt. Mohamad
Group Member: Foo Hui Shian (108811) Chew Zhu Ann (108809) Tricia Neoh Hui Wern (108845) Aida Fitri bt Samsuddin (108805) Norasiah bt Mohd Noordin (108826)

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INTRODUCTION Ceramic formulation and adjustment technology can be approached on different levels: The oxide, the mineral, the material, the recipe and the process. If you want to understand what you are doing you first need to separate the problem into aspects that relate to each of these levels.

At the oxide level we study the relationships between the fired properties of glazes and their chemistry. Understanding what each of the oxides is bringing to the chemistry is one of the most important aspects to controlling glazes (on this level there are complicating factors of oxide interaction, issues relating to sourcing oxides from different materials, non-linear property changes with linear changes in proportion). Generally it is difficult to draw relationships between the chemistry of vitreous bodies and their physical fired properties. This is because bodies are not melted during firing as are glazes, normally firing creates conditions of crystal growth in the body. Thus bodies of similar chemistry can develop completely different crystalline matrixes and therefore different physical properties (depending on firing and mineralogy of ingredients).

Chemistry needs to be put in context with the other levels. For example, consider a glaze that is crazing: If it contains alot of Na2O3, then it has a high thermal expansion, that is almost certainly the cause. Glaze chemistry is needed to reduce the amount of sodium and substitute another flux of lower thermal expansion (which of course is also sympathetic to the glaze color, surface character, melting temperature, etc.). However if the glaze contains alot of nepheline syenite that is the material contributing the Na2O. To reduce it ceramic chemistry is needed to substitute in another sodium sourcing material. Doing this actually solves a material level issue, nepheline is slightly soluble and excessive amounts flocculate glazes (thus they require more water and then begin to settle out in the bucket). This is a mineral and process level issue.

Since many ceramic oxides have mineral and even material equivalents, it is logical that documentation be found on the proper level. For example, the oxide SiO2 is usually just called silica. The mineral quartz is SiO2 and it is a type of silica mineral. The powdered 2

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material silica that we use in recipes is also SiO2. For example, if the silica powder is being put into a glaze then it will impose a dramatic lowering effect, documentation about this belongs at the oxide chemistry level (in this area of the database). Discussion about the use of silica in bodies usually belongs on the material level since it is seen, not as an addition of chemistry, but as an aggregate, a filler and a source of glass. Theoretical information about the mineral quartz (e.g. its thermal expansion, hardness) and belong on the mineral level. Then, of course, there are normally many issues related to cost and supply, these belong on the material level. This site has a flexible linking system between all areas and records (which we regard as the most value aspect of the database) and we are constantly working on improving the links.

Description
Fired glazes are composed of oxide building blocks. Each of the oxides contributes different properties to the fired glaze and interacts with others in different ways. Understanding these gives you control.

Article
The ancient Chinese thought of glazes as being made of bones, flesh, and blood.The silica content of a glaze acts like a framework, the alumina acts to give it body, and the fluxes melt it and impart character acting as the lifeblood. In understanding fired properties, it is helpful to view materials as sources of oxides. However, remember that although it is chemically possible to supply a given oxide from many materials, often other factors make one of them preferable. For example, kaolin is an ideal source of alumina since it also imparts suspension and hardening properties to the glaze slurry. Following is a list of the major oxides. There are a multitude of textbooks with more information on this subject. However, the data is widely scattered and thus difficult to study. The best source of information is the oxides area on this website.Not only is each oxide described in detail but properties are assigned so that it can be searched by

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category. For example, if you need to produce purple you can look up the 'purple' property area and see a list of all the chemistries that produce it.

Major Oxides

SiO2 - Silicon dioxide is supplied by silica, feldspar, and kaolin. It is the principle glass forming oxide and normally comprises more than 60% of most glazes and clays. It has a low expansion and high melting temperature.

Al2O3 - Aluminum oxide is supplied by kaolin and feldspar. It combines well with silica and basic oxides to give body, durability, and stability to glazes. It has a low expansion and high melting temperature.

B2O3 - Boric oxide is supplied by borax frits, gerstley borate, (or colemanite). It is a low temperature low expansion equivalent of silica.

CaO - Calcium oxide is supplied by whiting, wollastonite, feldspar, colemanite, or dolomite. It is the principle flux in medium and high fire glazes. In higher amounts it can give matte qualities through the formation of calcium silicate crystals.

K2O - Potassium oxide is supplied by potash feldspar and cornwall stone. It is an important auxiliary flux in high temperature glazes. It has a high expansion.

Na2O - Sodium oxide is supplied by feldspar, nepheline syenite and sodium frits. A slightly more powerful flux than potassium for high temperature glazes. It has a high expansion. 4

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MgO - Magnesium oxide is supplied by talc or dolomite. At lower temperatures, it is a matting agent and opacifier; at higher temperatures, it is an active alkaline flux.

Fe2O3 , FeO, Fe3O4 - Ferrous-ferric oxide is supplied by iron oxide and stained clays. It is the most popular colorant. In a reducing atmosphere, it can act as a flux in both bodies and glazes at high temperatures.

ZnO - Zinc oxide is available in a pure state. It is a low expansion secondary flux, in moderate to higher amounts it acts to produce mattes and crystalline surfaces.

TiO2 - Titanium dioxide is available pure or in rutile. It is a complex material because of its opacifying, crystallizing, and multitude of color responses.

ZrO2 - Zirconium oxide is available in a pure state and is supplied by zircon opacifiers. It is used to opacity glazes. Zirconium has a very low thermal expansion.

BaO - Barium oxide is supplied by barium carbonate. It is a flux which encourages the growth of micro-crystals to produce attractive satin-matte surfaces. It also has unique color responses.

Li2O - Lithium oxide is supplied by lithium carbonate or lithium feldspar (i.e. spodumene). It is a powerful auxiliary alkaline flux. Its expansion is lower than soda or potash.

PbO - Lead oxide is supplied by lead frits. It reacts easily with silica to form low melting lead silicates of high gloss and deep character.

SrO - Strontium oxide is supplied by strontium carbonate. It has matting and crystallizing properties similar to barium although it produces brighter and more fusible glazes with fewer surface defects. VARIATION Oxide ceramics vary by maximum use temperature, thermal conductivity, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, electrical resistivity, average crystal size, density, and purity. The maximum use temperature is the highest temperature to which oxide ceramic materials can be exposed without degradation. Thermal conductivity is the linear heat transfer per unit area for a given applied temperature gradient. The modulus of rupture (MOR) or cross-break strength is the maximum flexural strength that oxide ceramics can withstand before failure or fracture occurs. Youngs modulus or the 5

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modulus of elasticity is a material constant that indicates the variation of strain produced under an applied tensile load. Average crystal size measures the individual grains or crystals within the microstructure of a polycrystalline material. Density is the mass per unit of area. Purity is the percentage, by weight, of major components.

Chromium Oxide Chrome oxide can yield a variety of colors: red, yellow, pink, brown, and especially green. Chrome is volatile at cone 6 and above and may jump from pot to pot causing streaks and smoky effects.

Chrome-red: needs lead glaze fired at cone 08 or below. Extremely toxic; not for functional ware. Chrome-yellow: needs lead-soda glaze fired at cone 08 or below, or will begin turning green. Extremely toxic; not for functional ware. Chrome and zinc yield brown.

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Chrome plus tin yields pink, grayed pink, and warm browns. Color depends on proportions of these oxides in glaze and in relation to each other. Small amounts of chrome plus cobalt can yield teals at cone 9 and higher when fired in reduction. Magnesia glazes aid in producing nice colors.

Cobalt Oxide Cobalt is an extremely powerful colorant that almost always produces an intense blue. Cobalt carbonate tends to be used more by potters because it has a finer particle size and is less intense. In glazes with a high magnesia content, very small amounts of cobalt can give a range from pink through blue violet. Magnesia and cobalt in glazes fired at cone 9 or higher can yield blue mottled with red, pink, and purple. Very hard to control and duplicate due to the narrow temperature and atmospheric range. Cobalt and rutile can produce in mottled and streaked effects. Cobalt with manganese and iron will yield an intense black.

Copper Oxide Copper is a strong flux which can make a glaze more glossy. At cone 8 and above, copper is volatile and can jump from pot to pot. Copper generally gives green in oxidation and red in reduction. Copper oxide is more intense than copper carbonate, as it contains more copper by weight. In alkaline glazes, copper will produce turquoise. Copper yields a lovely range of greens in lead glazes. Copper increases lead's solubility. Toxic; not for functional ware. 7

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Copper in barium high-fired glazes produce intense blue and blue-green in both oxidation and reduction. Toxic; not for functional ware. Copper in low-fire raku glazes can yield metallic copper. Over time, however, the glaze will oxidize to green.

Iron Oxides in Clay Not many potters would challenge iron's place as the most important of the ceramic colorants. Iron's natural presence in most clay bodies produces clay colors ranging from light gray to deepest brown. Under clear glazes, iron-containing clay bodies can show a very similar range of colors. Iron-containing clay bodies that have been fired but are not mature, such as bisqueware, often are a salmon or yellowish pink color. If a pot is glazed with a lower-temperature glaze and fired below the clay body's maturity temperature, a salmon, ocher or reddish brown color will show through.

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Iron Oxide Types Most iron used in glazes is introduced as red iron oxide (ferric oxide, Fe2O3). Yellow iron oxide is another form of ferric oxide; although its raw color is different, it is chemically identical to and acts the same as red iron oxide. Black iron oxide (ferrous oxide, Fe3O4) is courser and generally not used. Crocus martis is an impure iron oxide which can be used to produce speckled, rough, or spotty effects.

Iron Oxide in Glazes Generally speaking, iron produces warm colors ranging from light tan and straw to deep, rich browns. High-fire glazes containing bone ash and iron can yield persimmon reds and oranges. Iron and tin in high-fire glazes result in a mottled cream color, breaking to redbrown in thin areas. Iron fluxes in reduction atmospheres. It is less active and can sometimes even act as a refractory in oxidation atmospheres. Iron in high-fire reduction can yield lovely, delicate iron-blue and celadon green. High-fire, high-iron content glazes fired in reduction will yield glossy dark brown or brownish black. In thin areas, the iron may reoxidize during cooling. Reoxidization will result in those areas turning red or gaining red highlights.

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Manganese Dioxide Manganese is usually introduced into glazes as manganese carbonate. Black manganese dioxide is more often used in slips and clay bodies, where its coarseness yields spots and splotches. Manganese, when compared to cobalt or copper, is a fairly weak colorant. It is toxic; handle with caution, using all safety precautions. In high-alkaline glazes, manganese yields rich blue-purple or plum. At cone 6 and above, manganese produces brown. In lead glazes, manganses yields soft purple tinged with brown. Extremely toxic; not for functional ware.

Nickel Oxide Nickel oxide, when used by itself, gives notoriously unpredictable results. It can be used to produce quiet grays and browns, but nickel is almost always used to modify and tonedown the colors produced by other colorants.

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Aluminum oxide Alumina (aluminum oxide) is the most important, widely used and cost effective oxide ceramic material.The technical alumina ceramics contain at least 80% of aluminum oxide (AL2O3).Small amounts of silica (SiO2), magnesia (MgO) and zirconia (ZrO2) may be added to alumina ceramics.Addition of zirconia to alumina ceramic results in considerable increase of the material fracture toughness.

Alumina possesses strong ionic bonding, which determines the material properties: High mechanical strength (flexural strength) and hardness;

High wear resistance; High resistance to chemical attacks of strong acids and alkali even at high temperatures;

High stiffness; Excellent insulating properties; Low coefficient of thermal expansion; Good fracture toughness; Good thermal conductivity; Good biocompatibility. High temperature capabilities Outstanding easy size and shape capability Excellent dielectric properties from DC to GHz frequencies

Properties of some alumina ceramics (Materials Data) Alumina ceramic (94% alumina) Alumina ceramic (97.5% alumina) Alumina ceramic (99.8% alumina) Alumina aerogel monolith 11

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Key Properties Detailed below are tables which illustrate typical physical and mechanical properties for different purity grades of Alumina

Table 1. Typical physical properties of Alumina Property Melting point (C) Refractive index Molecular wt (g.mol1 ) f Free Energy of Formation (kJ.mol-1) 2015 1.765 101.96 -1582.4

Table 2. Typical physical and mechanical properties of 86% to 99.9% Alumina Property Alumina Grade 86% 94% 97.5% 99.5% 99.9% 99% Saph** recry.* Density 3.5 3.7 3.78 3.89 3.9 3.9 3.985 (.gcm-3) Dielectric 8.5 9.2 9.5 9 9 7.5 Constant 10.1 10.1 10.5 Dielectric 28 30 10 10 17 Strength 43 35 35 (kVmm-1) Volume >1014 >1014 >1014 >1014 >1014 >1014 >1016 Resistivity Ohm.cm Thermal 15 20 24 26 28-35 28-35 41.9 Conductivity (Wm-1K-1) Thermal Expansion Coefficient (20-1000C x10-6K-1) Specific Heat (JK-1kg-1) Compressive Strength (MPa) Modulus of Rupture

7.6

8.1

8.3

5.8

920 1800

900 2000 1750 2500

850 2200 - 2200 2600 2600 262 12 320 400

753 2100

250

330

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(MPa) Hardness (Vickers kgf.mm-2)

1500 1600

1500 - 1500 1650 1650

2500 3000

* recrystallised ** Sapphire

Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) Unlike other ceramic materials, zirconium oxide (ZrO2 also known as zirconia) is a material with very high resistance to crack propagation. Zirconium oxide ceramics also have very high thermal expansion and are therefore often the material of choice for joining ceramic and steel.

Another outstanding property combination is the very low thermal conductivity and high strength. In addition, some types of zirconium oxide ceramics can conduct oxygen ions. Components made from this material are significantly more expensive than components made of alumina ceramics.

Properties of Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) High thermal expansion (=11 x 10-6/K, similar to some types of steel) Excellent thermal insulation/low thermal conductivity (2.5 to 3 W/mK) 13

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Very high resistance to crack propagation, high fracture toughness (6.5 to 8 MPam1/2) Ability to conduct oxygen ions (used for the measurement of oxygen partial pressures in lambda probes)

Aluminum Titanate (Al2TiO5) The special feature of aluminum titanate (Al2TiO5) is its excellent thermal shock resistance. Components made of this material can withstand even the most abrupt temperature changes of several hundred degrees without damage, although they have low strength. Properties of Aluminum Titanate (Al2TiO5) Excellent thermal shock resistance (0 1,000C) Very low thermal expansion (<1x10-6K-1 between 20 and 600C) High thermal insulation (1.5 W/mK) Low Youngs modulus (17 to 20 GPa) Good chemical resistance Poor wettability with molten metals

Colour for Oxides

MgO (magnesium oxide) : white ZnO (zinc oxide) : white Al2O (aluminium(I) oxide) : unknown AlO (aluminium(II) oxide) : unknown Al2O3 (alumina,aluminium(III) oxide) : white, transparent (or in the form of sapphire/ruby almost any colour depending on the impurities present) PbO (lead (II) oxide, litharge) : red PbO (lead (II) oxide, massicot) : yellow (Same chemical formula, different crstal structures) Pb3O4 (minium,lead tetraoxide,triplumbic tetraoxide) : bright red or orange Pb12O19 : dark brown or black PbO2 (lead dioxide, lead (IV) oxide, plumbic oxide) : black Pb2O3 (Lead sesquioxide, Lead trioxide, Pulmbous pulmbate) : orange yellow Na2O2 (sodium peroxide) : yellow to white Na2O (sodium oxide) : white 14

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NaO2 (sodium superoxide) : yellow Cu2O (Copper (I) oxide, cuprous oxide) : red CuO (Copper (II) oxide, cupric oxide) : black CaO (calcium oxide, quicklime) : white to pale yellow K2O2 (potassium oxide) : pale yellow MnO (manganese (II) oxide, manganese monoxide) : green Mn3O4 (manganese (II,III) oxide, manganomanganic oxide) : red or brown Mn5O8 (manganese (II,IV) oxide) : unknown Mn2O3 (manganese (III) oxide) : brown or black MnO2 (manganese dioxide) : black MnO3 (manganese trioxide) : red Mn2O7 (manganese (VII) oxide) : dark red HgO (mercury (II) oxide, mercuric oxide, mercury oxide) : red or orange Li2O (litium oxide) : white Li2O2 (lithium peroxide) : white LiO2 (lithium superoxide) : yellow TiO2 (titanium dioxide, titanium (IV) oxide, titania) : white Ti2O3 (titanium (III) oxide) : violet black TiO (titanium (II) oxide) : bronze FeO (iron (II) oxide, ferrous oxide, rusted iron) : black Fe3O4 (iron (II,III) oxide) : black Fe2O3 (iron (III) oxide, ferric oxide, ferric iron, rust) : red-brown CoO (cobalt (II) oxide) : olive-green to red, or grey or black Co2O3 (cobalt (III) oxide) : black Co3O4 (cobalt (II,III) oxide) : black As2O5 (Arsenic pentoxide) : white As2O3 (arsenic trioxide, arseneous oxide) : white SnO (tin (II) oxide) : blue-black, or red SnO2 (tin dioxide, tin (IV) oxide, stannic oxide) : white Remarks: Colors in glazes are effected by the clay, slips, stains, or underglazes below them. Most ceramic colors, however, are a result of metallic oxides being dispersed in the fabric of

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the glaze itself. Under varying circumstances, these colorants can give very different results.

Other Colorants
Other colorants that are used less often include: Antimony: used for yellow in low-fire glazes. Cadmium and Selenium: very similar, producing bright reds. Both burn out extremely easily.Toxic; not for functional ware. Gold: gives a range of pink, red and purple. Ilmenite: as a colorant, very similar to black iron oxide. Iron Chromate: produces shades of gray, brown and black. Iron chromate plus tin may produce a pink or reddish brown; if applied with a brush, can yield black hazed or haloed by pink. Platinum: gives gray. Silver and Bismuth: used in luster overglazes. Uranium Oxide: gives red, coral and yellow colors. Note: even fired into a glaze, uranium remains radioactive. Toxic; handle with care. APPLICATION Oxide ceramics are used in a variety of applications. Examples include chemical and materials processing, electrical and high voltage power applications, radio frequency (RF) and microwave applications, and foundry and metal processing. Industrial ceramic materials are used to fabricate optical components such as lenses, windows, prisms, and optical fibers. They are also used in the manufacture of semiconductors and parts and tooling. Refractory ceramics have high melting points and are suitable for applications requiring high wear resistance, high temperature strength, electrical or thermal insulation, or other specialized characteristics. Structural components use oxide ceramic materials that have higher compressive strengths and elastic moduli than metals.

The requirements based on mechanical components, special-purpose machinery and mass-produced articles are constantly increasing as technological concepts progress. Once the possibilities for making improvements in design and structural 16

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aspects are exhausted, research concentrates on the different properties of working materials. Much wider use is being made of ceramics in new applications, since these working materials possess a range of extraordinary properties. With them, it is often possible to realise a concept which would not be possible with metal components. For example, oxide ceramics have a decisive effect on the design and construction process. The physical working material specifications given in the table below have to be interpreted correctly, in order to find the best solution for the problem in hand. Finding the appropriate techniques of fastening ceramics to the mostly metal components of a device often places heavy demands on structural aspects. Different heat expansion coefficients of metals and ceramics and the brittleness resulting from the high degree of hardness of ceramics also have to be incorporated into the design concept. Alumina Oxide Aluminum ceramics parts are manufactured by the following technologies: uniaxial (die) pressing, isostatic pressing, injection molding,extrusion and slip casting. The parts may be machined in "green" condition before sintering (firing).Aluminum ceramics are widely used in electronics and electrical engineering, metallurgical processes, chemical technologies, medical technologies, mechanical engineering, military equipment. Aluminum ceramics are used for manufacturing insulators, capacitors, resistors, furnace tubes, sealing refractory parts, foundry shapes, wear pads, thermocouple protection tubes, cutting tools and polishing/grinding powders, ballistic armor, laboratory equipment, bio-ceramic parts for orthopedic and dental surgery, bearings With such a range of composition and properties, alumina ceramics find a wide range of applications. Some of the major application areas can be grouped as shown in table 3. % Al2O3 >99.6 >99.8 >99.6* (recrystallised) 95 99.5 80 - 95 90 - 99.6 80 - 90 Table 3. Example applications for a range of Aluminas Grain size Porosity Applications Area Fine closed Electrical, Engineering, Biomedical Fine zero Lamp tubes, Optical Medium closed High temperature uses Fine Fine Fine/Coarse Fine/Coarse closed closed open open General electrical, engineering Low duty electrical (spark plugs) Filter media Abrasive

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High Temperature and Aggressive Environments Its high free energy of formation makes alumina chemically stable and refractory, and hence it finds uses in containment of aggressive and high temperature environments. Wear and Corrosion Resistance The high hardness of alumina imparts wear and abrasion resistance and hence it is used in diverse applications such as wear resistant linings for pipes and vessels, pump and faucet seals, thread and wire guides etc. Biomedical High purity aluminas are also used as orthopaedic implants particularly in hip replacement surgery. Metal Cutting Tools The high hot hardness of alumina have led to applications as tool tips for metal cutting (though in this instance alumina matrix composites with even higher properties are more common) and abrasives. Milling Media Alumina is used as milling media in a wide range of particle size reduction processes. Microwave Components The high dielectric constant coupled with low dielectric loss particularly at high frequencies leads to a number of microwave applications including windows for high power devices and waveguides. Electrical Insulation The high volume resistivity and dielectric strength make alumina an excellent electrical insulator which leads to applications in electronics as substrates and connectors, and in lower duty applications such as insulators for automotive spark plugs

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Aluminium Titanite The good thermal shock resistance is a result of the very low thermal expansion and a certain amount of porosity in the microstructure. This ceramic materials poor wettability with molten metals also makes it ideal for use in foundry technology and metallurgical melting.

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Mixed Ceramics/Dispersion Ceramics

Oxide mixed ceramics or dispersion ceramics are developments of mixtures of different basic ceramic material types specifically designed to enhance and optimize certain properties.

Examples include alumina toughened zirconia (ATZ) and zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA). One positive effect of reinforcing one oxide with the other is the strength properties that can be achieved. There are ZTA materials that can achieve flexural strengths of 1,350 MPa and compressive strengths of over 4,700 MPa. These materials are used in components that demand maximum reliability, such as those used in hip joint balls and cup inserts for orthopedic and arthroplasty applications.

Characteristic Example of a Mixed Oxide Ceramic Strength up to 1,350 MPa Weibull modulus up to 14 (a measure of material reliability) Compressive strength up to 4,700 MPa Fracture toughness: 6.4 MPam1/2 Vickers hardness HV1: 17 GPa

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Piezo-ceramics A piezoelectric ceramic composition including a perovskite-type oxide, wherein the perovskite-type oxide has Na, K, Li, Ba and Sr at the A site and Nb, Ta and Zr at the B site, and has a crystal phase transition in a temperature range of 50 to 150 C. Piezo-ceramics are used to convert mechanical parameters, such as pressure and acceleration, into electrical parameters or, conversely, to convert electrical signals into mechanical movement or vibration.

Piezo-ceramic materials are categorized as functional ceramics. In sensors they make it possible to convert forces, pressures and accelerations into electrical signals, and in sonic and ultrasonic transducers and actuators they convert electric voltages into vibrations or deformations. Piezo-ceramic materials are classified according to their chemical composition on the one hand, and by the specific application conditions on the other. CeramTec distinguishes between the following material categories: Materials for power transducers (ultrasonic applications) 21

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Materials for sensors (ultrasonic transmitters and receivers) Materials for actuators (precision positioning or injection systems) Materials for special applications

Contacting of the metalized piezo-ceramics can be made using conductive adhesives, conductive rubbers, spring contacts or via soldering.

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Piezo-ceramics have a wide range of uses. Piezo-ceramics are used in the automotive industry in a number of applications such as in knock and oil level sensors or as actuators for precise control of injection processes in engines. In medical technology piezo-ceramic components can be found in lithotripters, devices for plaque removal and in inhalers. Common applications in mechanical engineering include ultrasonic cleaning, ultrasonic welding and active vibration damping. Pickups for musical instruments or piezo-electric gas igniters are examples for the use of piezo-electric technology in consumer applications.

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Silicate Ceramics Early developments in the field of technical ceramics began with the use of silicate ceramics for electrical insulation. Silicate ceramics are manufactured for the most part from natural raw materials. Very different types of multiphase ceramics can be produced with different properties by varying the type and quantity of raw materials. Silicate ceramic materials include: Porcelains: Alkali aluminum silicates (Type C1xx) Steatites: Magnesium silicates (Type C 2xx) Cordierites: Alkaline earth silizium silicates (Type C 4xx) Mullites: Alumina-silicon oxide compositions (Type C 6xx)

Silicate ceramic components are used in electronics and electrical engineering and act as electrical insulation in fuses, circuit breakers, thermostats and in lighting technology. The ability of silicate ceramic materials to provide thermal insulation is also utilized in heating, environmental and thermal engineering applications. Porous components are produced for the emission of fragrances and insecticides, as carriers for catalysts or for various applications in laboratories. Precision components for applications in measurement technology and products for laboratory use. Properties of Silicate Ceramics Very good electrical insulation (1x1010 to 1x1013 cm) Minimal to moderate linear expansion (0.4x10-6K-1 to 6x10-6K-1) Excellent thermal shock resistance (250 to 610 K) Low thermal conductivity (2 to 4 W/mK) Flexural strengths from 80 to 180 MPa

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Zirconium oxide ceramics Tools for wire forming, as auxiliaries in welding processes, as materials for crowns and bridges in the dental industry, as insulating rings in thermal processes, and as oxygen measurement cells in lambda probes.

Pumps in the chemical industry Due to low friction values, wear resistance and corrosion resistance (aluminium oxide)

Miniature bead mill for the laboratory The rotor, cooled grinding basket and lid are made of ceramics, thus avoiding any contact of the grinding stock with metal.

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Moulding Zirconium oxide withstands this wear and chemical attack much better than metal. It forming a dry pressing, isotactic pressing, slip casting, heat-pressed molding, cast molding, injection molding, plastic extrusion ,colloidal coagulation and so on.

Tweezers Tweezers made from high-efficiency ceramics are being increasingly used for technological applications and in medicine thanks to their outstanding properties. These full body Zirconia Ceramic Tweezers are useful for demanding requirements for high grade application in clean rooms, chemistry, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, analytical chemistry, biotechnology and nanotechnology. The zirconia ceramic tweezers exhibit a smooth surface with a very low friction coefficient. They are light weight, fully anti-magnetic, contamination-free, solder-resistant, wear-resistant and non-conductive (both thermally and electrically). Unlike metallic working materials, the ceramic substance is nickel-free, which means that users also do not need to worry about nickel allergies. 26

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Other features are: Excellent resistance to strong acids except hydrofluoric acid Temperature resistance to 1500C Well suited for soldering applications Can be sterilized with microwaves Free from metallic contamination 6x harder than stainless steel, 2x harder than carbon steel.

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REFERENCE
1. http://digitalfire.com/4sight/oxide/al2o3.html 2. http://www.friatec.com/content/friatec/en/Ceramics/FRIALIT-DEGUSSIT-OxideCeramics/Downloads/downloads/A.Heitmann_Oxide_Ceramics.pdf 3. http://ruby.colorado.edu/~smyth/min/tio2.html 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_dioxide 5. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825210000656 6. http://chemistry.about.com/cs/inorganic/a/aa032503a.htm 7. http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/DGTtxt/Pages657_663.pdf 8. Fundamentals of ceramics, M. W. Barsoum, Institute of Physics Publishing, 2003 9. Raw materials for glass and ceramics, Christopher W. Sinton, Wiley, 2006 10. Ceramic Materials, C. Barry Carter, M. Grant Norton, Springer, 2007

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