Al2O3, ZrO2, SiC, Si3N4…
ChemistryTechnical ceramics is specified as Al2O3, ZrO2, SiC, Si3N4…. Density band 3.2–6 g/cm³ class.
What holds Technical ceramics together is not the nickname. Formula Al2O3, ZrO2, SiC, Si3N4…, density 3.2–6 g/cm³ class.
Meters are atlas-relative. Grades are the SKUs buyers write.
Phases
Microstructure
OrderProcessing sets grain, crystallinity or fibre orientation — the reason two lots of Technical ceramics can test differently.
Interfaces
SurfacesCoatings, oxide films, sizings or paper faces often decide weather and fire behaviour more than the bulk brochure.
Defects
FlawsInclusions, voids, knots, pinholes or residual stress start the failures that mill certificates do not list.
Grades
VariantsTechnical ceramics is a family. Grade names below are the ones buyers actually write on RFQs.
Ageing
TimeMoisture, UV, creep, hydrogen or carbonation shift properties in service. Design to the aged state.
Relative meters
Strength80
Strength is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Heat envelope96
Heat envelope is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Fire behaviour94
Fire behaviour is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Insulation46
Insulation is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Workability22
Workability is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Circularity44
Circularity is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Grades
96–99.8% Al2O3
Insulators, wear.Insulators, wear.
3Y-TZP zirconia
Knives, dental.Knives, dental.
SSiC / RBSC
Seals, armour.Seals, armour.
Si3N4
Bearings, glow plugs.Bearings, glow plugs.
AlN
Heat-spread substrates.Heat-spread substrates.
Bonds
Primary bonding
Technical ceramics holds together by ionic/covalent networks.
Secondary forces
Hydrogen bonds, van der Waals stacks or grain-boundary cohesion set toughness and moisture uptake.
Composites & fills
Fillers, fibres, plasticisers or aggregates are part of the real product, not impurities.
Environment film
Oxides, chars, sizings or paints are the layer the world actually meets.
Change the grade, the coating or the moisture and you have a different material with the same English name.
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