Specialty Ceramics
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ specialty ceramics' products help customers to address unique challenges in thermal and chemical processing, heat exchangers, industrial metrology, temperature sensing, brazing, mechanical seals, semiconductor wafer processing, sandblasting and renewable energy generation applications.
The specialty ceramics portfolio consists of a wide range of products, sold as well-known brands:
- Hexoloy® sintered silicon carbide
- Norbide® hot pressed boron carbide
- Noralide® hot pressed silicon nitride
- Silit® siliconized silicon carbide
- Advancer® N-Durance, Refrax 20E nitride bonded silicon carbide
- Alundum® Aluminum oxide materials
- Magnorite® MgO materials
- Durafrax® Alumina materials
- Lithafrax™ Lithium Aluminum Silicate inorganic fillers
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ utilize materials expertise, innovative designs, creative engineering and precision manufacturing processes to deliver reliable solutions to global customers in automotive, chemical, aerospace, non-ferrous metals, nuclear and other renewable energy, industrial pumps and sealing industries; as well as OEM equipment makers and machine shops.
Solution By Application
Click on your application to find more:
Thermocouple and Sensor Protection Tubes
Tubes and Crushable Insulators

Temperature sensors provide essential data for control of industrial manufacturing processes, but these sensors are often exposed to harsh environments.
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offers four types of silicon carbide protection tubes designed to protect sensors and ensure reliable and long-term operation. These are:
- Tubes closed at one end, for use in a wide range of applications and industries
- Tubes open at both ends, for use in industrial gas sensors
- Two types of crushable insulators, for electrically insulating thermocouple wires inside Mineral Insulated Metal Sheathed (MIMS) thermocouples and cables
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ thermocouple protection products have proven be an effective and reliable solution for industrial users for over 30 years.
Specialty Ceramics Products For Thermocouple Sensor Protection
Material | Brand | Benefits / Value Proposition | Application Recommendation |
Sintered Silicon Carbide | Hexoloy® SE |
Excellent sag resistance |
Harsh conditions |
Nitride Bonded Silicon Carbide |
Cryston® 789A |
Egonomical choice |
Non-ferrous metals |
Siliconized Silicon Carbide | Silit® SK |
Fully dense & gas tight |
Gas analyzer probes |
Recrystallized Silicon Carbide | Crystar® 2000 |
Resistant to flames |
Furnaces |
Documents
FAQ
Which material is the best suited for use in a thermocouple protection tube?
Choice of material depends on operating conditions, such as temperature, environmental chemistry, thermal cycling, fluid flow, and presence of particulates. Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ team of experts is on hand to discuss any requirements around material selection.
Can silicon carbide tubes be used with platinum wire thermocouples?
Yes. However, use of inner alumina protection tube (closed at one end) is recommended.
Does Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offer fully assembled thermocouple sensors?
No. Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories sells its products to thermocouple OEMs for sensor construction and assembly.