Specialty Ceramics
High-performance advanced ceramics for extreme conditions
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offers advanced specialty ceramics products, consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, Alumina and Boron Carbide materials, designed to perform reliably in the harshest conditions. These engineered solutions provide exceptional thermal stability, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength, making them ideal for high-temperature reactors, chemically aggressive processes, precision metrology, mechanical seals, thermocouple protection & gas sensors, labware operations, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Focused on durability and efficiency, Saint-Gobain’s solutions help critical industries improve reliability, minimize maintenance, and optimize operational performance.
Ceramic Labware
Made from high-purity Alundum® alumina, labware products stand up to thermal shocks and the harsh chemicals commonly encountered in laboratories. Product durability ensures precise and repeatable results in weighing, melting, and combustion tasks.
Engineered Solutions
The materials used to form our ceramic labware and labware equipment are chosen for their ability to withstand elevated temperatures and corrosive substances, while maintaining structural integrity in demanding operating environments, making them ideal for long-lasting equipment.
- Alundum® High-Purity Alumina Labware – Made from 99% fused Al₂O₃, Alundum® resists temperatures up to approximately 1450 °C under continuous use and resists most acids and alkalis (excluding hydrofluoric acid and concentrated phosphoric acid). Its strength and stability ensure suitability for repeated exposure to high-temperatures and help reduce contamination risks in sensitive processes. Alundum®products include, combustion boats with and without handle, dishes, thimbles, crucibles, filter discs and cones.
- Hexoloy® SA Sintered Silicon Carbide Labware – Produced from single-phase α-SiC, Hexoloy® SA offers extremely low porosity, high thermal conductivity, exceptional resistance to corrosion and thermal shock, and continuous service up to 1,650°C in air. We manufacture a variety of ceramic labware from this material, including crucibles, reaction vessels, and thermal transfer components designed for aggressive chemical environments or processes involving rapid temperature changes.
- AnnaMullit® Alumina Mullite Labware – Composed of alumina and mullite, AnnaMullit® exhibits excellent mechanical strength, thermal shock resistance, and stability at elevated temperatures. It can be used to fashion ceramic labware like setters, saggers, and capsules that perform reliably in corrosive atmospheres.
- Zirnorite® Zirconia-Based Ceramic Labware – Formulated from zirconia-based ceramics, Zirnorite® provides outstanding corrosion resistance, insulation, and high temperature performance when exposed to molten metals, glass, and aggressive chemical media.
- Alundum® Porous Sphere Labware – Manufactured from high-purity alumina with an extensive surface area and excellent chemical inertness, Alundum® porous spheres serve as key components in our ceramic labware for measuring foaming tendency of lubricating oils. Alundum Porous Spheres are available as Rated (certified) or Un-rated.
Material Grades and Performance Characteristics
Below are the grades, compositions, and operating properties of our available ceramic labware materials to aid in identifying the most suitable option.
| Grade | Approx. Particle Retention Size | Apparent Porosity | Composition | Maximum Use Temperature | Coeff. of Thermal Expansion (30 - 1,500°C) | Approx. Electrical Resistivity | Effect of Atmosphere | |
| Alundum® AN-788 | Fine | 0.1 micron | 35% | 91% Al2O3 | 1,450°C | 8.6x10-6 | 130.0 Megaohms at 530°C 16.0 Megaohms at 730°C 5.3 Megaohms at 890°C 1.5 Megaohms at 1020°C | Oxidizing: None Reducing: Reduction of bond constituents above 1,400°C Effect on Acids: None except HF and concentrated H3PO4 Effects of Alkalies: None except strong hot caustic solutions and fused alkalies |
| Alundum® AN-889 | Medium | 5.0 microns | 42% | 85% Al2O3 | 1,450°C | 8.6x10-6 | ||
| Alundum® AN-485 | Coarse | 20.0 microns | 47% | 85% Al2O3 | 1,450°C | 8.6x10-6 | ||
| Zirnorite® YN-756 | 25% | 92.6% Al2O3 | 1,590°C | 5.5x10-6 | High |
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FAQ
Does labware from Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories remain chemically resistant and stable when in contact with reagents and solvents at high temperature?
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics and Refractories’s Alundum Al2O3 and Zirnorite Zircon labware products are resistant to most acids and alkalies, except for HF, concentrated H3PO4, strong hot caustics and fused alkalies. Hexoloy SSiC products offer excellent corrosion resistance to a wide range of acids and bases.
Does Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offer porcelain labware?
No.
What type of materials are used by Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories for laboratory applications?
Typical materials include sintered silicon carbide, recrystallized silicon carbide, alumina mullite, and fused alumina.