Spotlighting High-Performance Materials – from Alumina to Zirconia

High-performance materials run the gamut in terms of their composition and properties, but the cutting-edge is occupied by precision-made oxide and non-oxide ceramics. Through decades of innovation, the Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories team has curated a range of market-leading products based on tried-and-trusted chemistries and the latest processing techniques.

This article puts the spotlight on the high-performance materials that we supply to various market segments.

Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) is an extremely popular technical ceramic that is available in a choice of grades classified by purity and density. The highest purity (<99/99%) aluminum oxides can be generated via blending, casting, pressing, and a choice of other methods depending on the end-user requirements. It is possible to moderate the corrosion- and wear-resistance for specific use cases using a choice of additives, for instance: low levels of zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) can massively increase wear resistance.

material, silicon carbide, nitride bonded, chromium oxide, alumina oxide

Boron carbide (B₄C) is the third hardest high-performance ceramic on earth, exceeded only by cubic boron nitride (cBN) and diamond. B₄C ceramics are produced by hot pressing which yields an extremely high-performance boron carbide ceramic with nominal densities of 2.50 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) and a Knoop hardness value of 2,800 kilograms per millimeter squared (kg/mm²).

Chromium oxides (Cr₂O₃) are a unique class of high-performance materials with exceptional thermodynamic properties that make it ideal for high-temperature processing applications. High-purity chromium oxide ceramics are available in the cast and fused condition. Most are alloyed with varying concentrations of aluminum oxide or zirconia depending upon the end-use environment.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an extremely versatile non-oxide ceramic that performs on multiple fronts for supreme performance in a broad range of application environments. It offers outstanding thermal shock resistance and high-temperature strength as well as intrinsically good mechanical properties for manufacturers in a broad range of markets, from electronics and semiconductors to industrial heating applications.

Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) is one of the preferred high-performance ceramics for applications requiring a precise intersection of thermal and mechanical performance. Produced via hot pressing, silicon nitride ceramics can satisfy the most stringent demands for flexural strength and toughness, alongside high thermal performance over longer service lives.

Zirconia (ZrO₂) is a standout high performance ceramic owing to its unmatched fracture toughness coupled with excellent thermal properties. It is a relatively expensive solution in high-purity formats.

Refer to our high-performance materials for a full breakdown of the material classes and products that we offer. Or contact a member of the Saint-Gobain team today with any questions.