Engineering ceramics are specialized compounds used in demanding applications such as aeronautics and biomedical implants. They are created by adding oxides and nonoxides to conventional ceramic bases or forming composites. Technical ceramics are the most sophisticated and used in the most demanding applications.
An engineering ceramic is any ceramic compound developed to exhibit very specific characteristics to meet the unique needs of demanding applications. These include ceramic materials used in high performance aeronautical, biomedical and mechanical applications. Commonly encountered special features include high levels of resistance to extreme temperatures and abrasion achieved by the addition of oxides and nonoxides such as alumina, ceria and boride to conventional ceramic bases. In some cases, particulate and fiber-reinforced ceramic composites can also be used as technical ceramic compounds. Engineering ceramic materials can be used to produce solid one-piece castings or can be applied to existing products as a high-performance coating.
Ceramic is one of the oldest materials created by man, with ceramic objects dating back 27,000 years, giving an idea of the longevity of man’s association with the material. In essence, ceramics are inorganic compounds of a crystalline or amorphous nature formed by the exposure of raw materials to extreme heat followed by a natural, non-forced cooling process. Although ceramic is found in myriad forms ranging from coffee mugs to floor tiles, there are four widely accepted classifications of the material. These are structural ceramics such as pipes and tiles, refractory ceramics including kiln linings, whiteware such as tableware and high-performance technical ceramics.
Of these groups, technical ceramics are the most sophisticated and used in the most demanding applications. Applications include space shuttle reentry shield tiles, ballistic missile nose tips, and turbine blade coatings in jet engines. High-performance bearings, gas burners and some bulletproof vest inserts are also made from technical ceramics. Biomedical implants such as dental bridges are another common destination for these high-tech ceramics. These highly demanding applications require ceramic compounds to possess extreme levels of mechanical integrity while remaining sterile and structurally stable.
Most engineering ceramic compounds begin as conventional ceramic bases and are imbued with their specialized characteristics, if any, by the addition of other elements. These include oxides such as alumina, zirconia and ceria, or nonoxides including carbide, boride and nitride. Engineering ceramic materials can also be created by forming composites of conventional ceramics with particle or fiber reinforcement. These additives and composite elements effectively create specific groups of crystalline ceramic structures in the base material that give the final products their outstanding performance. Items that require the unique characteristics of technical ceramics can be made as solid castings or coated with a layer of ceramic material.
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