Ceramics in analytical technology—precision and stability for demanding processes
In modern analytical technology, ceramic materials ensure reliable operation under extreme conditions. In pumps and valves, ceramic components guarantee high chemical and abrasion resistance and dimensional stability—ideal for use with aggressive media. For high-temperature procedures such as thermogravimetry, DSC or DTA, ceramic crucibles and carriers made of aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide are used, which remain dimensionally stable and non-reactive even at temperatures above 1,500 °C. Ceramic components can also be found in devices used in elemental analysis or spectroscopy, for example, as insulators, heating elements or sample holders. Their high thermal shock resistance, electrical insulation and chemical resistance make ceramics indispensable materials in laboratories, testing facilities and industrial quality assurance. New developments are opening up additional fields of application for precise and durable analysis systems.
Invisible helpers: technical ceramics in modern measurement and analysis devices
Ceramic materials play a key role in modern analytical technology. Wherever accurate measurement results are required under extreme conditions—whether it’s high temperatures, aggressive chemicals or in mechanically stressed systems—technical ceramics impress with their stability, purity and dimensional stability. Their properties make them the preferred choice for numerous components in laboratory equipment and analysis systems—from sample containers and sensor carriers to high-precision valve and pump parts.
Ceramic components are particularly indispensable in thermal analysis, for example, in thermogravimetry (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) or dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Crucibles and carriers made of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide or silicon nitride can withstand temperatures of over 1,600 °C without losing their shape or reacting with the sample. This is crucial for reproducible results in material characterization, polymer analysis or quality tests in material development.
Ceramic materials are also established in chemical analyses such as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) or ion chromatography, for example, as capillaries, seals or pump heads. Their excellent corrosion and abrasion resistance extends the service life of sensitive systems and significantly reduces maintenance effort. Ceramic pistons and valve seats made of zirconium oxide or other ceramics in particular demonstrate outstanding endurance in contact with aggressive media such as acids or alkalis.
A growing area of application covers lab-on-a-chip systems and microfluidics. Microstructured ceramic substrates are used here, which are characterized by high dimensional stability, low thermal expansion and chemical inertness. The combination of mechanical robustness and biocompatibility also makes them attractive for medical diagnostic equipment, for example, in the analysis of small volumes of liquid or for point-of-care systems.
Ceramic materials are also used in gas analysis, whether as heating elements for sensors, carriers for catalysts or membranes in selective filter units. Porous ceramics in particular are becoming increasingly important here, as they can be used both as filter media and for defined gas flow throttling—for example, in emission monitoring, process control or environmental analysis.
Another trend is emerging in the field of automated laboratory technology: Pump and dosing systems with ceramic components enable high-precision flow rates with minimum wear. Modern manufacturing technologies—such as isostatic pressing or 3D printing of technical ceramics—are helping to cost-effectively produce increasingly complex geometries and miniaturized components.
Sensor-related ceramic components are also more and more in demand, for example, as substrates for high-temperature sensors or housings for optoelectronic components. Here, developers benefit from the electrical insulation properties of ceramic materials combined with customizable thermal conductivity—a combination that opens up new possibilities, particularly for analysis devices with integrated electronics.
Research and industry are working intensively on new ceramic materials with even better thermal shock resistance, increased chemical resistance and optimized surface properties. The result is materials that are particularly easy to clean, for example—an important aspect in analytics, where cross-contamination must be avoided.
Ceramics have developed from a niche material in analytical technology to a mainstay of modern measurement systems. Their versatility, combined with advanced manufacturing processes, is constantly opening up new applications, not only in the laboratory but also in industrial inline analytics and in networked measurement systems of the future.