Factsheet Technical ceramics
7002501
Technical ceramics
Technical ceramics is a rapidly growing sector of the ceramics industry. This is also reflected in the development of ceramitec. More and more exhibitors are being represented at the trade fair in Munich. The top players in high-performance ceramics from all over the world will be there. Find out now what opportunities ceramitec offers as a meeting place for leading manufacturers, users and scientists.
Industry growth and trade fair highlights at ceramitec at a glance
Technical ceramics were represented by renowned brands at ceramitec 2024. The well-known companies included Morgan Advanced Materials Haldenwanger, DORST Technologies, FCT Anlagenbau, Schunk Ingenieurkeramik, and Techceramic-M., for example. All exhibitors in the field of technical ceramics can be found here.
They will showcase the entire spectrum of technical ceramics with new solutions, applications and processes in many industrial sectors. You will see customized solutions, from aerospace to electronics through to medicine and medical technology, as well as innovative applications, from the largest component to the tiniest precision part via 3D printing down to batch sizes of one—the whole world of technical ceramics.
Material properties of technical ceramics
By combining raw materials, shape and firing process, it is possible to adapt the properties to the respective application.
In principle, technical ceramics are:
- hard yet light, dimensionally stable and firm
- resistant to wear, corrosion, weathering and temperature
- insulating or heat- and current-conducting
Technical ceramics are more versatile than other materials
Technical ceramics can be found almost everywhere. In many applications, it is often at the heart of sensitive systems. Some investment-intensive technologies would be nearly impossible to realize at realistic costs without high-performance ceramics.
Technical ceramics are increasingly being used in almost all areas of industry. The market for energy and environmental technology is currently a strong driver for ceramic components. Customers in vehicle construction, the electrical industry, and the tool and plant construction, to name but a few, bring a great deal of dynamism to development with their innovative strength.
Indispensable in mechanical and plant engineering
Reliable and durable machines and systems require components that can withstand mechanical stress as well as temperatures, wear and corrosion.
In toolmaking, for example, technical ceramics do not weld to metal. Machining systems can cut or shape faster. In textile technology, it protects particularly smooth surfaces, and also fibers at high cycle rates in automated processes. Wherever systems transport raw materials or goods, technical ceramics also increase the operational readiness and service life of systems by acting as hard-wearing corrosion and wear protection.
Sensitive and powerful electronics
In electronic and electrical applications, technical ceramics take on application-specific tasks as active or passive components. They cool or heat, conduct and measure, or serve as a low-wear and corrosion-resistant carrier material for other components.
Electric mobility is currently benefiting from components for battery, charging and drive technology as well as for vehicle electronics, for electric motors and for cooling or heating electric vehicles. They can withstand extreme physical and chemical conditions in the production of semiconductors, which are in high demand, and ensure the reliable operation of semiconductors in medical, sensor and consumer electronics applications.
Specific industrial applications
Precision components are a true art of engineering. But they should be economical in addition to being functional. Technical ceramics open up new worlds, especially for small parts with small batch sizes and specific tasks; they’re not called engineering ceramics for nothing.
With a great deal of design freedom, 3D printing for technical ceramics can depict complex structures for industrial applications. The components benefit from many of the physical properties of ceramics, such as a smooth surface, resistance to chemical substances, heat resistance, and conductive and insulating properties. 3D printing is still a complex process that is only slowly gaining acceptance in applications. A study from Smartech predicts global market growth of 4.8 billion dollars by 2030.
Invisible helper around the house
Technical ceramics can be found in many household appliances that are used on a daily basis. They ensure safe and long-lasting operation.
Hard and dimensionally stable, technical ceramics can be found in things like the sealing disk in mixer taps or grinding mechanisms in pepper mills. Because they’re temperature and voltage-resistant, they can act as a regulator, fuse or insulation to reduce the risk of fire from fan heaters, hair dryers, kettles, coffee machines and so on.
What are technical ceramics?
One of the first industrial applications of technical ceramics was Werner von Siemens’ porcelain insulator for telegraph lines in the mid-19th century. A lot has changed since then. Today, ceramic products in technical applications are grouped together under the term “technical ceramics” as part of fine ceramics.
In contrast to the rather brittle ceramics that we are familiar with in the household, technical ceramics are low-wear, impact-resistant and bending-resistant high-performance materials for industrial use. The DIN V ENV 12212 standard defines advanced ceramics as “highly developed, high-performance ceramic materials that are predominantly non-metallic and inorganic and have certain functional properties”.
In short: they are versatile materials that can be used in many areas with a wide range of application-specific properties. In practice, this leads to an equally large variety of terms, which are clearly listed in the Technical Ceramics Breviary published by the German Ceramics Industry Association.
Ceramic components that can withstand strong mechanical forces such as tension or pressure are categorized as industrial or engineering ceramics. Components that fulfill electrical, magnetic or optical tasks, for example, are referred to as functional ceramics. If the focus is on insulating and conductive properties, they are electroceramics. Much harder than steel, high-performance material used for machining by means of drilling, turning or milling are known as cutting ceramics. Technical ceramics are used in the human body as bioceramics.
Technical ceramics by chemical composition
The functions of the materials are as varied as the terms for technical ceramics. The facets of the material can be differentiated more clearly according to its chemical composition. Essentially, materials can be split into the following groups:
Silicate ceramics, the oldest technical ceramics, are made of clay, kaolin, feldspar or soapstone and are known as porcelain, cordierite and mullite, for example. These materials are primarily characterized by relatively low manufacturing costs and relatively high strength.
In the other two groups, elaborately produced synthetic powders and higher sintering temperatures make technical ceramics more cost-intensive.
Oxide ceramics, which are particularly fracture-resistant, wear-resistant, temperature-resistant and corrosion-resistant, are used in electrical engineering and electronics, but also in non-electrical applications. For example, aluminum oxide is used to produce low-wear ball bearings and zirconium oxide is used to make non-conductive dentures.
Non-oxide ceramics, which comprise carbides and nitrides of boron, aluminum, silicon, titanium and zirconium, can withstand particularly high temperatures and are extremely resistant to the likes of wear and corrosion. This is particularly important in mechanical and plant engineering, chemical and energy technology and microelectronics.
Discover high-performance ceramics at ceramitec
Ceramitec is the most important trade fair for technical ceramics. It offers the ideal platform for the entire value chain, from powder to system user. Here, renowned exhibitors from all over the world present new solutions for processes, materials and formulations.
The Technical Ceramics exhibition area at ceramitec will offer solutions and products for the following user industries:
- Medicine and medical technology
- Electronics / Electrical engineering
- Energy and environmental technology
- Automotive
- Aerospace
Meeting place for manufacturers, users and scientists of high-performance ceramics
Exhibitors from all over the world will be presenting their innovative solutions and processes for high-performance ceramics at the world’s leading trade fair in Munich. ceramitec is the meeting place for renowned industry leaders in technical ceramics. Here you will find all exhibitors of ceramitec in the field of technical ceramics.
Technical ceramics is a rapidly growing sector of the ceramics industry. This is also reflected in the development of ceramitec. More and more exhibitors are being represented at the trade fair in Munich. The top players in high-performance ceramics from all over the world will be there. Find out now what opportunities ceramitec 2024 offers as a meeting place for leading manufacturers, users and scientists
Meeting place for high-performance ceramics
What are technical ceramics?
Technical ceramics is a low-wear, impact-resistant and bending-resistant high-performance material for industrial applications that can also withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions. What’s more, technical ceramics are an alternative to metals and plastics.
What are examples of technical ceramics?
Technical ceramics are mainly used as components in industrial applications. They are particularly in demand in industry, especially in vehicle construction, the electrical industry, and mechanical and plant engineering.
Where are technical ceramics used?
Technical ceramics can be found in almost all areas, from aerospace, to plant and mechanical engineering, to medicine and medical technology, but also as a component in many electronic devices. Strong demand is currently coming from the areas of electric mobility and environmental technology.
What are high-performance ceramics?
Technical ceramics are called high-performance ceramics due to their versatile properties. They are hard yet lightweight, strong and dimensionally stable in all applications, and are resistant to wear, corrosion, weathering and temperature. The materials can also conduct heat and electricity or have an insulating effect.