Silicon nitride is a man made compound synthesized through several different chemical reaction methods. Parts are pressed and sintered by well developed methods to produce a ceramic with a unique set of outstanding properties. The material is dark gray to black in color and can be polished to a very smooth reflective surface, giving parts with a striking appearance. High performance silicon nitride materials were developed for automotive engine wear parts, such as valves and cam followers and proven effective. The cost of the ceramic parts never dropped enough to make the ceramics feasible in engines and turbochargers. The very high quality bodies developed for these demanding high reliability applications are available today and can be used in many severe mechanical, thermal and wear applications.
Silicon nitride(Si3N4) offers one of the best combinations of toughness and hardness of commercially available technical ceramics. They are nearly as light as silicon carbide (SiC), but their microstructure gives them excellent thermal shock resistance and their high fracture toughness makes them resistant to impacts and shocks. Complex geometries can be made with sintered material. The material also exhibits low density, high temperature strength, excellent wear resistance and good facture toughness.
Silicon nitride is a rather expensive material, but it’s performance to cost benefit ratio is excellent in the applications where it can outperform the normally utilized materials with long life and very reliable low maintenance operation.
Typical Silicon Nitride Ceramic Uses
Rotating bearing balls and rollers,ceramic bearing,Silicon Nitride Ceramic bearing,Silicon Nitride bearing
Cutting tools, Silicon Nitride Ceramic ball,Ceramic ball, Silicon Nitride Ball
Engine moving parts — valves, turbocharger rotors
Engine wear parts — cam followers, tappet shims
Turbine blades, vanes, buckets
Metal tube forming rolls and dies
Precision shafts and axles in high wear environments
Weld positioners
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silicon nitride ceramic properties
