Materials…
Silicon Nitride (Si3N4)
Ceramco’s sintered silicon nitride shares many of the same desirable characteristics of their zirconia but at approximately 50% less weight. Our silicon nitride stands alone in its ability to withstand mechanical impact and exhibits high mechanical strength when exposed to sudden stresses.
Other desirable characteristics include:
- Application temperatures up to 1200° C
- High resistance to wear & corrosion
- High bending strength
- Low coefficient of friction
Silicon Nitride & Near-net Shaping
Sintered silicon nitride is extremely hard making any follow-up machining of components a challenge even for Ceramco's highly skilled experts. Ceramco mitigates the need for follow-up machining though the use of its near-net shaping process. Near-net shaping results in components very close to their final specification, also yielding little waste.
Silicon Nitride Production Processes
High pressure injection molding (HPIM) is Ceramco's production method of choice to benefit from economies of scale and can be used for the manufacture of silicon nitride components. Ceramco's HPIM combined with our near-net shaping contributes even more to the cost per part savings on larger orders destined for HPIM.
Ceramco also utilizes additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing and LCM) in the production of silicon nitride components. This process yields prototypes in days and production quantiies in weeks without the cost of tooling. When larger quantities are required, additive manufactured silicon nitride components can often be switched to Ceramco's HPIM to benefit from the economies of scale it offers.
Applications Suited for Silicon Nitride Include:
- Cutting tools
- Sensor shields
- High velocity defense-related components
Materials Selection
The materials selection process is complex and Ceramco is an expert. In addition to silicon nitride, Ceramco also offers numerous alumina and zirconia formulations, as well as user defined materials, satisfying almost any OEM ceramic parts requirement.
People Making it Happen
Silicon nitride… the latest addition to Ceramco's production formulation family, made possible by the same family of skilled people at Ceramco expert in all their formulations engineered to meet your ceramic component requirements. We welcome questions or inquiries regarding specifics on Ceramco's silicon nitride and/or Ceramco's silicon nitride applications.
Ready to Make it Happen for You
Do you need a quotation on your print for an OEM ceramic part? Submit an RFQ now, or contact Ceramco. You'll be greeted by a courteous customer service specialist ready to provide immediate, personal assistance. Ceramco specializes in manufacturing OEM ceramic parts with complex geometries, matching the appropriate forming process to your order's specifications and quantity: