Silicon carbide ceramics are extremely hard and can be utilized for use in many demanding industrial applications, providing exceptional thermal shock and chemical resistance.
At ANSTO’s Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (KOWARI), researchers studied the effect of pre-stress on fracturing morphology of circular SiC tiles under pre-stress using CT scans of both confined and non-confined samples to determine whether confinement limits Hertzian cone formation and damages caused by it.
High Strength
Silicon carbide is one of the strongest non-oxide ceramic materials. With high bending strength that allows it to withstand abrasion and erosion, and resistance to chemical attack it’s ideal for use in chemical plants, papermaking or pipe systems. Furthermore, its corrosion-, oxidation- and wear-resistance make it suitable as wafer tray supports or paddles for semiconductor furnaces.
Reaction bonded silicon carbide (RBSiC) ceramics are ideal for applications that demand high performance at an economical cost, yet cannot be produced using sintered silicon carbide. Produced using micron-sized powders fused together by electron beam, this form of ceramic shrinks approximately 20% during sintering at temperatures ranging between 2100-2200degC; significantly more than sintered silicon carbide’s 25% shrinkage but significantly lower than traditional ceramics such as alumina or zirconia which may lose up to 40% during this process.
T Lin, an undergraduate student from UNSW Canberra’s 4th year undergraduate cohort, led this research project funded by Saint-Gobain Scholarship and access to the neutron strain scanner at the ANSTO KOWARI facility. Contrary to other ballistic impact testing studies utilizing SiC targets for ballistic impact testing, this one employed pre-stressing techniques for improved stress measurements in ceramic targets C1, C2 and C3; measurements were made along their lateral confinement directions in samples C1, C2 and C3. Results demonstrated how pre-stress significantly affected damage response from both impacts, in terms of damage both in terms of damage response within both directions (hoop and radial).
High Temperature Resistance
Silicon carbide ceramics differ from their oxide ceramic counterparts by offering higher heat resistance that enables them to withstand extremely hot environments like molten metals or industrial furnaces. Furthermore, their resistance to oxidation, corrosion, and chemical reactions makes them an excellent choice for use in refractory applications such as kilns and furnaces.
This study employed pulse-echo technology to measure the elastic properties of a pressureless sintered silicon carbide ceramic tile, measuring its elastic properties using pulse echo technology. Results demonstrated that its elastic properties were linear with shear and bulk wave speeds near those found in glass; its Young’s modulus being 2.85 MPa.
Confinement of ceramic to a steel collar was observed to have an enormously positive effect on Hertzian cone hole morphology under ballistic loading, as well as providing significant impact resistance. A quantitative evaluation was accomplished via experimental micro-CT postmortems and computational modelling; while spatial distribution of pre-stress in confined ceramic was identified using neutron diffraction strain measurements that are then compared with simulations.
Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide (RBSiC) ceramics come in many different shapes and sizes to provide wear resistant linings in harsh environments. RBSiC ceramics provide an economical alternative to refractory alumina ceramics, and can be made into tubes or liners suitable for various demanding applications that demand exceptional wear resistance as well as excellent chemical resistance.
High Wear Resistance
Silicon Carbide Ceramic Tiles can significantly extend equipment lifespan in high wear environments by protecting it from abrasion, corrosion and erosion. Used as linings in cyclones, tubes, chutes, hoppers or pipes as linings they can increase production efficiencies while simultaneously decreasing enterprise costs.
Ballistic performance of ceramics depends on their state of restraint; only under extreme constraints can its mechanical properties fully come to fruition, such as hardness and compressive strength of ceramics which provides resistance against abrasion – an advantage in high energy applications with low dwell times (as illustrated by Figure below).
To gain a better understanding of how confinement and pre-stress affect the behavior of ceramics, stress measurements were conducted on a confined SiC circular tile using the Kowari neutron strain scanner at ANSTO in Australia. Measurements were conducted normal to the surface for optimal strain accuracy (whereas measurements made in either radial or hoop directions weren’t as precise).
Results demonstrated that, under confinement conditions, initial hoop stresses created by misfit contact simulation and its deviatoric forces on the steel collar were sufficient to stop ceramic from penetrating the core completely; however, as dwell time passed and damage accrued, undeformed ceramic gradually began constraining fully damaged cores gradually increasing penetration depth over time.
Excellent Chemical Resistance
Silicon carbide ceramics have an exceptional resistance to acids, bases, solvents and other chemicals; therefore they make an ideal material choice for industrial applications requiring chemical resistance such as lining pipes with them and equipment made out of silicon carbide ceramic compared to using materials such as stainless steel liners. Furthermore, silicon carbide ceramic lining can often prove more cost-effective.
Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide (RBSiC) is an engineering ceramic with superior wear resistance that stands up well against wear, corrosion and erosion in harsh environments – such as mines or steel mills where conventional ceramics tend to wear or corrode more rapidly. RBSiC makes an excellent lining material in mining equipment or steel plants as well as coral processing industries, among many other uses.
Macrocosmmaterial is a high-tech enterprise specializing in research, development, production and sales of silicon carbide specialty ceramics. Their products can be found everywhere from lithium batteries and photovoltaic equipment to daily-use ceramics and architectural ceramics for daily use – and production kilns! Macrocosmmaterial products are known for their superior quality, advanced technology, refined management practices and cost control – so don’t take our word for it; check them out yourself!
IPS Ceramics provides large size reaction bonded silicon carbide ceramic plates for various industry requirements. Our ceramic tiles can be cut to the exact design, shape and size with close tolerances using conventional machinery; additionally, custom-shaped liners can be produced as per request to meet specific specifications. Furthermore, a variety of surface finishes such as grit blasting and sanding is offered.