Innovation and conservatism in technical ceramics

• Autores: Davide Ghilotti
• Localización: Industrial Minerals, ISSN 0019-8544, Nº. 590, 2017 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Febrero)
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Technical ceramics are opening up new possibilities in everything from spaceships to dentistry, but the closed nature of the industry's raw materials supply chain may be holding the sector back, Davide Ghilotti, Chief Reporter, finds. According to leading alumina producer Almatis while the overall ceramics market is stable, technical ceramic applications continue to expand. Cuts to steelmaking capacity, the biggest end user of refractories, has put negative pressure on refractories consumption volumes, but there is clear demand for better product performance and lifespan in this industry, meaning that the average value of refractory materials is on the rise. Uses of technical ceramics In aerospace, TCs are used to make exhaust nozzles, thermal insulators and supports for on-board instruments; in automotive, they go into port liners, manifold insulation, catalytic support systems, flow separator housings or turbine nozzles. Other end markets include heat treating - for induction heating tubes, furnace insulation and kiln furniture - and metallurgy - in crucibles for molten metal, nozzles, liners, permanent molds and other parts. According to Jessica Roberts, division manager, minor metals, at Roskill Information Services, each of the main applications for TCs are expected to grow at least at the rate of global GDP - around 3% per year - although some sectors will be do better than others. UK-headquartered Morgan Advanced Materials has highlighted the medical sector as one of the most dynamic areas for TCs, particularly in laser reflector products, the increased usage of