This episode of the Goodfellow's Innovation Discuss podcast explored the extensive and often underestimated applications of technical ceramics. Hosts Mark, Adam and Aphrodite provide insight into this versatile material category. Listen today on the link below or from your favourite podcast platform. 

Defining Technical Ceramics: These are inorganic, non-metallic materials, typically crystalline oxides, nitrides, or carbides, distinguished by their strong ionic, covalent, and mixed bonds. Unlike traditional ceramics like porcelain, technical ceramics are engineered for specific performance requirements. Their bonding structure results in low ductility and tensile strength and generally poor electrical conductivity. 

Key Advantages and Applications: Technical ceramics are favoured for their electrical and thermal insulation properties, resistance to harsh environments and high temperatures, and chemical and corrosion resistance. These characteristics make them crucial in sectors such as aerospace, defence, medical healthcare, and electronics. Emerging technologies like fusion and fuel cells are also poised to benefit from ceramic advancements. 

Traditional vs. Advanced Ceramics: Traditional ceramics often derive from natural sources like clays, while advanced ceramics are high-purity, precisely engineered materials such as alumina and aluminium nitride, tailored for demanding applications. 

Working with Ceramics: Processing technical ceramics requires specialised expertise due to their hardness, potential for brittleness, and shrinkage during firing. However, machinable grades exist for prototyping and custom components. 

Goodfellow's Ceramic Solutions: Goodfellow offers both standard ceramic products (substrates, targets, crucibles) and custom-manufactured components. Their expertise extends to ceramic powders, including high-purity grades for battery applications, and nanomaterials like boron nitride nanotubes for electrical insulation. 

Unexpected Applications: Notably, certain ceramics, such as boron nitride, can function as dry lubricants due to their layered structure allowing for shear and sliding. 

Contact Goodfellow: For enquiries regarding standard or custom ceramic solutions, please fill in our Contact Us page.  You can also submit material science questions via our Podcasts page for a chance to win a Goodfellow periodic table.