Advanced ceramics have exceptional mechanical properties compared to metals and plastics. Compressive strength is very high for all of the advanced ceramic families, which is the main advantage of these materials.
Description
Compressive strength is the ability of a material to withstand vertically applied pressure forces without sustaining excessive longitudinal or transverse deformation.
In contrast to metals and plastics, ceramics are not very elastic. Their mechanical rigidity differentiates them from these materials, which is generally seen as an advantage for their use in harsh environments. As a result of their very low elasticity, advanced ceramics are particularly able to withstand vertically applied pressure forces.
Expressed in MPa, the values range from 1,500 MPa to over 3,000 MPa according to the ceramics. Sintered silicon nitrides and carbides have the highest values with a minimum of 2,500 MPa.
Application markets
Compressive strength is a property that might be of interest to a wide range of industries where the end user requires a very high value for a specific application.
Comparative table of properties
| Values at ambient temperature – 20°c |
Density (g/cm3) |
Resistance to compression (MPa) |
Resistance to bending (MPa) |
Young's modulus (GPa) |
Hardness (Vickers -GPa) |
Mechanical shock resistance (Tenacity) K(Ic) |
| Alumina (94 to 99.8 % ) | 3.6 to 3.9 | 1700 to 2500 | 250 to 350 | 350-370 | 12 to 18 | 4 to 5 |
| Alumina-zirconia composites | 4.0 | 2000 | 450 | 350 | 14 | 5 to 6 |
| Zirconia MgO | 5.5 | >1700 | 550 to 700 | 170 to 200 | 11 to 12 | 6 to 8.5 |
| Zirconia Y-TZP | 6.0 | 2000 to 2500 | 900 to 1250 | 200 to 220 | 12 to 16 | 10 to 13 |
| Aluminium nitride | 3.3 | 2000 | >300 | 310 | - | 3 |
| Silicon nitride | 3.2 | 2500 to 3000 | 650 to 900 | 300 to 315 | 15 to 16 | 7.5 to 8 |
| Silicon carbide | 3.1 | 2500 to 3900 | 400 to 550 | 410 | 24.5 to 28 | 4 to 4.6 |
| Boron carbide | 2.5 | >1500 | 425 | 440 | 28 | 3 to 4 |
Acceptable: + ; Good: ++ ; Very good: +++.
These values are for information only and do not constitute a contractual obligation.