Elasticity

Advanced ceramics offer exceptional mechanical properties compared to metals and plastics. Compressive strength is very high for all groups of advanced ceramics, but other properties, such as hardness, resistance to wear, shock resistance and flexural strength, vary from one type of ceramic to the next.

Description

The elasticity of a material is defined by Young's Modulus expressed in GPa. The lower the modulus value, the more the material will deform.

In contrast to metals and plastics, ceramics are not very elastic. Their mechanical stiffness distinguishes these materials, and while this is generally considered an advantage for their use in harsh environments, it can also be a weakness when they undergo mechanical bending or torsion loads. Out of all the different advanced ceramics, zirconia has the greatest "elasticity" with a Young's Modulus in the region of 200 GPa, while alumina, silicon carbides, aluminium nitrides and silicon are the least elastic with a Young's Modulus of between 300 and 400 GPa.

Application markets

All areas of application are affected by this property. It is evident that the choice of use of an advanced ceramic is often based on the criterion of good mechanical strength.

Comparative table of properties

Comparative table of mechanical 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)

Fracture toughness

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.

Raw material
Finished product

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