Silicon Nitride Si3N4 Ceramic

Overview of Silicon Nitride Ceramic

Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄) is a advanced technical ceramic renowned for its exceptional combination of thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties. It is a fully dense, fine-grained ceramic engineered through a high-temperature sintering process. Unlike traditional ceramics, silicon nitride exhibits remarkable fracture toughness and reliability, making it a premier material for the most demanding industrial applications where metals and other ceramics fall short. Its unique microstructure of interlocking needle-like grains gives it superior strength and damage tolerance.

Features of Silicon Nitride Ceramic

• Exceptional Thermal Shock Resistance: Withstands rapid temperature changes without cracking, far exceeding the capabilities of most other technical ceramics.
• High Fracture Toughness: Superior resistance to chipping, cracking, and mechanical shock, providing excellent reliability under high stress.
• Outstanding Wear & Corrosion Resistance: Extremely hard and inert, making it ideal for components exposed to abrasive slurries, corrosive chemicals, and repetitive friction.
• Low Density & High Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Significantly lighter than steel with comparable strength, ideal for rotating components to reduce centrifugal forces and energy consumption.
• Good Electrical Insulation: Maintains its insulating properties even at elevated temperatures.
• High Temperature Stability: Retains mechanical strength and creep resistance in environments exceeding 1000°C.

Applications of Silicon Nitride Ceramic

Silicon Nitride is a critical material across numerous high-tech industries:

• Aerospace & Defense: Radomes, missile guidance components, bearing balls and rollers for jet engines.
• Automotive: Glow plugs, turbocharger rotors, rocker arm pads, and cutting-edge bearings for high-performance and electric vehicles.
• Industrial Machinery: Seal faces, cutting tools, welding pins and rollers, and wear-resistant parts for pumps and valves.
• Medical & Dental: Non-metallic, MRI-compatible orthopedic implants (e.g., spinal spacers) and surgical instruments.
• Energy & Electronics: Substrates and fixtures for semiconductor processing, heat exchanger components, and insulators.

Specification Table of Silicon Nitride Ceramic

Property	Unit	Typical Value	Test Standard
Density	g/cm³	3.2 - 3.3	ASTM C20
Flexural Strength	MPa	600 - 1200	ASTM C1161
Fracture Toughness	MPa·m¹/²	5.5 - 7.5	ASTM C1421
Vickers Hardness	GPa	14 - 16	ASTM C1327
Elastic Modulus	GPa	300 - 320	ASTM C1259
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	10⁻⁶/K (20-1000°C)	3.1 - 3.5	ASTM E228
Thermal Conductivity	W/m·K	15 - 30	ASTM E1461
Max. Use Temperature (Inert)	°C	~1400	-

Company Profile

Tanki New Materials Co.Ltd. focus on the research and development, production and sales of ceramic products, serving the electronics, ceramics, chemical and other industries. Since its establishment in 2015, the company has been committed to providing customers with the best products and services, and has become a leader in the industry through continuous technological innovation and strict quality management.

Our products includes but not limited to Aerogel, Aluminum Nitride, Aluminum Oxide, Boron Carbide, Boron Nitride, Ceramic Crucible, Ceramic Fiber, Quartz Product, Refractory Material, Silicon Carbide, Silicon Nitride, ect. please feel free to contact us.

Payment Methods

T/T, Western Union, Paypal, Credit Card etc.

Shipment Methods

By air, by sea, by express, as customers request.

5 FAQs of Silicon Nitride Ceramic

1. How does Silicon Nitride compare to Alumina or Zirconia?
Silicon Nitride offers significantly higher fracture toughness and thermal shock resistance than Alumina. Compared to Zirconia, it has a higher maximum use temperature, better creep resistance, and superior performance in thermal cycling applications.

2. Can Silicon Nitride be machined to complex shapes?
Yes, but it is challenging. It is typically formed to a "near-net shape" during pressing or casting, then precision machined in the "green" or "bisque" state before final sintering. Fully sintered Silicon Nitride requires diamond grinding for any post-processing.

3. Is Silicon Nitride biocompatible?
Yes, high-purity, medical-grade Silicon Nitride is biocompatible (ISO 10993) and is FDA-approved for use in spinal fusion implants due to its excellent bone integration and antibacterial properties.

4. Why is it used for bearings?
Its low density reduces centrifugal force, its high hardness minimizes wear, and its electrical insulation prevents damage from arcing in electric motor applications, leading to longer service life and higher speeds.

5. What are its limitations?
The primary limitation is cost, as the raw materials and high-temperature sintering process are expensive. It is also inherently brittle like all ceramics, though its high toughness mitigates this significantly.