Applications of thermal analysis with ceramics and glass
Innovative materials for the future: glasses and ceramics
Ceramics and glass have a long history and are nevertheless indispensable materials in numerous modern and traditional applications. Today, these terms cover a wide range of high-tech products that are used in the most diverse areas of our daily lives and in advanced technologies.
The variety ranges from simple window glass and decorative ceramics to high-performance materials that have little in common with the original materials. They provide robust and adaptable solutions for various industries that are constantly striving for innovation.
Ceramics: diversity and performance
Ceramics can generally be divided into coarse and fine ceramics. While natural raw materials such as clay, quartz and feldspar are used in coarse ceramics, mainly to produce ceramic building materials such as clay bricks, fine ceramics use synthetically processed raw materials with grain sizes of less than 0.1 mm. Classic ceramics include products such as tableware, sanitary ceramics and decorative elements, while technical ceramics and high-performance ceramics have been developed specifically for specialized industrial applications.
Traditional uses
Ceramics have been used in household and decorative applications for centuries. In particular, ceramics offer important functional properties in addition to their aesthetics, especially in the area of tableware, kitchen utensils and sanitary ceramics:
- Hygienic surfaces: ceramic products are easy to clean due to their smooth and non-porous surface, making them ideal for use in hygienically sensitive areas.
- High resistance to acids and bases: This makes ceramics ideal for daily household use, but also for many industrial applications, as they are resistant to chemicals in cleaning agents and food.
- Glazed surfaces: In the kitchen, for example in ceramic pans or microwave-safe dishes, ceramics are often glazed to create a glass-like, sealed surface that is impermeable to water.
Technical Ceramics
The technical applications of ceramics have gained in importance in recent decades. The properties of technical ceramics have been optimized with regard to their respective application.
They included the categories of oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics and electroceramic materials. These are characterized by outstanding mechanical, thermal and chemical properties and are used in high-performance applications:
- Electronic components: Ceramics’ excellent insulating properties make them ideal for use in electronic components such as capacitors and semiconductors, as well as piezoelectric elements.
- Wear-resistant components: materials such as silicon carbide are extremely hard and ideal for high-temperature environments or applications that involve mechanical wear.
- Medical implants: bioceramics such as zirconium oxide are used as implant materials in medical technology because they are biocompatible and corrosion-resistant.
High-performance ceramics
Engineering ceramics are used in areas where extreme conditions prevail, such as in the aerospace and automotive industries and in the manufacture of cutting tools. These include materials such as:
- Oxide ceramics (e.g. aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide), which are used in high-temperature applications and under high loads due to their high thermal stability.
- Composite materials, such as metal-ceramics and fiber-reinforced composites, which open up new fields of application due to their combination of strength and flexibility.
Glass: transparency and functionality
Glass has long since developed from a purely decorative material into an indispensable material in industry. In addition to household applications, such as drinking glasses or cookware, glass is increasingly being used in high-tech areas.
Architecture and construction
Glass plays a key role in the construction industry and is valued not only for its aesthetic effect but also for its functional properties:
- Energy-efficient window glazing: Modern glazing with special coatings reduces energy consumption by controlling heat radiation.
- Safety glass: Laminated and tempered glass offers increased breakage and impact resistance and is used in facades, vehicles and public facilities.
Optoelectronics
Glass is an indispensable component of modern electronics and optical systems:
- Display technology: Special glass such as Gorilla Glass offers the necessary robustness and clarity for smartphones and tablets.
- Fiber optics: Glass fibers enable loss-free data transmission over long distances and form the basis for modern communication systems.
Raw material groups and properties that can be analyzed
Ceramic materials are made from a wide variety of raw materials, which can be divided into different groups. These include:
- Silicate ceramics: These consist of clay, quartz and feldspar and form the basis for classic ceramics.
- Oxide ceramics: Materials such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) are widely used in technical ceramics.
- Non-oxide ceramics: Materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) are known for their outstanding thermal and mechanical resistance. They often consist of oxygen-free silicon compounds, but still belong to the class of ceramics because their structure and properties are very similar to those of oxide ceramics.
Smart technologies
In the modern age, ceramics and glass are increasingly developing into intelligent materials with special properties:
- Self-cleaning surfaces: dirt and water can be repelled by special surface treatments.
- Energy generation: glass surfaces with integrated photovoltaics allow windows to be used for power generation, thus increasing the energy efficiency of buildings.
Innovative processing methods
Laser processing
Ultra-short pulse lasers enable precise and gentle processing of glass and ceramics. This is particularly important in the manufacture of medical products and in electronics manufacturing, where precise cutting edges and drill holes without material damage are required.
Ceramic sealants
Ceramic coatings improve the surfaces of vehicles and offer properties such as scratch resistance, UV protection and self-cleaning. These sealants extend the lifespan of products and
Analytical options for glass and ceramics: Thermal analysis
Thermal analysis makes it possible to examine and optimize many important and specific properties of ceramic and glass materials:
- Thermal expansion, heat conductivity and specific heat capacity can be measured and analyzed to find optimal production conditions and use energy more efficiently. In particular, the sintering behavior during the firing process of the ceramic can be precisely measured and predicted using a dilatometer measurement.
- In addition, thermal analysis (thermogravimetry) can be used in mass processing and during sintering to control the exact raw material composition and to precisely adjust the water content and grain size.
- The electrical conductivity and chemical composition of glasses and ceramics can be analyzed to improve their properties and adjust the process parameters.
Future prospects
Ceramics and glass play a key role in future-oriented technologies:
- Renewable energies: Ceramics are used in fuel cells, while glass is used in photovoltaics and fiber optic technology.
- Medical technology: Advances in bioceramics are opening up new possibilities for long-lasting implants and prostheses.
- Industry 4.0: The integration of smart manufacturing processes and intelligent materials enables precise and efficient production of glass and ceramic components.
