Aerospace Engineering

Space travel lays the foundation for innumerable innovations that make everyday life easier. Some examples are satellite navigation, weather forecasts, remote sensing for observation of the climate and mobile radio [Gün12]. In the industry, the demands for durability, manageability and the reliable interaction of the components are in the foreground [Ley19]. By contrast, the aviation industry is pursuing a trend of continuous safety improvement [Wil16].

IKH PRODUCTS USED FOR THIS INDUSTRY

Zirconia (ZrO₂)

Ceramics made from zirconia (ZrO₂), occupy a special position among engineering ceramics due to their exceptional mechanical properties. For example, some zirconium oxide ceramics exhibit extremely high flexural strength and fracture toughness previously considered as unattainable for ceramics.

Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)

Silicon nitride is a light gray to black ceramic, which is used in high-temperature technology in particular because of its good mechanical properties up to 1800°C. Silicon nitride ceramics are characterized by a low density, high fracture toughness, low coefficient of friction and very good thermal shock resistance.

Silicon Carbide (SiC)

The annual production of silicon carbide (SiC) exceeds 800,000 t, making it by far the most used non-oxide ceramic. In the past it has been used almost exclusively as an abrasive material, which still accounts for a major part of its usage. The development of new processes for the production of dense components with favourable mechanical properties enabled new fields of application.