Pharmaceutical Industry & Medical Technology

In the healthcare industry, the highest material standards are mandatory. This concerns biocompatibility, corrosion resistance and mechanical properties [Hai18]. There is also a strong trend toward biomaterials [Mül19] today, whose dimensional and dimensional accuracy as well as biocompatibility are crucial for use as an implant [Abk03]. To meet the requirements, material developments for 3D printing [Gaf18] and nanostructured surfaces [Rez19] could be key technologies.

IKH PRODUCTS USED FOR THIS INDUSTRY

Alumina (Al₂O₃)

Due to its excellent price-performance ratio, alumina (Al₂O₃) ceramics are predestined for many technical applications and the most widely used oxide ceramic material [KOL18]. Its low costs are due to the high availability of aluminum (3rd most common element in the earth’s crust) and the costeffective preparation and sintering processes.

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.