Link to Standard Products Link to Custom Products Link to Case Studies Link to Ceramic and Glass Materials Link to Design Notes Link to Working Together Link to Accuratus Contact Form
link to Accuratus home page email link - voice: 908-213-7070 fax: 908-213-7069

,
Materials

 

Accuflect®

Aluminum Nitride

Aluminum Oxide

Boron Nitride

Fused Silica

Macor®

Mullite

Sialon

Silicon Carbide

Silicon Nitride

Zirconium Oxide

 

 

Silicon Nitride, Si3N4 Ceramic Properties

Silicon nitride is a man made compound synthesized  through several different chemical reaction methods. Parts are pressed and sintered by well developed methods to produce a ceramic with a unique set of outstanding properties. The material is dark gray to black in color and can be polished to a very smooth reflective surface, giving parts with a striking appearance. High performance silicon nitride materials were developed for automotive engine wear parts, such as valves and cam followers and proven effective. The cost of the ceramic parts never dropped enough to make the ceramics feasible in engines and turbochargers. The very high quality bodies developed for these demanding high reliability applications are available today and can be used in many severe mechanical, thermal and wear applications.

.Key Silicon Nitride Properties
check High strength over a wide temperature range
check High fracture toughness
check High hardness
check Outstanding wear resistance, both impingement and frictional modes
check Good thermal shock resistance
check Good chemical resistance
.

Typical Silicon Nitride Uses
check Rotating bearing balls and rollers
check Cutting tools
check Engine moving parts — valves, turbocharger rotors
check Engine wear parts — cam followers, tappet shims
check Turbine blades, vanes, buckets
check Metal tube forming rolls and dies
check Precision shafts and axles in high wear environments
check Weld positioners

General Silicon Nitride Information

The material is an electrical insulator and is not wet by nonferrous alloys. Silicon nitride is a rather expensive material, but it’s performance to cost benefit ratio is excellent in the applications where it can outperform the normally utilized materials with long life and very reliable low maintenance operation.

Download Hot Pressed Silicon Nitride datasheet

Silicon Nitride Engineering Properties*

Silicon Nitride, Hot Pressed Properties
Mechanical
SI/Metric (Imperial)

SI/Metric

(Imperial)

Density

gm/cc (lb/ft3)

3.29

(205.4)

Porosity

% (%)

0

(0)

Color

—

black

—

Flexural Strength

MPa (lb/in2x103)

830

(120.4)

Elastic Modulus

GPa (lb/in2x106)

310

(45)

Shear Modulus

GPa (lb/in2x106)

—

—

Bulk Modulus

GPa (lb/in2x106)

—

—

Poisson’s Ratio

—

0.27

(0.27)

Compressive Strength

MPa (lb/in2x103)

—

—

Hardness

Kg/mm2

1580

—

Fracture Toughness KIC

MPa•m1/2

6.1

—

Maximum Use Temperature
(no load)

°C (°F)

1000

(1830)

Thermal

Thermal Conductivity

W/m•°K (BTU•in/ft2•hr•°F)

30

(208)

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

10–6/°C (10–6/°F)

3.3

(1.8)

Specific Heat

J/Kg•°K (Btu/lb•°F)

—

—

Electrical

Dielectric Strength

ac-kv/mm (volts/mil)

—

—

Dielectric Constant

—

—

—

Dissipation Factor

—

—

—

Loss Tangent

—

—

—

Volume Resistivity

ohm•cm

—

—

 
Silicon Nitride, Pressureless Sintered Properties
Mechanical
SI/Metric (Imperial)

SI/Metric

(Imperial)

Density

gm/cc (lb/ft3)

3.27

(204)

Porosity

% (%)

0

(0)

Color

—

black

—

Flexural Strength

MPa (lb/in2x103)

689

(100)

Elastic Modulus

GPa (lb/in2x106)

310

(45)

Shear Modulus

GPa (lb/in2x106)

—

—

Bulk Modulus

GPa (lb/in2x106)

—

—

Poisson’s Ratio

—

0.24

(0.24)

Compressive Strength

MPa (lb/in2x103)

—

—

Hardness

Kg/mm2

1450

—

Fracture Toughness KIC

MPa•m1/2

5.7

—

Maximum Use Temperature
(no load)

°C (°F)

1000

(1830)

Thermal

Thermal Conductivity

W/m•°K (BTU•in/ft2•hr•°F)

29

(201)

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

10–6/°C (10–6/°F)

3.3

(1.8)

Specific Heat

J/Kg•°K (Btu/lb•°F)

—

—

Electrical

Dielectric Strength

ac-kv/mm (volts/mil)

—

—

Dielectric Constant

—

—

—

Dissipation Factor

—

—

—

Loss Tangent

—

—

—

Volume Resistivity

ohm•cm

—

—

*All properties are room temperature values except as noted.
The data presented is typical of commercially available material and is offered for comparative purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as absolute material properties nor does it constitute a representation or warranty for which we assume legal liability. User shall determine suitability of the material for the intended use and assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in connection therewith.

Back to top

Standard Products | Custom Products and Services | Case Studies | Materials
Design Notes | Working Together | Vision | Contact Us | Site Map

1-908-213-7070

© 2013 Accuratus

Site Design M. Adams