Additive manufacturing (AM) of ceramics, also known as ceramic 3D printing, is an attractive engineering solution for challenging applications. Technical ceramics, like silicon nitride (Si3N4), largely outperform industrial-grade polymers and metals for high-temperature operations, with superior mechanical properties and thermodynamic stability. Yet these same properties make ceramics difficult to use as a feedstock in additive manufacturing processes.

Visit International Syalons and SILCA/Calsitherm at Hannover Messe 1–5 April 2019 at Stand L08, Hall 3, in the Ceramic Applications area.

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Advanced ceramics manufacturing comprises three essential stages: raw powder processing; forming; and sintering. This generally describes the process of consolidating a powder-based feedstock and firing the green body to achieve a fully-densified technical ceramic. Net shapes with comparatively loose dimensional tolerances (~1-3%) can typically be produced ‘as-sintered’; requiring no machining or finishing prior to quality assurance inspections. Components with tight tolerances cannot be produced ‘as-sintered’ and may require diamond grinding to ensure that the net shape is usable according to the design intent.

International Syalons are delighted to announce their British Ceramic Confederation (BCC) membership.

The BCC are a professional organisation who represent the collective interest of all sectors of ceramic manufacturing in Britain by working extremely hard to safeguard the industry’s prosperity and lead sector discussions and negotiations with Government and public authorities.
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Extrusion describes the process where a metal such as copper or brass is forced through an extrusion die with a smaller cross-section. This deforms the material, causing a lengthening of its granular structure and forcing it to adopt a new cross-section uniformly across the entire manufactured workpiece. It is an extremely common metal forming process used to convert cylindrical billets into hollow tubes, or more complex profiles and sections.

International Syalons are pleased to announce the availability of Zircalon 30 a new grade of zirconia-based advanced ceramic with greatly improved fracture toughness, which is ideal for induction welding applications.

The 20^th Century was an era of rapid innovation in ballistics technology, and subsequently in how conflicts were conducted. Military organisations worldwide opted to improve the manouverability of troops and vehicles without compromising the performance of protective equipment in response to high velocity impacts. This led to the gradual adoption of novel ceramic materials in defence applications.Continue reading→

Advanced ceramic grinding media are on the cutting-edge of wearing applications. The right grinding balls can be used to break down analytical samples, industrial intermediates, and more, simply by applying continuous abrasive forces. Generally, the goal is to reduce the size of particles, or to blend heterogeneous materials together. This can be carried out with hydraulic and pneumatic systems. But the oldest, simplest, and often most effective method, is to repeatedly impact sample materials with a tougher milling medium, causing particles to decompose through mechanical attrition.

International Syalons (Newcastle) Ltd. offices will be closed from Friday 21st December until Thursday 3rd January.

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Molten aluminium (Al) is an extremely reactive substance. The molten metal is so reactive that it will readily decompose water in the atmosphere, or moisture on wet tools, releasing hydrogen into the melt. Even small volumes of water condensing on a crucible furnace or transfer ladle can affect the quality of final castings. Excess hydrogen can affect the distribution of porosity, and the total amount of shrinkage, ultimately increasing scrappage. Eliminating gas absorption from molten aluminium is unfeasible. So, metallurgists tend to focus on preventing hydrogen introduction into the melt and removing as much as possible prior to casting.