Technical ceramics represent the cutting-edge of industrial materials. Engineered to withstand some of the harshest operating conditions ever conceived, technical ceramics are increasingly pushing the frontiers of market segments around the world.

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a growing system of interconnectivity between devices and machinery – even those not typically associated with digital communications. Domestic markets have felt the impact of IoT devices most keenly, with the onset of intelligent virtual assistants (IVAs), smart energy monitoring, and WIFI-enabled appliances. Analysts predict that 26 – 100 billion IoT-enabled devices will be in service worldwide by 2020, a growing portion of which will rely on technical ceramics to function correctly. However, these estimates fail to reconcile the comparatively slow uptake of connected devices in industrial settings.

The U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) highlighted reverse-engineering of the human brain as one of the world’s greatest research challenges in the 21^st Century. It was established as a priority alongside the economization of solar power and the realization of fusion on earth. By incorporating the aim of breaking down human cognitive abilities and building systems that can replicate them onto this list, the NAE essentially brought the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning out of an exclusively digital space and into the remit of materials science. Advanced ceramic materials, alloys, composites, polymers, and more, are now at the forefront of AI research efforts.

Updated 17/03/2022:

Seam welding equipment is used to join the faying surfaces of unfinished cylindrical profiles (pipes, tubes, etc.). It exploits a similar principle to standard arc welding to produce a durable, longitudinal weld along the full length of a tubular workpiece. Ensuring this solid-state bond is uniform demands high process automation using high strength forming components. Turning rolls, or pipe rollers, are the key component differentiating seam welding from other joining methods like spot welding.
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Pumping technologies are fundamental to success in an array of market sectors, from municipal water supplies to proprietary ultra-high vacuum (UHV) processing. Poor performance or malfunction in such applications can be extremely costly. Water loss due to leaks in pipelines is estimated to cost billions in annual revenue while inefficient vacuum leak rates in UHV processing can render experiment/production parameters void. These concerns are further amplified when pumps are required to operate in extreme conditions, which can cause conventional pump materials to deteriorate and fail.Continue reading→

International Syalons (Newcastle) Ltd. is proud to announce that two of their apprentices have now completed their Advanced Modern Apprenticeship and HNC years 1 and 2.

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Ceramics have been exploited by mankind for over 26,000 years. They have been so central to human engineering that it is impossible to pinpoint a singular origin of the pottery-making process. Archaeologists have coined the term “linear pottery culture” to define the period when ceramics were simultaneously and independently discovered by different peoples across Neolithic Europe. Yet the significance of technical ceramics spans far beyond archaeological curiosity, pervading several key periods of history and every phase of industrial progress into the modern age and the future.

Silicon nitride ceramics (Si₃N₄) occupy a storied niche in the history of engineering materials, rising from relative obscurity in the early days of the industrial era to become one of the most important technical-grade ceramics available today. Since their renaissance in the early 1970s, silicon nitride ceramics have successfully replaced numerous legacy materials as the advanced ceramic of choice for various high-performance components. These include:

In the field of material technology, nonoxide technical ceramics are among the most recent developments. They are increasingly being used for a range of applications thanks to their chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Both sialon and silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are useful candidates for energy conversion and production. Already, they have shown exceptional prowess in abrasive environmental applications and those which involve harsh chemicals. So, what are the differences between sialon and silicon carbide, and which applications does each best serve? Here, International Syalons takes a closer look.Continue reading→