Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) ceramics offer some of the best-in-class tribological properties, with outstanding nominal fracture toughness (Syalon 101 = 7.7 MPa m^1/2) and exceptional strength characteristics (compressive, flexural, etc.). This combination gives silicon nitride outstanding wear resistance. The result is that a component fabricated from advanced ceramics like silicon nitride can withstand significant ongoing stress throughout its service life. This makes it the ideal ceramic material for dies, weld rolls, and cutting tools for example.

Updated 25/05/2022:

Digitalization and enhanced automation in industrial settings are now ushering in a fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), which is fundamentally fuelled by advances in materials like technical ceramics.

ww.syalons.com/materials/silicon-nitride-sialon/Technical ceramics like sialons and zirconia are among the most advanced materials ever engineered by mankind, enabling new application areas that were practically impossible before their commercial realisation. With many technical ceramics, there is a substantial overlap between their thermomechanical and chemical properties, which can complicate ideal material selection for distinct applications. In the case of sialons and zirconia however, the materials can be easily and respectively distinguished as a non-oxide and an oxide ceramic.

Last week two long-serving employees of International Syalons (Newcastle) Ltd. celebrated their 25 Years of Service Anniversary.

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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→