Structural Ceramics with Electrical Function

Fraunhofer IKTS has many years of experience in the development and application of ceramic materials with specifically adjustable electrical properties. In addition to proven structural ceramics such as silicon carbide, silicon nitride, titanium oxides, and boron carbide, these also include special ceramics such as zirconium carbide, tantalum carbide, titanium carbide, and various oxide and non-oxide composites. These materials can be flexibly adapted between high electrical conductivity and high electrical insulation, making them particularly suitable for use in plasma technology, electronics, electrical engineering, sensor technology, and thermoelectrics. Our expertise in joining processes, especially high-temperature joining with active soldering, also enables the reliable integration and electrical connection of these components into complex systems and processes.

We use a wide range of characterization and testing methods (thermal, mechanical, electrical, corrosion, oxidation) to support the development of electrically functional structural ceramics and the optimization of their mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties – always with the respective application in mind. Fraunhofer IKTS also covers the entire value chain and can manufacture materials with specific properties, right through to prototypes and small series.

 

Examples for application / references
 

• Heating conductors
• Thermoelectrics
• Plasma electrodes
• Low-voltage varistors

 

Services offered

 

• Application-oriented development and optimization of electrically functional ceramics for electrical insulation, conduction, heating, sensor technology, thermoelectrics as well as ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTC).
• Electrical material and component characterization – also in combination with oxidation, temperatures up to 2200 ^_°C and mechanical loads
• High-temperature and low-temperature joining by means of soldering and bonding

 

Technical equipment

 

• Electrical measuring and test stands for investigations up to 2200 °C
• Basic modules for setting up application-oriented measuring stands for electrical components