Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
Zircon carbide heating rod demonstrator with copper contacts.
Glowing zircon carbide heating rod at 2000 °C.
Ultra-high temperature ceramics have unique properties such as extremely high melting temperatures (> 3000 ° C) as well as high hardness, chemical stability and strength even at high temperatures. This makes them potential candidates in a variety of high temperature structural applications such as engines, high-speed vehicles, plasma technology, innovative nuclear fuels, thermal barriers and diverters, cutting tools, furnace elements and high-temperature shielding. UHTC materials include carbides, nitrides and borides of transition metals, including compounds of the subgroup IV (Ti, Zr, Hf) plus TaC.
Technical equipment
- Continuous production line from powder preparation and shaping to finishing and characterization
Services offered
- Manufacturing of ultra-high temperature ceramic components in small series
- Development, adaptation and optimization of material properties and production routes
Examples / references
- Zircon carbide as crucible, kiln furniture, heating rod
- Thermocouples and thermoelectric components made of boron carbide (B4C)