Aluminum oxide - high-performance material from Doceram, available from Megatron AG
Aluminium oxide has firmly established itself as a high-performance technical material - particularly due to the trend towards miniaturization of components. This development requires materials with adaptable properties and high processing quality. Aluminum oxide meets these requirements to a high degree: it is extremely hard, extremely wear-resistant and exhibits outstanding corrosion resistance. This makes it highly versatile.
Chemically speaking, aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) is the oxygen compound of the element aluminum. The raw material is bauxite ore, which is broken down into aluminum hydroxide using caustic soda. Through calcination and complex grinding processes, a high-quality, high-purity aluminum oxide is produced.
The aluminum oxide developed by Doceram, which you can obtain from Megatron AG, impresses with its excellent corrosion resistance and high dielectric strength - ideal prerequisites for use as insulation material.
Aluminium oxide is also characterized by its extreme hardness and high resistance to abrasion and wear. Compared to many other technical ceramics, it also has very good thermal conductivity.
Zirconium oxide - top technical ceramics from Doceram, available from Megatron AG
Zirconium oxide is one of the high-performance materials among oxide ceramics. As an inorganic, non-metallic material, it offers exceptional mechanical properties - especially when stabilized with yttrium oxide. Its high strength and excellent crack and impact resistance are outstanding.
Thanks to its low friction compared to steel and its excellent polishability, zirconium oxide is ideal for precise guides, stops and sliding components. It is used wherever high dimensional accuracy and extreme resilience are required at the same time.
The zirconium oxide ceramic developed by Doceram, which you can obtain from Megatron AG, is particularly resistant to thermal, chemical and mechanical influences.
It is not without reason that zirconium oxide is often referred to as "ceramic steel" due to its toughness and resistance - a material that combines the advantages of ceramics with the properties of classic structural materials.
Silicon nitride - high-temperature ceramic from Doceram, available from Megatron AG
Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) is a high-performance material from the nitride class - a compound of silicon and nitrogen that is characterized by exceptional physical and thermal properties.
The high mechanical strength and low coefficient of thermal expansion are particularly noteworthy. This combination makes silicon nitride ideal for applications with high thermal shock loads. Even at temperatures of up to 1,000 °C, the material remains dimensionally stable and can reliably transmit high forces.
The silicon nitride components developed by Doceram, available from Megatron AG, are frequently used in extreme applications such as soldering and welding - wherever thermal resistance, resilience and reliability are required.
Thanks to its resistance to thermal shock, its hardness and its low density, silicon nitride is a convincing alternative to metallic materials in high-temperature technology.
Cerazur® - partially stabilized zirconium oxide from Doceram, available from Megatron AG
Cerazur® is a high-performance ceramic developed by Doceram on the basis of partially stabilized zirconium oxide. This non-metallic material was specially designed for industrial applications where precision, durability and process reliability are paramount.
With its high flexural strength and hardness, Cerazur® offers a reliable alternative wherever conventional materials such as carbides reach their limits. Thanks to its resistance to mechanical stress, Cerazur® is ideal for demanding manufacturing and machining processes - for example in mechanical engineering, welding technology or forming technology.
The striking blue ceramic impresses with its dimensional stability, wear resistance and resistance to extreme conditions. Cerazur® is available from Megatron AG in various designs - from simple locating pins and high-precision positioning pins to complex component geometries such as test plugs.
Cerazur® provides a reliable and durable solution when technical processes require maximum stability and precision.
EvoCera® - Ceramic innovation from Doceram, available from Megatron AG
EvoCera® is a new type of high-performance material that combines the advantages of modern technical ceramics with the ductile properties of steel. Developed by Doceram and available from Megatron AG, EvoCera® opens up new possibilities in safety-critical areas where metallic materials have dominated until now.
In contrast to conventional industrial ceramics, EvoCera® has an extremely low scatter in material strength - thanks to a significantly increased Weibull modulus (> 50). This makes it possible for the first time to precisely calculate and design ceramic components using FEM (finite element method) - a process that was previously used almost exclusively for steel materials.
EvoCera® remains dimensionally stable and fracture-resistant even under continuous cyclic loading. Thanks to its plastic-ductile properties, the material cannot fail abruptly under overload, but exhibits predictable, transformation-controlled deformation behavior. This "residual reserve" makes EvoCera® ideal for safety-relevant constructions.
Material | Unit | EvoCera® | Industrial ceramics (MgO-PSZ) |
Density | g/cm³ | 5,9 | > 5,7 |
Flexural strength σₑ (yield strength) | MPa | 400 | 500 |
Bending strength σₘ | MPa | 600 | 500 |
Weibull module | 50 | 15 | |
Plastic deformation ε | % | 0,8 | / |
Typical properties at a glance:
Plastically deformable, without brittle fracture behavior
Non-magnetizable, electrically insulating
High flexural strength and dimensional stability
Abrasion, corrosion and temperature resistant
FEM-based design possible
Significantly lower strength variation compared to conventional ceramics such as zirconium oxide
Silicon carbide - high-performance material from Doceram, available from Megatron AG
Silicon carbide (SiC) is a technical high-performance ceramic that impresses with its combination of extreme hardness, high temperature resistance and excellent chemical resistance. As a compound of silicon and carbon, silicon carbide is ideal for the most demanding industrial environments.
Doceram uses this material to manufacture high-precision, resistant components - available from Megatron AG. Whether in applications subject to high thermal loads, abrasive media or aggressive chemical conditions - silicon carbide offers maximum process reliability and service life.
Silicon carbide offers a unique combination of properties:
Extremely high hardness - excellent protection against abrasion and mechanical wear
Temperature resistance over 1,400 °C - ideal for high-temperature processes
Corrosion and oxidation resistance - resistant to aggressive chemicals
Low density - lighter than many metals with high stability at the same time
Excellent thermal conductivity - efficient heat distribution under thermal load
Outstanding tribological properties - minimum friction, maximum service life
Mechanical and plant engineering - e.g. for plain bearings, nozzles, seals
Semiconductor technology - ideal for wafer carriers and cooling systems
Automotive industry - proven for brake disks, sensor components
Chemical industry - corrosion-resistant heat exchangers and reactor components
Doceram develops and manufactures customized silicon carbide components that meet the highest requirements. Megatron AG provides you with tailor-made solutions for your industrial processes - reliable, durable and efficient.
Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) | Zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) | 🟧 Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) | 🟦 Cerazur (ZrO₂) | 🟪 EvoCera® | Silicon carbide (SiC) | 🟫 ZM-131 (ZrO₂-MgO) | |
Electrical properties | Excellent electrical insulator | Very high fracture toughness | Extremely resistant to thermal shock | High flexural strength and dimensional stability | Plastic deformable, high strength | Extremely hard, very wear-resistant | Electrically and magnetically neutral |
Wear resistance | High hardness and wear resistance and chemically resistant | Impact-resistant and durable | Chemically resistant and non-stick | Suitable for highly stressed components | Calculable according to FEM, low scattering | Excellent thermal conductivity | High wear and corrosion resistance and chemically resistant |
Temperature resistance | Temperature resistant up to 1700 °C | Ideal for components subject to high mechanical loads | Efficient at very high temperatures | Alternative to carbide for precise applications | Ductile, also for safety-relevant applications | Resistant up to over 1400 °C and chemically resistant | High temperature stability, chemically inert |
🟧 A-132 - Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) > 99.7 %
Technical properties
➕ Density: 3.9 g/cm³
➕ Flexural strength: 390 MPa
➕ Compressive strength: 3.900 MPa
➕➕➕ Very high hardness (~2000 HV)
➕➕➕ Very high wear resistance
➕➕➕ Good electrical insulation
➕ Thermal conductivity: approx. 28 W/m-K
➕ Temperature resistant up to 1700 °C
Applications
✅ Electrical insulators
✅ Wear-resistant components
✅ High-temperature applications
✅ Dosing, spray technology, valves, chemical industry
🟦 A-141 - Aluminum oxide > 99.99 %
Technical properties
➕➕➕➕ Similar or better properties than A-132
➕➕➕➕ Very high purity for specialized applications
Applications
✅ Sensitive electronic components
✅ Suitable for precision electronics or high-vacuum applications
✅ High purity for analyzers
🟥 Cerazur® - zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) Y-PSZ
Technical properties
➕➕➕ Very high hardness
➕➕➕➕ Very high flexural strength
➕ Impact resistant
➕ Good wear resistance
➕ Thermally insulating, but sensitive to temperature shocks (avoid > 1000 °C), very tight tolerances
Applications
✅ Positioning pins, locating bushes
✅ Special machine components
✅ Formed parts (rollers, gripper fingers, etc.)
🟩 Z-141 - zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) Y-PSZ
Technical properties
➕➕➕ Higher fracture toughness than aluminum oxide
➕➕➕ Very good impact strength
➕➕➕ High mechanical strength
➕ Thermal insulator
➕ Not suitable for temperature shocks > 1000 °C
Applications
✅ Positioning elements
✅ Guide pins, machine inserts
🟨 Volcera 141 - silicon nitride (Si₃N₄)
Technical properties
➕➕➕ Very good mechanical strength
➕➕➕ Resistant to thermal shock (> 800 °C)
➕➕➕ High chemical resistance
➕ Frequency-neutral
➕ Very good non-stick properties
Applications
✅ Applications at high or changing temperatures
✅ Induction, welding, forming
✅ Splash protection areas, guide rollers, measuring in liquid metal
EvoCera® dispersion ceramic
Technical properties
➕➕➕➕ Maximum flexural strength: 600 MPa
➕➕➕➕ High density: 5.9 g/cm³
➕➕➕➕ High modulus of elasticity: 218 GPa
➕➕➕➕ Low plastic deformation (0.8 %)
➕➕➕➕ High Weibull modulus: 50
➕ Vickers hardness: 1.047 HV0.5
➕ Coefficient of thermal expansion: 11.1 × 10-⁶ K-¹
➕ Thermal conductivity: 3.55 W/m-K
➕ Compressive strength: 3.000 MPa
➕ Poisson's ratio: 0.35
➕ Specific heat capacity at 20 °C: 0.46 J/(g-K)
➕ Specific heat capacity at 170 °C: 0.52 J/(g-K)
➕ Thermal conductivity at 170 °C: 3.48 W/(m-K)
Applications
✅ Clamping technology and gripping technology
Cristallic applications, permanent cyclical load
✅ Safety-critical applications
✅ Components for the chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries, corrosion-resistant
✅ Parts in pump/dosing systems
✅ Electronics production (e.g. sensors)
✅ Applications with high dimensional stability
Doceram has been developing and manufacturing industrial advanced ceramics for over 20 years. Ceramic Materials:
An expert engineering team is constantly researching new materials and manufacturing processes to contribute to the technological requirements of future applications.
Using the materials aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide and silicon nitride , Doceram manufactures standard ceramic components as well as complex prototypes, series parts and individual assemblies.
Property | A-132 | A-141 | Z-141 | Cerazur | Volcera 141 | EvoCera |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Material | Al₂O₃ >99.7% | Al₂O₃ >99.99% | ZrO₂ Y-PSZ | ZrO₂ Y-PSZ | Si₃N₄ | - |
Farbe / Color | ivory / ivory | white / white | white / white | blue / blue | gray, black / grey, black | - |
Density (g/cm³) | 3.9 | 3.9 | >6.04 | 6.0 | 3.2 | 5.9 |
Flexural strength (MPa) | 390 | 390 | 1200 | 1300 | 1000 | 400 |
Compressive strength (MPa) | 3900 | 3900 | 3000 | 3000 | 2500 | 3000 |
E-module / Modules of Elasticity (GPa) | 390 | 390 | 205 | 205 | 320 | 218 |
Fracture Toughness (MPa√m) | 5.2 | 5.2 | 8 | 12 | 6.4 | - |
Weibull module | 12 | 12 | 12 | 25 | 14 | 50 |
Vickers Hardness / Vickers Hardness (HV 0.5) | 2000 | 2000 | 1300 | 1150 | 1650 | 1047 |
Thermal expansion / Thermal expansion coefficient (10-⁶K-¹) | 5,5-8,4 | 5,5-8,4 | 10 | 10 | 3.4 | 11.1 |
Thermal conductivity / Thermal conductivity (W/mK) | 28 | 28 | <2 | <2 | 22 | 3.55 |
Thermal shock resistance (ΔT°C) | 120 | 180 | 290 | 280 | 830 | - |
Maximum operating temperature / Maximum use temperature (°C) | 1700 | 1700 | 1000 | 1000 | 1200 | - |
Spez. Widerstand bei 20°C / Volume Resistivity at 20°C (Ω cm) | >10¹⁷ | >10¹⁵ | >10¹⁰ | >10¹⁰ | >10¹¹ | - |
Dielectric strength (kV/mm) | 22 | 30 | - | - | 20 | - |
However, Doceram also works intensively, reliably and precisely on solutions for challenging workpieces in a wide variety of industries.
We use technical ceramics in mechanical and plant engineering as well as in the pump industry, welding technology and other sectors.
Megatron as the representative in Switzerland will be pleased to advise you on the use of ceramics in your application. Find out in detail about the three most important materials for the production of advanced ceramics for industrial applications on the following pages.
Doceram's ceramic materials are used in various branches of industry. They are high-quality solutions and include a wide range of products such as wear parts, cutting tools and components.
Doceram wear parts are available in various designs and are valued in the industry for their durability and wear resistance.
Doceram cutting tools are specially designed for precise machining of workpieces and offer high cutting speed and accuracy.
Doceram's components are used in electronic devices and are characterized by their high heat resistance and electrical insulation properties.
Doceram also offers customized solutions because the company works closely with its customers to develop tailor-made ceramic components.
Doceram's ceramic materials are widely used in industry and are applied in areas such as automotive, mechanical engineering and electronics.
The products are characterized by their high quality, reliability and performance because Doceram invests in innovative technologies and manufacturing processes to provide its customers with high-quality ceramic solutions.
The company attaches great importance to research and development in order to continuously improve its products and meet the changing requirements of the industry.
Overall, Doceram's ceramic materials are indispensable components for modern industrial applications because they offer high precision and durability and help optimize processes. They are thus an essential basis for efficient and reliable processes in industry.
The diverse applications of Doceram ceramic materials are a testament to their versatility and ability to meet the specific needs of different industries.
By working closely with customers and developing customized solutions, Doceram helps companies to improve their performance and strengthen their competitiveness in the market.
The continuous development of Doceram's ceramic materials is an indication of the company's commitment to responding to the needs of the industry and offering innovative solutions.
This makes Doceram a reliable partner for the industrial future.
Gas nozzle: VOLCERA after 100 coats in continuous continuous operation and copper after 1 coat.
Centering pin: CERZAUR with 40 times the service life compared to steel.
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