Saint-Gobain Advanced Ceramics - Wear and Corrosion Resistant Silicon Carbide Components

Saint-Gobain is a leading provider of advanced, high-tech ceramic components to multiple industries worldwide that require materials resistant to extreme temperature, thermal shock, abrasion and corrosion. Saint-Gobain's Hexoloy® range of silicon carbide products offers virtually diamond-hard material suitable for the most challenging high performance applications, including corrosion resistance, heat exchange, valve and valve trim, hydrocyclones and turbines.

HEXOLOY SILICON CARBIDE

Hexoloy silicon carbide is produced by pressure-less sintering ultra-pure sub-micron powder, which is mixed with non-oxide sintering aids and is then formed into complex shapes and consolidated by sintering at temperatures of more than 2,000°C (3,632°F).

The sintering process results in a pure single-phase, fine-grain silicon carbide product with virtually no porosity. Whether submerged in corrosive environments, subjected to extreme wear and abrasive conditions, or exposed to temperatures of more than 1,400°C (2,552°F), Hexoloy silicon carbide surpasses other ceramics or metal alloys and even superalloys.

HEXOLOY HEAT EXCHANGER TUBING

Used in shell and tube heat exchangers in the chemical process industry, Hexoloy silicon carbide offers virtually universal corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity and high strength. This enables a standard of performance that cannot be equaled by other materials. Tubes are available in a variety of diameters and in lengths of up to 14ft.

HEXOLOY VALVE AND VALVE TRIM

Hexoloy silicon carbide is particularly useful for valve and valve trim applications, owing to its high corrosion resistance. Hexoloy is used in applications such as slurry flashing, HF acid handling and rare earth processing. The check valve components can handle demanding conditions, such as high temperatures, oxidizing and corrosive atmospheres, that other ceramic materials cannot survive.

HEXOLOY HYDROCYCLONES

Excellent wear resistance makes Hexoloy silicon carbide the ideal material for hydrocyclones and other hard rock mining application components. Hexoloy can last up to five times longer than other ceramic components, ensuring significant savings.

BENEFITS OF HEXOLOY SILCON CARBIDE CERAMICS

• Hardness second only to diamonds - 2,800kg/mm² at room temperature
• Extremely high strength - resistant to temperatures of up to 1,650°C (3,000°F)
• Light - weighs less than half most metal alloys, 40% as much as steel and approx. equal to aluminum
• Dense - Density = 3.10g/cm³ minimum
• Wear resistant - ideal for applications where parts are subject to high abrasion and sliding wear, e.g. in turbines
• Resists corrosion, oxidation and erosion - functions in hot gas and liquid environments, in oxidizing and corrosive atmospheres and in strong acids and bases, even at extremely high temperatures
• High thermal conductivity - produces thermal-shock resistance far greater than tungsten carbide, aluminum oxide and RB silicon nitride
• Malleable - new developments by Saint-Gobain researchers in the use of bonding agents and other additives now permit the mass production of complex shapes of Hexoloy silicon carbide by extrusion, pressure forming, slip casting and injection molding
• Requires minimum machining - the as-fired surface finish of Hexoloy silicon carbide parts is about 64 microinches - this superior surface quality, combined with tight dimensional control, ensures parts require little or no additional machining or finish grinding, depending on application

See also:
Army Technology - Ceramic Armor Materials and Protection Systems