Metal Like Ceramic
MLC - Metal Like Ceramic
where ceramic meets steel
Learn more about the new patented material, which combines the advantages of ceramic and steel for the first time.
This new ceramic material is initially produced from a polymeric based material enriched with active and passive fillers. This enables a precise near-net-shape production by e.g. extrusion or injection molding.
After shaping, the material is ceramicized (pyrolyzed) at over 800 °C, whereby the polymer matrix is completely converted into ceramic material by chemical reactions with the fillers. The volume shrinkage is about 5 - 8 %, which can already be taken into account during the first shaping.
For high-precision components, the ceramic material can also be reworked without much effort due to its steel-like hardness of 1000 HV. The material makes it possible for the first time to combine the advantages of ceramic material with steel-like material characteristics. At the same time, a significantly greater variety of geometries can be achieved than with classical ceramics, even for small series production.
After shaping, the material is ceramicized (pyrolyzed) at over 800 °C, whereby the polymer matrix is completely converted into ceramic material by chemical reactions with the fillers. The volume shrinkage is about 5 - 8 %, which can already be taken into account during the first shaping.
For high-precision components, the ceramic material can also be reworked without much effort due to its steel-like hardness of 1000 HV. The material makes it possible for the first time to combine the advantages of ceramic material with steel-like material characteristics. At the same time, a significantly greater variety of geometries can be achieved than with classical ceramics, even for small series production.
Advantages
- Near-net-shape production
- Cost-optimized processing
- Pore-free production
- High sliding capability
(without lubricants) - High freedom of design
- High temperature resistance
- Capability of high loads
- High Hardness
- 50 % reduction in weight
(compared to steel) - Production in small series
The material
| Material characteristics | Silizium-Nitrid | MLC | bearing steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom of design | -- | ||
| Mechanical machinability | -- | ||
| Corrosion resistance | -- | ||
| wear resistance | - | ||
| Maximum operating temperature / °C | 800 | 800 | 200 |
| Rolling strength / MPa | >2.000 | >2.000 | |
| Young's modulus / GPa | 320 | 200 | 210 |
| Hardness / HV10 | 1.400 | 1.000 | 750 |
| Fracture toughness / MPa√m | 5 | 4 | 15 |
| 4-point bending strength / MPa | 600 | 400 | (2.400) |
| Porosity / % | < 1 % | < 1 % | |
| Density / (g/cm3) | 3,2 | 3,6 | 7,8 |
| Specific electrical resistance / Ωm | 1e12 | 1e-3 | 1e-7 |
| Thermal expansion coefficient / (10-6/K) | 3,5 | 8 | 11,5 |
| Thermal conductivity / (W/mK) | 30 | 7 | 45 |
Fields of application
Possible applications are e.g:
- Clean room & vacuum, corrosive and polluted environments
- bad lubrication conditions
- Printed circuit board and semiconductor manufacturing
- food, textile, welding
- Electronics & mechatronics
- Measurement & testing technology, copier
- Lightweight construction, medical technology, extruders, injection molding machines, ...