Silicon carbide
Silicon carbide is, together with alumina ceramic, one of the highest-performing and most valued ceramic materials for highly technological industrial applications. Its physical and mechanical characteristics make it unique for a wide range of applications in different sectors, from metrology to automotive, through to aerospace. But what makes this material so special, and when should it be used?
The technical characteristics of silicon carbide
Microplan Group works with two different types of silicon carbide, SiC and Si-SiC; both are materials with excellent physical and mechanical characteristics: hardness, rigidity, low specific weight and a very low coefficient of linear expansion are the main characteristics that allow their use in critical applications.
This material also offers excellent thermal stability, a characteristic that makes it possible to produce highly accurate components also for temperature applications.
SiC - Silicon carbide
Sintered silicon carbide (SiC) is particularly valued for its low specific weight and high rigidity, as well as for being more cost-effective and easier to machine than Si-SiC. The sintering process produces a material with slight porosity, which is nevertheless compatible with the most critical pneumostatic applications. This material is particularly suitable for the production of components such as Z-axes for measuring machines or components for machines requiring high accuracy and high dynamics.
SiSiC Silicon carbide
SiSiC silicon carbide is obtained through a process of metallic silicon infiltration into a porous SiC preform.
This process produces a composite material consisting of SiC and free silicon, achieving an extremely high-performance combination of physical and mechanical characteristics. This material is one of the few machinable materials with characteristics capable of guaranteeing extremely rigid, accurate and lightweight components, with closed porosity and excellent thermal stability, such as Z-axes for measuring machines or components for machines requiring high accuracy and high dynamics, as well as components for the semiconductor market.
Silicon carbide for coordinate measuring machines (CMMs)
SiC and SiSiC are often used for the production of coordinate measuring machine (CMM) components such as crossbeams and columns, X and Z axes, thanks to the technical and mechanical properties of these materials:
High rigidity:
it enables high machine dynamics to be achieved without compromising accuracy and precision.
Low thermal expansion:
the coefficient of linear expansion of silicon carbide is very low and makes it possible to minimize measurement errors caused by thermal variations in the environment.
Lightness:
it reduces moving masses, improving dynamics and reducing the forces required for machine operation.
Closed porosity:
it allows the production of components with “mirror-like” surfaces and very low roughness, ideal for pneumostatic applications.
High thermal conductivity:
it facilitates heat dissipation.
These characteristics help improve the accuracy and precision of CMM measuring machines.
Silicon carbide SiC and SiSiC for many industrial sectors
Thanks to their physical and mechanical properties, SiC and SiSiC silicon carbide products are used in many sectors, including:
Metrology:
Measuring instruments for geometric inspections, such as straightedges, squares and parallelepipeds made from this material, guarantee top-level performance, offering maximum geometric stability, extremely high wear resistance and a weight that allows easy handling. All this results in highly accurate, reliable and durable instruments.
Semiconductor industry:
it is particularly valued for the production of components that must operate in cleanrooms, thanks to its closed porosity. Its high thermal stability also makes it possible to combine accuracy even in temperature applications.
Aerospace and medical sectors:
production of precision components for critical applications requiring materials with high mechanical and thermal performance.
Electronics and semiconductor industry:
production of components and systems with high dynamics and high accuracy.
High-precision machining of silicon carbide
Precision machining of silicon carbide requires specific expertise, high-technology machinery and equipment.
The material is in fact very hard and brittle, and its machining often requires specially designed tools as well as machinery with targeted technical solutions.
Thanks to major high-technology investments, Microplan Group stands out as a reliable partner for projects requiring precision machining of ceramic materials.
Thanks to our expertise and production capacity, we are able to provide:
Mechanical machining of silicon carbide components:
drilling, milling, grinding, lapping and assembly of multiple parts for the production of components with lengths up to 5000 mm, ideal for coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and other metrological applications.
Custom production:
production of customized silicon carbide SiC and SiSiC components, designed according to the customer’s required specifications or needs.
Production of measuring instruments:
production of measuring instruments in silicon carbide SiC and SiSiC for dimensional inspection, such as straightedges, squares, parallelepipeds and cylinders, particularly used as reference masters in calibration laboratories.
Specific advantages of silicon carbide SiC and SiSiC
What exactly are the reasons why many industries prefer silicon carbide over other technical solutions for their high-precision applications? Let us look at them in detail:
High hardness
One of the machinable materials with a hardness not far from that of diamond, with extremely high wear resistance.
High corrosion resistance
Silicon carbide is practically unaffected by acids and alkalis, making it ideal for applications involving the use of chemicals
Excellent thermal stability
A fundamental characteristic for maintaining the accuracy and precision of products in production processes under temperature conditions.
Low coefficient of thermal expansion
A characteristic that makes it ideal for dimensional masters and components for measuring machines.
Low specific weight
A characteristic that makes it perfect for applications combining high dynamics with high accuracy and precision.
Closed porosity
A characteristic that, through lapping, makes it possible to obtain surfaces with very low roughness and extremely tight flatness, such as mirrors or flatness masters.
Microplan silicon carbide products
Why choose silicon carbide for your applications?
If your company is looking for a high-performance material for applications requiring rigidity, accuracy, a low coefficient of linear expansion and thermal stability, silicon carbide, SiC and SiSiC, is one of the most suitable materials.
Thanks to its excellent physical and mechanical properties, silicon carbide is widely used in advanced sectors such as metrology, semiconductors, coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and optical machines.