TECHNICAL CERAMICS A full range of cost-effective raw materials for technical ceramic manufacturers
Imerys engineered solutions for technical ceramics are suitable for the production of porcelains, steatites, cordierites, mullite and alumina ceramics for electrical fittings, thermal applications, automotive, aerospace, military and medical products.
Imerys offers an extensive portfolio of standard and custom technical ceramics body solutions derived from our extensive range of industrial minerals including:
- Technical and alumina porcelain bodies
- Steatite bodies
- Cordierite bodies
- Alumina bodies
All our technical ceramics bodies are suitable for the production of highly complex shapes.
Mineral range
We have a broad portfolio of mineral resources and processing plants throughout the world which allow us to match the right mineral to each type of technical ceramics body type.
Each mineral plays a crucial part in the performance of the final part:
Ball clay
Our extensive range of ball clay products provide:
- High plasticity and unfired modulus of rupture to allow the shaping of complex items while reducing breakage
- Low alkali values in alkali preventing chemical digestion of the cordierite phase
- Low Al2O3 values to boost steatite forming phase
- High Al2O3 values to boost cordierite forming phase
Kaolin
Imerys kaolin present the following properties:
- Low rates of free quartz particles
- Low alkali values in alkali preventing chemical digestion of the cordierite phase
- Low to extremely low alkali values in alkali to decrease flux phase in alumina bodies
- Suitable particle size to optimize particle packing
Talc
Imerys talc provide:
- A microcrystalline structure and low Al2O3 values promoting very high steatite dielectrical properties
- Low CaO values to reduce steatite deformation
- High Al2O3 values to build the cordierite phase
- High Al2O3 values and valuable flux effect limiting growth of corundum grain size in alumina bodies
Chamotte
With their low magnetic content, Imerys chamotte for cordierites provide:
- Low firing shrinkage
- Low coefficient of thermal expansion
- Improved casting properties
We are also a leading supplier of kiln furniture solutions for technical ceramics production.
Please consult our Kiln Furniture section.
We have major ceramics technology centers in the Americas Europe and Asia offering a full range of technical and process support services to help you match the right solution to your application requirements.
And with industrial facilities and blending platforms in Asia, Europe, Middle-East and the Americas, we have the resources to serve our customers anywhere in the world.