Mechanical Systems Division

ROCAR® Silicon Carbide

Special materials
for equipment and machinery

T H E C E R A M I C E X P E R T S
 ROCAR® Silicon Carbide – A material
for special applications

Silicon carbide (SiC) belongs to the group

2 of non-oxide ceramics and is one of the hardest Silicon carbide has a number of
materials in existence. It owes its extreme outstanding properties:
hardness to the covalent bonds between the
• High temperature resistance
silicon and carbon atoms. These strong bonds also
• Corrosion resistance
account for its high modulus of elasticity and
• Excellent thermal conductivity
extremely low thermal expansion. Silicon carbide
• Low thermal expansion
displays high thermal conductivity. This is
• High strength over a wide temperature
accompanied by high, almost constant strength
range
over a wide temperature range coupled with low
• Low density
density. Its resistance to chemical and thermal
stressing makes it suitable for use in aggressive
media (acids and weak alkalis) at elevated
temperatures and with simultaneous tribological
Silicon carbide is the starting material for
loading. As a semiconductive substance, silicon
high-performance ceramics in tribological
carbide also has special electrical properties.
applications.

Seal rings for pumps, compressors and Shroud application in magnetic clutch pumps
agitators without shaft seals

Classifier wheel for abrasive materials such

as pigments
ROCAR ® – Silicon-Infiltrated (SiSiC) and With its outstanding properties, silicon
Sintered Silicon Carbide (SSiC) carbide is the optimal material for demanding 3
SiSiC is a silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide applications in equipment and machinery. It is
with a three-dimensional matrix structure in also superior to many other materials and is key
which the remaining pore cavities are filled to many solutions. In highly reliable processes,
with metallic silicon. It is precisely this matrix we produce high-precision components – ranging
structure that gives the material its outstanding from seal rings and bearings in a variety of
mechanical properties and resistance to wear. diameters to nozzles with complex geometries –
Owing to its extremely low shrinkage during for users all over the world.
firing, it can be made into large and complex
components with low tolerances. However,
because of the melting point of metallic silicon,
its application range is limited to roughly
1,350 °C. As a result of its metallic silicon, it
cannot be used in strongly alkaline media.
Here it is better to use sintered silicon carbide
(SSiC), which is resistant to all chemical media.
Unlike SiSiC, SSiC consists solely of silicon
carbide without metallic silicon. In order
to achieve functional dimensions with low
tolerances, however, its higher shrinkage
demands additional hard machining.

Measuring wheel for measuring waste gas

values

Threaded nozzle for gases and liquids in

corrosive media

Various tubes for aggressive media

 ROCAR® Silicon Carbide – A material
for tough conditions

Our thorough understanding of materials and

4 applications has made us one of the world’s
leading specialists in the use of silicon carbide.
We achieve excellent results in product and
systems designed with ROCAR® by cooperating
closely with our customers and by making use of
our intelligent ceramic engineering. You can
count on our advice and on our knowledge of
systems integration and joining technology.

Tribological application
A typical application for ROCAR® components
is dynamic sealing with slide bearings and face
seal rings, e.g. in pump and drive systems. This is
where ROCAR Silicon Carbide yields a more
®
economic solution than metals and has several-
times the service life, even when used in
aggressive and high-temperature media.
Establishing a sustainable lubricant film between
the sliding components is ensured by the
Use of face and other seal rings made of ROCAR® Silicon
Carbide in pump engineering
surface’s topography. In the event of short-term
dry running or stressing from dry and mixed
friction, the strength of the grain boundaries is
sufficient to prevent damage. This combined
with ROCAR® Silicon Carbide’s good emergency
running properties yields extremely reliable and
low-maintenance solutions.

ROCAR® Silicon Carbide aboard ship. Seal

rings with a 900 mm outer diameter keep the
propulsion system of the Queen Mary 2 running
smoothly. Their production from a monolithic
block is made possible by a technology used
only by CeramTec.
Wear applications
Material consumption due to high thermal 5
loads, friction, wear and corrosion is a high
cost factor in many industrial installations. As a
result of the demanding environment and
unherent stresses in machinary for the food
industry, chemical installations, and turbine and
heat technology, metal components can quickly

For use in the food sector, ROCAR® Silicon Carbide’s

toxicologically safety is essential

ROCAR® Silicon Carbide components for industrial applications

reach their limits. Thanks to its exceptional

hardness, wear resistance and good thermal
conductivity, ROCAR® Silicon Carbide is the ideal
material. Corrosion, abrasion and fluid erosion
are controlled just as effectively as frictional
wear. It can be used in the food sector thanks to
its toxicological safety.

Components made of ROCAR® Silicon Carbide are employed, for instance, in chemical
installations, mills, expanders and extruders, and as nozzles
 ROCAR® Silicon Carbide – Engineered quality
and outstanding properties

The outstanding characteristics of our materials and

6 their applications have been continuously optimized in our
laboratories, thus enhancing our technological edge. Today,
we have fully mature and cost-effective development and
production technologies at our disposal.

On the basis of a quality system conforming to QS 9000

and ISO 9001, we operate with state-of-the-art quality
management techniques. With the aid of mature processes
and monitored procedures, we produce high-volume series
to customer specification with the same precision as sample
parts.

Vickers hardness HV 0.5

Fracture toughness KIC

Compressive strength

Young’s modulus
Porosity (closed) 2)

Weibull modulus
Flexural strength

Poisson’s ratio
approximate
Trade Name

Bulk density
Material

at 20 0C

Material Characteristics General Characterisitcs Mechanical Properties

Units g/cm3 Vol. [%] MPa MPa GPa MPa m1/2
Test DIN DIN DIN DINV DINV DIN DINV DINV
Specification EN 623-2 EN 843-1 51067T1 ENV 843-2 ENV 843-4 51109 ENV 843-5 ENV 843-2
CD 101 SiC-ZrB2 3.26 2 330 2,000 415 2,750 3.8 8 0.16

ROCAR® ST SSiC 3.11 2 400 2,200 420 2,500 4.1 >8 0.16
Silicon carbide

ROCAR® S SSiC 3.15 2 410 3,500 430 2,300 4.1 > 10 0.17

ROCAR® SiG SiSiC 3.07 0 340 3,500 380 two-phase 1) 4.0 > 14 0.17

ROCAR® SiF SiSiC 3.07 0 350 3,500 395 two-phase1) 4.0 > 14 0.17

1)
HV 0.2 1200 (Si) / 2700 (SiC) 2)
None of the materials have open porosity (water absorption: 0%)
 Tribological conditions in a disc/disc system:
comparison of various material pairs

Friction coefficient µ
0.5

0.4

Silicon carbide
0.3
Rubalit® A1996 – ROCAR® S
Silicon carbide is extremely hard and displays excellent
0.2
ROCAR® S – ROCAR® S
corrosion and thermal shock resistance. Its outstanding sliding
properties and high thermal conductivity make it the ideal ROCAR® Si – ROCAR® Si
0.1

tribological partner.
0 2 4 6 8 10
SSiC t

SSiC is resistant to all chemical media. Since no metallic

silicon is present in the matrix, it can be used at tempera-
tures up to 1,600 °C without impaired strength. Our Wear
Rv
Aluminium oxide
ROCAR® ST is remarkable for its excellent volume-production High-range
Steel
axial dry-press performance which, in turn, results in process Silicon carbide

reliability combined with lower production costs.

SiSiC
In SiSiC, the pore cavities are filled with metallic
silicon. Since shrinkage during firing is minimal, complex
components can be produced with low tolerances. Its Low-range
Low-wear
400 800 1,200 1,600 2,000 2,400 Hardness H v
maximum application temperature is 1,350 °C. However, feldspar steel SiO2 Al 2 O3 SiC
it is not suitable for use in highly alkaline media because
of its content of metallic silicon. Wear: Low/high-range relationship – comparison of various materials
Linear thermal expansion

Linear thermal expansion

Linear thermal expansion

Linear thermal expansion

Thermal shock resistance

coefficient 20–1,000 0C
coefficient 20–200 0C

coefficient 20–400 0C

coefficient 20–600 0C

• in reducing or inert
Thermal conductivity

Dielectric loss factor

Resistivity at 400 0C

Resistivity at 800 0C

Dielectric constant
Resistivity at 20 0C

Dielectric strength

Maximum usage
Cp 20–100 0C

atmosphere

atmosphere
at 20–100 0C

• in oxidizing
Specific heat

Specific heat

temperature
Cp 1,000 0C

Thermal and Electrical Properties

W/mK 10-6 K-1 10-6 K-1 10-6 K-1 10-6 K-1 KJ/kgK KJ/kgK Ω cm Ω cm Ω cm kV/mm 0
C 0
C 0
C
DIN DIN DIN DIN DIN DINV DINV IEC IEC IEC IEC IEC IEC DINV
EN 821-2 EN 821-1 EN 821-1 EN 821-1 EN 821-1 ENV 821-3 ENV 821-3 672-1 672-1 672-1 672-1 672-1 672-1 ENV 820-3
100 3.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 0.6 – 3·104 1·102 29 (1 MHz) 2·10-2 (9 GHz) 1,400 1,800

100 3.6 4.0 4.4 4.6 0.6 – 5·107 10 – – 1,400 1,800

115 3.0 3.6 4.1 4.6 0.6 – 1·103 < 10 2·10-1 (9 GHz) 1,500 1,800

115 3.4 4.1 4.4 4.9 0.7 1.3 <1 1·102 1,350 1,350

120 3.8 4.3 4.5 4.9 0.7 1.3 <1 1·102 1,350 1,350

Indexes and parameters for ceramic substances statistical fluctuations in the composition of the substances and in the factors that impact on the production
In order to profile ceramic substances certain parameters are indicated. The crystalline nature of these substances, processes indicate that the figures quoted are typically mean values and hence the substance parameters quoted
 Corrosion Resistance of SiSic and SSiC
Concentration SiSiC SSiC Concentration SiSiC SSiC
Medium in % 20 0C 50 0C 20 0C 50 0C Medium in % 20 0C 50 0C 20 0C 50 0C
acetone concentrated + + + + mixed acid concentrated, 1:1 + + + +
aluminium chloride 10 + + + + sodium carbonate 15 + + + +
formic acid concentrated + + + + sodium chloride cold sat. solution + + + +
ammonia concentrated + (+) + + sodium flouride 4 + (+) + +
ammonium chloride 25 + + + + sodium hypochloride 12,5% free Cl + + + +
ammonium fluoride 20 (+) 0 + + sodium metaborate 20 + + + +
ammonium nitrate 50 + + + + sodium peroxide 10 + + + +
benzol concentrated + + + + sodium phosphate 10 + + + +
boric acid cold sat. solution + + + + sodium sulphide 50 + + + +
calcium oxide cold sat. solution + + + + sodium thiosulphate 40 + + + +
citric acid 50 + + + + sodium hydroxide 10 (+) 0 + (+) 8
chromosulphuric acid concentrated + + + + sodium hydroxide 30 0 0 + 0
iron trichloride 45 + + + + oleic acid concentrated + + + +
iron (II)-sulphate 25 + + + + oxalic acid cold sat. solution + + + +
glacial aceric acid concentrated + + + + phosphoric acid concentrated, 85 + + + +
ethanol concentrated + + + + phcalic alcoholic solution + + + +
ethylacetate concentrated + + + + propionic acid concentrated + + + +
hydrofluoric acid concentrated, 40 (+) 0 + + mercury nitrate 10 + + + +
hydrofluoric + nitric acid concentrated, 3:1 0 0 + (+) nitrid acid concentrated, 65 + + + +
urea cold sat. solution + + + + hydrochloric acid concentrated, 36 + + + +
potassium hydroxide 30 0 0 + (+) fuming sulphuric acid 30 free SO3 + + + +
potassium hydroxide 20 (+) 0 + 0 sulphuric acid concentrated, 98 + + + +
potassium chloride cold sat. solution + + + + sulphuric acid 50 + + + +
potassium chromate 35 + + + + sulphurous acid 5-6 free SO2 + + + +
potassium nitrate 20 + + + + silver nitrate 10 + + + +
potassium permanganate 5 + + + + tetrachlor ethylene concentrated + + + +
aqua regia concentrated, 3:1 + + + + carbon tetrachlor concentrated + + + +
copper-II-chloride 40 + + + + tetrafluorboric acid concentrated (+) (+) + +
copper-II-sulphate 20 + + + + hydrogen peroxide 30 + + + +
lithium hydroxide 10 + (+) + + tartaric acid 10 + + + +
magnesium sulphate 4 + + + + zinc chloride 60 + + + +
methanol concentrated + + + +
+ = no corrosion (+) = possible corrosion 0 = corrosion appears

Surface Microstructure Roughness measurement

according to prescribed
method for the main
application

Ra 0,042 µm
Rk 0,110 µm
Rpk 0,033 µm
Rvk 0,126 µm
100 µm 100 µm

Ra 0,019 µm
Rk 0,030 µm
Rpk 0,010 µm
Rvk 0,084 µm
100 µm 100 µm

Ra 0,027 µm
Rk 0,075 µm
Rpk 0,017 µm
Rvk 0,069 µm
100 µm 100 µm

Ra 0,068 µm
Rk 0,166 µm
Rpk 0,047 µm
Rvk 0,194 µm
100 µm 100 µm

Ra 0,021 µm
Rk 0,055 µm
Rpk 0,022 µm
Rvk 0,052 µm
100 µm 100 µm

in this brochure are only standard, recommended or guide values that might differ given dissimilar dimensions and
production processes.
 ROCAR® Silicon Carbide – Production processes
Body preparation
High volume series
Dry pressing Coking
Green machining
SiSiC
Siliconizing
in a vacuum
Sand-blasting
We have optimized the production process
for the various materials over the years and
attained a high standard of reliability. Thanks
to our mastery of all production technologies,
we are capable of producing components made
of SiSiC up to approx. 900 mm diameter and
a length of 950 mm. SSiC components are
limited to a diameter of 550 mm and a length
of 420 mm.
Small quantity/
special components
Isostatic
dry pressing
Turning/cutting
SSiC
Sintering
Hard machining
(grinding, lapping, polishing)
We achieve optimal results in product and
system design by cooperating closely with our
customers and by making use of our intelligent
ceramics engineering. As a result we can
minimize production costs from the outset. Test
specimens and prototypes are produced and
tested in our laboratory-scale pilot plant and
developed through to series maturity.
Our subsidiaries:

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Our agencies:

Taiwan Korea
HERR CORPORATION Olive Corporation
6F-11. No 22 Wu.chuan 2nd Road Hanshin Hue 104–304
HSIN · CHUANG City Sangok-Dong 204-1
Taipei Taiwan Bupyung-Ku
Phone: +886 2 2992244 Incheon, Korea
Fax: +886 2 2992020 Phone: +82 32 5165221
e-mail: herr1@ms17.hinet.net Fax: +82 32 5215221
e-mail: olivecorp@kornet.net
ST • E • 1.000 • 6010 • echolot • Printed in Germany

CeramTec AG
Innovative Ceramic Engineering
Mechanical Systems Division
Luitpoldstraße 15
D- 91207 Lauf
Phone: +49 9123 77-199
+49 9123 77-493
Fax: +49 9123 77-46 4
e-mail: mechanical_systems@ceramtec.de
T H E C E R A M I C E X P E R T S www.ceramtec.com