Ceramics are commonly used in kitchenware – plates, bowls, pots, and a lot more. Ceramics were developed not only as display or showpieces, but also as objects of use. Because of the frequent use and exposure of ceramics to heat and furnace, it is important for ceramics to be heat resistant.
Attempts at making ceramics heat resistant have been made, and the result is what is known today as thermal ceramics.
WHAT ARE THERMAL CERAMICS?
Essentially, thermal ceramics are heat-resistant ceramics. They are used in places or instances where temperature can get high. Basically, ceramics are all heat resistant since they are made by high temperature firing. But ordinary ceramics will crack if continuously exposed to high temperature. These cracks may become bigger and bigger every time you expose the ceramic to high temperature and eventually, it will break.
That is why thermal ceramics were developed. This is so that ceramics may now be exposed to as much high temperature as you can, without cracking or breaking the ceramic. Thermal ceramics are used for refractory and insulating purposes.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF THERMAL CERAMICS
There are three different types of thermal ceramics. These types depend on the use they are subjected to. The three different types of thermal ceramics are:
1.) Fibers – these are a sort of plastic foam made from ceramics clay. Industries like production of aluminium, metallurgical manufacturing of other metals, iron and steel, glass, and incineration make use of fibers. Fibers must have low shrinkage features though. This is one important thing to be considered if you use fibers.
2.) Insulating Firebricks – insulating firebricks are used as inner lining, floor, and channels of a furnace. This is because insulating firebricks can withstand extreme heat. It does not only withstand extreme heat but also insulates the heat from the furnace from radiating outside.
3.) Monolithics – these are thermal ceramics used as castables. Although heavy, its versatility makes it useful in more ways than one. Although castables are generally insulating, modifying the process in manufacturing them can make them specially insulating.