Hardness is a material property crucial for the ability of a material to resist plastic flow. Plastic flow results in deformation that alters the dimensions and tolerances of components. Optimising the efficiency of components in highly demanding applications almost always requires that those materials are resistant to plastic flow. Plastic flow is a crystallographic phenomenon that involves the ability of dislocations to move under a shear stress. Temperature and pressure are both responsible for activating and moving dislocations. Phases that form at ultra-high pressure phases (≥ 1 GPa) Therefore, technical ceramics that are required to retain their dimensions under demanding working conditions are best synthesised at ultra-high pressures (u-HP). Ridgeway Technology Solutions offers significant experience and expertise in producing u-HP materials.
In addition to accessing these unique u-HP phases the rate of sintering is accelerated at these pressures and therefore short dwell times and soak times will achieve material densities of >99% thereby ensuring limited grain growth and thereby preserving the micro or nano structure of the ceramic. Fine grain sized (nano or single micron) materials are attractive for enhancing both the strength and fracture toughness of these materials. u-HP combines and integrates three key material properties that enhance the performance of those materials in a myriad of applications such as perovskites in photovoltaics, borides in super-magnetism, carbides and nitrides in precision machining as well as diamonds for extreme cutting and drilling applications.
With over a 100 years of cumulative experience in the design, synthesis, sintering and production of technical ceramics under u-HPHT conditions, Ridgeway Technology Solutions are your perfect development partner to innovate new materials for your application.