Electroceramics can be defined as ceramic materials which are able to perform an electronic function for a particular application.
Ceramics have traditionally been used for their mechanical, thermal and chemical stability. However, their unique electrical, magnetic and optical properties can be tailored during the electroceramic formation process and they are now becoming increasingly important in modern technologies, such as: electronics, energy conversion and storage, automation and communications.
Subclasses of electroceramics have paralleled the growth of these new technologies.
Examples include:
- superconductors – high power magnets and fast fault current limiters
- ferroelectrics – high dielectric capacitors and non-volatile memories
- ferrites – data and information storage
- solid electrolytes – energy storage and conversion
- piezoelectrics – sonar and microphones
- semiconducting oxides – environmental monitoring
Control over the crystalline phase, grain size and chemical purity is necessary for electroceramics to function correctly. Many ferroelectric and piezoelectric electroceramics require a pure perovskite structure, which is generally the high pressure phase of a ceramic material.
The team at Ridgeway Technology Solutions has a wealth of experience in not only advanced powder processing techniques, but also in the high pressure sintering of high purity electroceramic materials with a single phase structure.
Ridgeway Technology Solutions can provide both advice on electroceramic materials preparation and prototypes of novel electroceramic materials for advanced applications.