Water, raw powder and ceramic milling balls are fed into a mixer-like device called a mill.
To create particles of uniform size, with diameters of approximately one micrometer (1 µm or 0.001 mm), raw materials are first mixed into a slurry — a fluid of water and ceramic powder in which the particles are blended.
A spray dryer dehydrates the raw materials in the slurry to make a granulated powder.
The granulated powder is used to fill a knife-shaped mold.
The mold is placed under high pressure — 1 ton per cm2 (approx. 12,900 psi) — to solidify the powder into the desired shape.
The material is then fired and sintered in a kiln, like conventional ceramics, but under precisely controlled temperatures.
During the firing process, the ceramic blade shrinks to 75 percent of its original, unfired size, while the volume shrinks by nearly half. These shrinkage rates are carefully calculated during the design process, so the finished size matches the design specifications.
The blade is then ground with a diamond wheel to produce a razor-sharp edge.
A handle is then attached to complete the process.
The term "Fine Ceramics" is interchangeable with "advanced ceramics," "technical ceramics" and "engineered ceramics." Use varies by region and industry.
A Series of Complex Production Processes Are Used to Make Fine Ceramic Products
A Series of Complex Production Processes Are Used to Make Fine Ceramic Products
Introduction to Fine Ceramics
Wide Variety of Products to Support both Industry and Society
Wide Variety of Products to Support both Industry and Society
Introduction to Fine Ceramics
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Four Advantages that Metals Cannot Offer
Learning about Fine Ceramics