Morgan unveils new SiC kiln material
By Yoke Wong
Published: Monday, 03 April 2017
Material launched in Europe in 2015; New demand from US as emissions cut; To be used in kiln furniture, non-ferrous smelting
UK-based Morgan Advanced Materials has launched a
nitride-bonded silicon carbide (SiC) material to be used in
kilns in the US.
The material, known as Halsic-N, has a microstructure which
offers increased mechanical strength and greater durability
than the typical refractory material available in the US
market, according to Morgan.
Halsic-N is designed to have an increased lifespan, with
enhanced refractory properties including resistance to
oxidation and thermal shock.
Halsic-N contains a dense honeycomb structure, manufactured
by firing ceramic material. This unique structure provides the
maximum surface area on which chemical reactions take place,
using the least amount of catalyst.
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The new (for the US) material will be
showcased at this year’s
Ceramics
Expo event, which IM will also be
attending
Source: Morgan Advanced
Materials
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The material is used in ceramic firing kilns and also
metallurgy smelting.
"The main target business is kiln furniture in
table-porcelain and sanitary-porcelain industries as well as
themocouple sheets in non-ferrous smelting," Morgan
told IM.
Although the material has been widely used for the firing of
ceramic porcelain throughout Europe since 2015, the company is
only introducing Halsic-N to the US market now, in response to
the accelerating production of catalytic converters and diesel
particulate filters (DPFs) and the emphasis on cutting
emissions.
"Throughout the US we are seeing an increase in the
production of DPFs and catalytic converters, and the design of
such components is becoming more sophisticated all the time.
These components used to consist of only one filter per
catalytic converter; however, today’s models have
two or three separate discrete filters, prompting demand for
the firing process," explained Michael Rozumek, R&D
director at Morgan.
In response to increasing demand for more sophisticated
material, Morgan has developed Halsic-N, which has a flexural
strength of 160MPa and improved oxidation-resistance and
resistance to creep deformation.
Furthermore, the material can be shaped to exact dimensions
required by customers, delivering a material that can be relied
upon for repeated use during rapid heating and cooling, Rozumek
added.