APPLICATIONS

Thermal
Glass and ceramics are manufactured at high temperature and can be used at high temperature. Alumina, zirconia and silicon carbide are usually used for high temperature applications although more exotic ceramics can perform at even higher temperatures.

Of the glasses, quartz offers the highest operating temperature and the best thermal shock resistance. For example, a red hot quartz component can be dropped into water without thermal shock breakage.

Thermal conductivity can also be important, depending on whether thermal insulation or good heat transfer is needed.

Examples include:

• Furnace tubes
• Thermocouple sheaths
• Aluminium nitride heat sink substrates
• High temperature windows
• Crucibles