Compressive strength of advanced ceramics

Compressive strength is the ability of a material to resist forces that attempt to reduce its dimensions. For advanced ceramics, this property is critical, especially in applications subject to heavy mechanical loads or high-pressure environments. Due to their covalent and ionic bonding structure, advanced ceramics exhibit extremely high compressive strength.

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Compressive strength of advanced ceramics

Why compressive strength is so important in ceramic applications

Unlike metals, ceramics are fragile but can withstand higher compressive stresses. Their unique crystal structure and covalent/ionic bonding allow advanced ceramics to maintain structural integrity under extreme compressive loads. This property is critical in the following areas:

Structural support components
High Pressure Containment System
Wear-resistant mechanical parts
Aerospace thermal protection systems

Factors affecting compressive strength in applications

Material purity and particle size: finer, more uniform particles increase strength.
Porosity: Low porosity increases compressive strength.
Sintering process: Optimized sintering reduces internal defects and enhances mechanical integrity.
Surface treatment: Polished ceramic reduces stress concentration and improves load distribution.

Compressive strength data for major advanced ceramics

The following is a comparison of the compressive strength (in MPa) of common advanced ceramics:

Ceramic materials	Compressive strength (MPa)	hallmark
Silicon Carbide (SiC)	2,780 - 3,900	High density and super strength; suitable for high load mechanical parts
Boron carbide (B4C)	~3,650	One of the hardest ceramics, used for armor and abrasives (typical of the industry)
Aluminum Nitride (AlN)	~3,200	Excellent strength and high thermal conductivity in power electronics
Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)	~3,000	Bearings with excellent toughness and pressure resistance
ZTA (Zirconia Toughened Alumina)	~2,200	Combines the strength of aluminum oxide with the toughness of zirconium oxide
Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃)	2,000 - 2,600	Most widely used ceramics; balancing cost and compressive strength
Zirconium oxide (ZrO₂)	~2,500	High strength toughened variants commonly used in biomedical and industrial applications
Beryllium oxide (BeO)	~1,500	High strength and excellent thermal properties
Glass ceramics can be processed	~500	Medium compressive strength; easy to work with

*Data is for reference only.

Need help choosing the right ceramic?

Choosing the right ceramic material is critical to ensuring long-term reliability and optimal performance. Whether you need zirconia, silicon nitride, or alumina-based ceramics, our materials provide industry-leading strength, durability, and precision.

Our technical team is here to help - contact us today for expert customized advice for your specific needs.

Comparison: Ceramics vs. metals and plastics

The bar graphs below show the compressive strength of various engineering materials, from super hard ceramics to common industrial plastics, in descending order.

Ceramic

Metal

Plastic

*Data is for reference only.

Applications based on compressive strength of ceramics

Silicon carbide in mechanical seals (high pressure pumps)

Industry: Chemical Processing and Refining
Requirements: high compressive strength, corrosion resistance, thermal stability
Why choose it: Silicon carbide seals resist the compressive forces generated by pump shaft rotation and maintain surface integrity under extreme fluid pressures.

Silicon nitride bearings in turbomachinery

Industries: Aerospace, Automotive
Requirements: high load capacity, low weight, thermal shock resistance
Reason for selection: Silicon nitride ceramic balls can withstand repetitive compression loads at high RPMs without deformation and outperform steel in jet engines and turbochargers.

Zirconia in Dentistry

Industry: Medical/Dental
Requirements: biocompatibility, compressive strength, abrasion resistance
Reason for choosing: The high compressive strength of zirconia ensures the long-term stability of crowns and bridges, especially in posterior areas subjected to high occlusal forces.

Aluminum oxide insulators in high voltage systems

Industry: Power Transmission
Requirements: mechanical strength, dielectric strength, compressive load handling
Reason for selection: High purity aluminum oxide can withstand mechanical compression and electrical stress in grid components.

Aluminum Nitride Substrates in Power Electronics Applications

Industry: Semiconductors and Electronics
Requirements: high thermal conductivity, medium compressive strength
Why: AlN substrates dissipate heat from high power modules while maintaining compressive structural integrity under clamped or press-fit assembly.

ZTA in joint implantation

Industry: Biomedical
Requirements: toughness, compressive strength, wear resistance
Reason for selection: Zirconia toughened aluminum oxide has enhanced fracture resistance and can support heavy loads on hip and knee implants.

Thread guides and yarn tension resets

Applications: textile machinery and automatic reeling systems
Material used: aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide
Reason: Surface hardness resists grooves and nicks caused by continuous friction of threads or wires.

High MGC in Semiconductor Processing Fixtures

Industry: Semiconductor
Requirements: precision machining, dimensional stability under compression force
Reason for choosing: Machinable glass-ceramics such as MGC can be easily molded into vacuum chucks or support fixtures to maintain stability during wafer processing.