Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate

Overview of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate
 

Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic plates are high-performance composite refractory products manufactured by reaction-bonding silicon carbide grains with a silicon nitride matrix. This unique microstructure delivers an exceptional balance of high-temperature strength, thermal shock resistance, and cost-effectiveness, making it the material of choice for demanding industrial applications where traditional refractories fail prematurely.

Unlike reaction-sintered SiC (RSSC) or hot-pressed SiC, SiC-bonded Si₃N plates offer a net-shape manufacturing advantage with lower production costs while maintaining superior oxidation resistance and load-bearing capacity at elevated temperatures. The material exhibits a distinctive property: its flexural strength actually increases with temperature up to approximately 1400°C, reaching 4 to 8 times that of ordinary refractory materials.

Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plates

Features and Advantages of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate
 

Exceptional High-Temperature Performance
SiC-bonded Si₃N plates maintain structural integrity and dimensional stability at continuous service temperatures up to 1550°C (air atmosphere). The material’s high-temperature bending strength remains comparable to or exceeds room-temperature values up to 1400°C, making it ideal for long-duration firing cycles. This creep resistance is especially valuable in continuous tunnel kilns, where refractory components must bear constant load at 1300–1550°C for months without deformation.

Superior Thermal Shock Resistance
With a thermal expansion coefficient of approximately 4.2–4.7 × 10⁻⁶/K (20–1000°C), these plates withstand rapid heating and cooling cycles without catastrophic cracking. The spalling resistance significantly outperforms oxide-bonded alternatives. This is critical for tunnel kilns subject to periodic startup/shutdown and sharp temperature gradients between preheating, firing, and cooling zones.

High Mechanical Strength
Room-temperature bending strength typically ranges from 150–180 MPa, with compressive strength reaching up to 500 MPa depending on formulation. This allows for thinner plate designs that maximize kiln loading capacity and energy efficiency.

Excellent Oxidation and Corrosion Resistance
The silicon nitride bonding phase provides superior oxidation resistance compared to silicon metal-bonded or oxide-bonded SiC. The material also resists attack from non-ferrous metal melts (aluminum, copper, zinc) and is not wetted by these liquids, extending service life in metallurgical applications.

Cost-Effective Net-Shape Manufacturing
SiC-bonded Si₃N is produced via a relatively simple nitriding reaction process, enabling near-net-shape forming with minimal machining. This translates to lower unit costs compared to reaction-sintered or recrystallized SiC products while offering comparable performance in many refractory applications.

Controlled Porosity for Thermal Stress Relief
Typical apparent porosity ranges from 12–17%. While this porosity limits wear performance compared to dense SiC grades, it effectively relieves residual internal stresses during sintering and thermal cycling, enabling the production of large-format plates without cracking.

Application Areas of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate
 

Ceramic Kiln Furniture
The primary application for SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ plates is as kiln shelves, setter plates, and batts for sanitaryware, tableware, technical ceramics, and electronic ceramics firing. The material’s high strength-to-weight ratio allows thinner shelves that reduce the kiln furniture-to-product weight ratio from 7:1 (traditional saggars) to approximately 0.8–1.2:1, delivering substantial energy savings.

Tunnel Kiln Construction and Kiln Furniture

SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ is a key refractory material for modern high-performance tunnel kilns, particularly for firing high-end ceramic tiles,    technical ceramics, and lithium battery cathode materials. In tunnel kilns, the material is used for:

Kiln roof load-bearing plates and beams (suspended roof systems), where high-temperature creep resistance is critical to prevent roof sagging and side-wall deformation.

Kiln wall support plates and cross beams for structural stability and zone separation.
Kiln furniture such as setter plates and supports, where high strength and thermal conductivity allow thinner profiles, higher loading capacity, and faster heat transfer.

Roller rods in roller-hearth tunnel kilns, requiring high hot bending strength and wear resistance.

Burner blocks and burner-zone linings, resisting flame impingement and thermal cycling.

The combination of low thermal expansion (4.2–4.7 × 10⁻⁶/K), high thermal conductivity (15–30 W/m·K), and strength that does not degrade up to ~1400°C enables tunnel kilns to operate with 10–20% energy savings compared with traditional refractory structures, while resisting cyclic heating/cooling without cracking or spalling.
 

Metallurgical Industry
Used as blast furnace lining components, aluminum electrolysis cell linings, and transfer ladles. The material’s non-wetting behavior with molten non-ferrous metals and resistance to cryolite attack make it particularly valuable in aluminum smelting environments.

Wear-Resistant Linings
Applied as wear plates and liners in mining and mineral processing equipment, including hydrocyclone liners and slurry handling systems. While not equal to dense SiC grades in wear resistance, SiC-bonded Si₃N offers wear performance comparable to alumina at a competitive cost point, with the added advantage of net-shape forming.

Environmental Protection Systems
Utilized in waste incinerator linings and high-temperature flue gas handling components where resistance to thermal cycling and chemical attack is required.

Industrial Heating Elements and Supports
Suitable for kiln rollers, beams, burner sleeves, and radiant tubes in ceramic and metallurgical furnaces operating in the 1200–1550°C range.

Applications of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate

Production Process of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate

The manufacturing of SiC-bonded Si₃N plates follows a carefully controlled reaction-bonding route:

1. Raw Material Preparation: High-purity α-SiC grains (typically ≤3 mm, graded for optimal packing density) are mixed with metallic silicon powder (10–20 wt%) and temporary binders. The SiC grain size distribution is critical—excessive coarse grains create open porosity, while fines ensure uniform bonding.

2. Forming: The mixture is shaped into plates via pressing, casting, or extrusion depending on thickness and dimensional requirements. Net-shape or near-net-shape forming minimizes subsequent machining costs.

3. Drying: Green bodies are carefully dried to remove moisture and volatile binders without inducing cracking.

4. Nitriding Reaction Sintering: The dried plates are fired in a nitrogen atmosphere at temperatures typically between 1350–1450°C. During this stage, metallic silicon reacts with nitrogen to form Si₃N₄, which grows as a bonding phase between the SiC grains, creating the characteristic SiC–Si₃N₄–SiC network structure.

5. Finishing and Inspection: Plates are dimensionally machined if required, then inspected for density, porosity, and dimensional accuracy. SEM analysis and thermal cycling tests may be performed to verify microstructural consistency and performance reliability.
 

Production Process of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate

Technical Parameters of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate

Note: Values represent typical ranges across commercial grades. Specific values vary by manufacturer and product thickness. Custom specifications available upon request. 

Comparison with Other Materials

Data compiled from multiple commercial sources and technical literature. Performance characteristics depend on specific grade and manufacturing process. 

Key Differentiator: While RSSC and dense SiC grades offer superior wear resistance and zero porosity, SiC-bonded Si₃N provides the best cost-performance balance for high-temperature load-bearing applications where thermal shock resistance and large-format production are critical. Its strength at elevated temperature is unmatched among cost-effective refractory ceramics. For tunnel kiln designers, this means SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ is typically the preferred choice for load-bearing roof and wall structures and for thin, high-conductivity kiln furniture, while dense RSSC may still be specified for high-wear roller or liner positions where zero porosity is essential.

Storage Conditions of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate

Proper storage is essential to preserve the performance characteristics of SiC-bonded Si₃N plates:

Moisture Control: The material exhibits hygroscopic behavior. Keep plates in their original moisture-barrier packaging until immediately before use. If packaging is damaged or opened, store in a dry, low-humidity environment. Residual moisture absorbed into the porosity converts to steam during first firing, which can cause fracturing or spalling.

No Water Immersion: Never immerse plates in water or allow them to be exposed to flooding. Do not rinse with running water. If plates become wet, force-dry thoroughly at low temperature (≤100°C) before any high-temperature exposure.

Physical Protection: Store plates flat on a level surface with adequate support. Avoid stacking excessive weight on individual plates. Protect edges from impact damage. Keep in a dust-free area to prevent contamination of the plate surface, which could transfer to fired ware.

First-Use Precaution: For kiln furniture applications, a pre-firing cycle (without ware) in a fully oxidizing atmosphere is recommended for nitride-bonded shelves. This diminishes the chance of local reduction and surface discoloration during subsequent firings. For tunnel kiln roof and wall components, a slow initial heat-up cycle is recommended to allow residual moisture to escape gradually and to stabilize the bonding phase before full production load is applied.

Temperature: Store at ambient temperature. Avoid areas subject to freezing or extreme temperature fluctuations.

Company Profile

Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd. (TRUNNANO) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and nanomaterials, including boride powder, nitride powder, oxide powder, concrete admixtures and ceramic products, etc.
 
The company has a professional technical department and Quality Supervision Department, a well-equipped laboratory, and equipped with advanced testing equipment and after-sales customer service center.
 
If you are looking for high-quality Ceramic Plate and relative products please feel free to contact us or click on the needed products to send an inquiry. 
 

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T/T, Western Union, Paypal, Credit Card etc.
 

Shipment Term

By air, by sea, by express, as customers request.

FAQs of Silicon Carbide Bonded Silicon Nitride Ceramic Plate SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ Ceramic Plate

Q1: What is the maximum continuous service temperature of SiC-bonded Si₃N plates?
A: The maximum recommended continuous service temperature is 1550°C in air atmosphere. However, for long-term reliability, sustained operation in the 1200–1450°C range is typical for most kiln furniture applications. Above 1400°C, some strength degradation begins, though the material retains usable strength up to 1500°C.

Q2: How does SiC-bonded Si₃N compare to reaction-sintered SiC for kiln shelves?
A: Reaction-sintered SiC (RSSC) offers zero porosity and superior wear resistance, but at significantly higher cost and with more complex manufacturing. SiC-bonded Si₃N provides comparable high-temperature strength and better thermal shock resistance at a lower price point, making it the preferred choice for most ceramic firing applications where wear is not the primary concern.

Q3: Can these plates be machined or cut to custom sizes?
A: Yes. SiC-bonded Si₃N can be diamond-ground, cut, or drilled using conventional ceramic machining techniques. However, due to the material’s hardness and slight porosity, machining should be performed with proper coolant and dust extraction. Many suppliers offer custom dimensions as part of the net-shape forming process to minimize post-machining.

Q4: Why do my plates sometimes show a white powder film upon receipt?
A: The white film is a normal residue from the manufacturing process and has no negative effect on performance. Wipe the surface clean before first use to prevent contamination of fired products. Similarly, shipping abrasion may generate fine SiC grit on edges and surfaces—clean thoroughly and check any expansion slits for debris before loading into the kiln.

Q5: What causes plate breakage during firing, and how can it be prevented?
A: Thermal shock from uneven temperature distribution is the leading cause of failure. Common culprits include: cold air drafts near kiln seals, direct flame impingement, oversized sight ports, and proximity to dampers. Use three support posts (rather than four) to minimize stress from uneven kiln floors, ensure adequate clearance from heating elements, and avoid opening dampers too early during cool-down.

Q6: Are these plates suitable for firing porcelain or glazed ware?
A: Yes, but with precautions. Porcelain clay bodies contain high flux levels that can interact with the plate surface at elevated temperatures. Use a protective kiln wash coating (such as a high-alumina wash) on the plate surface, and ensure thorough drying before firing. Pieces with small foot rings (e.g., bowls) are more prone to sticking than flat-bottomed ware due to concentrated contact pressure.

Q7: What is the typical lead time for custom-sized plates?
A: Lead times vary by manufacturer and order quantity. Standard stock sizes typically ship within 2–4 weeks. Custom dimensions involving new molds or specialized forming may require 6–10 weeks. Consult your supplier with specific dimensional requirements and quantity for an accurate quote.
Q8: Is SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ suitable for tunnel kiln roof and wall structures?
A: Yes. Its high creep resistance at 1300–1550°C, low thermal expansion, and good thermal conductivity make it well suited for suspended roof plates, wall support beams, and kiln furniture in continuous tunnel kilns. For zones with severe wear (e.g., roller positions), dense SiC grades may be considered, but for most load-bearing and heat-transfer components, SiC-bonded Si₃N₄ offers the best cost-performance balance.