The ceramic production process is fundamentally
different from other conventional technologies
such as metals, glass and polymers. After the raw
material synthesis and formulation the material
is pressed into the desired shape and thickness.
CeramTec-ETEC presses armour tiles with multiple
uniaxial high tonnage presses. The pressed green
bodies are then stacked for the sintering process or
transferred to the mechanical finishing area.
Ceramic materials require sintering in high temperature
kilns where the ceramic microstructure
is formed by consolidation of the original powder.
The characteristic properties of the ceramic are created
by the sintering process at temperatures of
1600° C for alumina, and more than 1900° C for
carbide materials. This process is associated with
a distinct reduction in the dimensions of the preshaped
component. The loss in general dimensions
is about 15 to 20 per cent and the volume loss is
about 50 per cent.
The finishing of materials and/or components by
means of remelting, post curing, reshaping – as is
usual in the case of metals – is not possible in the
case of ceramics.
Mechanical finishing of the ceramic components
is expensive since only diamond cutting tools are
used for this purpose. The production of specially
shaped components (e.g. edge plates) takes place
prior to the sintering process in the so-called green
stage, by sawing, cutting, milling and drilling.
Each process step influences the properties of the
final ceramic component. Errors that have occurred
during a previous process step cannot be rectified
through subsequent processes. A stringent Quality
Assurance process is rigidly followed throughout all
phases of production.
Ceramic technology permits the production of a
large variety of different components. In commercial
production, pressing tools for the most diverse
shapes and dimensions are used.
Consistent product quality is guaranteed by
cooperation with highly respected and experienced
raw material producers, by the use of modern
production technologies and by a mature Quality
Assurance System (according to DIN ISO 9001.2008
standard).
As an additional service to its customers,
CeramTec-ETEC offers ceramic CAD engineering of
the tile matrix layout for armor panels. Furthermore,
preassembling of the armor panels has proved to
be a major labor saving exercise for many of our
customers. These pre-assembled panels can be
directly inserted into the production process for the
composite assembly.