Forming Technology
The special chemistry and specific bond type of ceramics render them interesting for those applications where rubbing forces occur in contact with metal partners typically in forming and calibration processes for tube or bushing manufacturing. Fretting and cold-welding behavior between ceramic tools and metal components could be reduced drastically are avoided. Necessarily not a longer life-time could be realized compared to tungsten carbide, but in most cases an explicit improvement of surface quality or process reliability could be reached. Mandrels, calibrating balls and bending bushes made out of ceramic materials are successful in use showing very impressing results. Predominating materials for these applications are ZrO2 as well as ATZ mixed oxide type.
