CORROSION-RESISTANT, PRESSURE-STABLE, PRECISION-MADETechnical ceramics for the chemical industry

Applications in the chemical industry and process engineering require not only temperature resistance but above all reliable corrosion resistance – often combined with abrasion resistance when solid particles are present in the medium. We clarify before the quote which material is suitable for your application – and which is not.

Corrosion-resistant: acids, alkalis, organic solvents
Pressure-stable under combined loading
Abrasion-resistant with solid particle media
No particle or ion release
Manufacturing from batch size 1

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QUICK STARTHow would you like to get started?

View typical load cases

The most common requirements in the chemical industry: corrosion, abrasion, combined media and pressure attack.

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Select material by medium

Al₂O₃, ZrO₂ or SiC – decision guide based on media mix and operating temperature.

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Discuss a specific component

Valve seat, pipe liner, sealing surface? We clarify feasibility in a direct conversation.

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TYPICAL PROBLEMSChallenges in chemical and process engineering

Chemical corrosion

Attack from acids, alkalis and organic solvents causes permanent damage to components.

Abrasion from slurries

Solid particles in suspensions cause severe wear on surfaces and seals.

Combined loading

Simultaneous pressure, temperature and chemical attack exceeds the limits of standard materials.

Thermal cycling

CIP/SIP cleaning cycles create extreme temperature fluctuations that can lead to cracking.

Precision parts in small batches

Custom manufacturing demands high precision while remaining economically viable at low volumes.

Do you have a specific load case in the chemical or process industry?

Tell us your media mix, operating temperature and geometry. We assess feasibility, material selection and manufacturing – and provide you with sound technical feedback.

Discuss your load case

SOLUTION LOGICWhy is high-performance ceramics used in the chemical industry?

Special ceramics for chemical Industry and process engineering — Housing for valve balls

Advantages of technical ceramics:

Al₂O₃ is chemically stable against HCl, H₂SO₄, NaOH and organic solvents
ZrO₂ with >900 MPa flexural strength handles mechanical and chemical loads simultaneously
No particle or ion release into the medium
SiC: approx. 2,500 HV – significantly more wear-resistant for abrasive solid media and temperatures above 1,400 °C
Al₂O₃ approx. 1,800 HV – hardened steel is at 700–800 HV

BCE expertise for your project:

Material recommendation based on media mix, temperature profile and pressure loading
Manufacturing to drawing, from batch size 1 – e.g. for valve components, fittings, metering units and liners
Prototypes in the same quality process as series parts
ISO 9001-certified process, documentation available on request
If ceramics is not the right choice, we will tell you before the quote

Typical mistakes in the chemical industry:

Material selected for a single medium only, without considering the full media mix and operating temperature
Geometry of the metal component transferred to ceramics without adaptation
Tolerance requirements adopted from metal machining without accounting for the different thermal expansion of metal versus ceramic.
SiC or Al₂O₃ used with hydrofluoric acid or concentrated potassium hydroxide

Early consultation saves time, cost and iteration cycles.

MATERIALSSuitable materials for the chemical industry

Zirconia (ZrO₂)

When suitable:
Valve seats, sealing surfaces under combined pressure and chemical attack.

Less suitable:
Continuous operation above 900 °C.

Alumina (Al₂O₃)

When suitable:
Corrosion protection against acids and alkalis, moderate loading, cost-effective.

Less suitable:
Hydrofluoric acid, highly dynamic bending loads.

Mixed oxides (ATZ / ZTA)

When suitable:
When Al₂O₃ is too brittle and ZrO₂ is too expensive.

Less suitable:
Extreme temperatures, maximum corrosion requirements.

Specialty materials (SiC, Si₃N₄, B₄C, AlN)

When suitable:
Abrasive media, temperatures above 1,400 °C.

Less suitable:
SiC not suitable for concentrated potassium hydroxide or hydrofluoric acid.

All materials at a glance

Interactive comparison table

KEY FACTSTechnical specifications at a glance

>900 MPa

Flexural strength ZrO₂ – handles mechanical and chemical loads simultaneously.

approx. 1,800 HV

Hardness Al₂O₃ – hardened steel is at 700–800 HV.

approx. 2,500 HV

Hardness SiC – for abrasive media where Al₂O₃ wears out too early.

From batch size 1

No minimum quantities, no high tooling costs.

ISO 9001

Certified process, full documentation available on request.

FAQFrequently asked questions from chemical and process engineering

Answers to typical questions on chemical resistance, material selection and the feasibility of ceramic components.

Send us your question directly

Which material is suitable when several aggressive media are present simultaneously?

This depends on the complete media mix and operating temperature – not just the most aggressive medium. Al₂O₃ is suitable for most acids and alkalis but fails with hydrofluoric acid. SiC is compatible with almost all chemicals, except concentrated potassium hydroxide and hydrofluoric acid. ZrO₂ is recommended when high mechanical loading is present simultaneously. Without knowledge of the complete load profile, no reliable recommendation is possible.

Can an existing metal component be manufactured directly in ceramics?

Not without reviewing the geometry. Ceramics behaves differently from metal with respect to tensile stresses, edge pressure and thermal expansion. We check whether the existing geometry is suitable for ceramics – and identify where modifications are required.

What must be considered under combined loading from pressure, temperature and aggressive media?

Materials are often selected for individual load cases, not for their combination. ZrO₂ is suitable for mechanical and chemical loading up to 900 °C. Above that, SiC or Si₃N₄ are the right choice. We design based on the complete load profile.

Which ceramic components does BCE manufacture for the chemical industry?

Valve components for control valves, gate valves and shut-off fittings, metering units, liners and claddings, housings for ball valves, as well as valve cones and seats – all manufactured to customer drawings.

How reliable are ceramic components in continuous chemical operation?

The decisive factor is the probability of failure under the specific load profile – not a generalised service life. When media mix, temperature profile, pressure loading and geometry are matched to one another, a very low failure rate is achieved. Failures almost always result from incorrect material selection or an unsuitable installation situation.

Do you have a media mix, a load case or an open material decision?

We will tell you whether ceramics is the right choice – and if so, which material.

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