WEAR-RESISTANT, TEMPERATURE-STABLE, MEDIA-RESISTANTTechnical Ceramics for Mechanical and Plant Engineering

Mechanical and plant engineering places diverse demands on ceramic components. In addition to high mechanical load capacity, wear resistance, thermal or electrical insulation, and thermal conductivity come into play – often in combination.

Wear resistance under minimal lubrication and with abrasive media
Temperature stability even where standard bearings fail due to heat or corrosion
Chemical resistance against aggressive media and adhesives
Electrical insulation even at high operating temperatures
Manufacturing to drawing, from batch size 1

Start enquiry

Have your component reviewed

QUICK STARTHow would you like to begin?

View typical requirements

Wear, corrosion, high-temperature operation: the most common causes of component failure in mechanical and plant engineering.

Learn more

Select material by application

Al₂O₃, ZrO₂ or SiC: decision guide based on wear profile, temperature and medium.

View materials

Discuss a specific component

Bearing sleeve, valve component, nozzle? We review feasibility and the optimal solution approach.

Get in touch

TYPICAL CHALLENGESChallenges in Mechanical and Plant Engineering

Wear from abrasive media

Wear from abrasive media and minimal lubrication leads to premature component failure.

Bearing failure under heat

Bearing failure at high temperatures or in corrosive environments – standard materials reach their limits.

Combined thermal and mech. load

Material failure under combined thermal and mechanical load is difficult to predict.

Corrosion from aggressive media

Corrosion from aggressive media, chemicals and adhesives permanently destroys metallic components.

Precision components in small quantities

Precision components in small quantities without high tooling costs – economically feasible.

You know the problem – we know the material.

Tell us your operating conditions and the type of load. We will identify the optimal solution for your application.

Discuss your requirements

SOLUTION LOGICWhy is technical ceramics used in mechanical and plant engineering?

Advantages of technical ceramics:

Wear hardness up to approx. 1,800 HV (Al₂O₃): many times higher than steel (700–800 HV hardened)
Media lubrication instead of grease lubrication possible – plain bearings run in water, oil or aggressive media
Temperature resistance up to 1,750 °C – for use where standard bearings fail due to heat
Chemical resistance against acids, alkalis, adhesives and organic solvents
Electrically insulating even at high operating temperatures
Low specific weight compared to steel – relevant for moving components

BCE expertise for your project:

A 1:1 transfer of metal components to ceramics is not expedient in most cases – we jointly assess the optimal solution approach
Material selection based on wear profile, temperature, medium and installation situation
Manufacturing to drawing, from batch size 1: bearing sleeves, plain bearings, valve components, guide elements, nozzles, cutting elements, welding rolls, standard components
Prototypes in the same quality process as series parts
ISO 9001-certified process

Typical mistakes in mechanical and plant engineering:

Transferring a metal component 1:1 to ceramics without reviewing the ceramic-appropriate geometry and installation situation
Material pairing not considered: ceramic on ceramic or ceramic on metal requires matched pairing partners
Lubricant compatibility not checked – not every medium is suitable as a lubricant for ceramic bearings
Tolerance requirements carried over from metal machining – sintering tolerance and machinability not coordinated

Early consultation on suitable material pairing and installation situation reduces premature failure.

MATERIALSSuitable materials for mechanical and plant engineering

Zirconia (ZrO₂)

When suitable:
High-load precision bearings, valve components and guide elements under peak mechanical stress. Flexural strength >900 MPa.

Less suitable:
Continuous operation above 900 °C; note phase transformation under rapid temperature changes.

Alumina (Al₂O₃)

When suitable:
Wear protection, bearing sleeves with media lubrication, nozzles and insulation components. Cost-effective, wide range of applications.

Less suitable:
Highly dynamic impact or bending loads.

Mixed oxides (ATZ / ZTA)

When suitable:
Combination of strength and toughness for demanding guide and bearing applications.

Less suitable:
Extreme temperatures above 1,400 °C.

Special materials (SiC, Si₃N₄, B₄C, AlN)

When suitable:
SiC for maximum wear resistance with abrasive media and high temperatures. Si₃N₄ for high-performance bearings under combined thermal and mechanical load.

Less suitable:
More complex and expensive to manufacture than oxide ceramics.

All materials at a glance

Interactive comparison table

KEY FACTSTechnical data at a glance

approx. 1,800 HV

Hardness Al₂O₃. Hardened steel is at 700–800 HV. Decisive for wear protection in continuous operation.

>900 MPa

Flexural strength ZrO₂. For bearings and valve components under peak mechanical load.

approx. 3.9 g/cm³

Density Al₂O₃. Compared to steel at approx. 7.8 g/cm³. Relevant for moving components.

Media lubrication

Ceramic plain bearings run in water, oil or aggressive media without grease lubrication.

up to 1,750 °C

Operating temperature oxide ceramics. Where standard bearings fail due to heat.

FAQFrequently asked questions from mechanical engineering

Answers to typical questions on material selection, metal replacement, material pairing and operating conditions for ceramic components.

Ask us directly

Why can't I simply have an existing metal component manufactured in ceramics?

In most cases, a 1:1 transfer is not expedient. Ceramics react differently to tensile stress, edge pressure and impact loads compared to metal. What works in steel can become a point of early fracture in ceramics. We jointly assess whether the existing geometry is ceramic-appropriate – or whether an adapted solution makes more sense.

Which material is suitable for bearings under high temperature or with minimal lubrication?

Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ are suitable for plain bearings with media lubrication – they run in water, oil or aggressive media without grease lubrication. At very high temperatures combined with mechanical load, Si₃N₄ is the first choice. The material selection depends on temperature, medium and load type – we clarify this before the quote.

What needs to be considered for material pairing?

Ceramic on ceramic or ceramic on metal requires matched pairing partners. An incorrect pairing leads to increased wear or premature failure. We take material pairing and the installation situation into account from the very beginning.

Which ceramic components does BCE manufacture for mechanical and plant engineering?

Wear-resistant bearing sleeves, plain bearings with media lubrication, valve components such as seat rings, cones and ball valves, guide elements, nozzles for aggressive media and adhesives, cutting elements, shear blades, rotary shear blades, welding rolls, forming tools and high-temperature-resistant electrical insulation components. All components manufactured to customer drawing.

How reliable are ceramic components in continuous mechanical engineering operation?

The key factor is the probability of failure under the specific load profile. Those who carefully match wear profile, temperature, medium, material pairing and installation situation achieve a very low failure rate. Errors almost always arise from incorrect material selection or an installation situation that was not designed for ceramics.

In mechanical and plant engineering, wear profile, temperature and installation situation determine the right material.

We will tell you which material will work reliably for your load situation – and which geometry makes sense.

Find the right material now