Ceramic materials in aerospace

Abstract

Ceramic materials, used alone or as part of an overall materials’ system, have several attributes of great benefit in many aerospace applications. In simple terms they offer:

• higher temperature capability than metals — exploitable through both increased combustion temperatures and/or reduced component cooling requirements in gas turbines, and in high velocity aerodynamic control surfaces in missiles and aircraft.

• lower densities than metals — offering lower weight components, thus improving the system payload or range capability; this also offers greater flexibility in changing the centre of gravity of structures to more appropriate locations; this attribute must be assessed in terms of specific strength for a given application; often this reduces the initially perceived benefit

• higher stiffness and hardness than metals — giving improved wear capability for bearings and seals

• some application specific properties, e.g. radar, Infra-red (IR) or other electromagnetic wavelength transparency.