SiSiC Beams as Kiln Furniture in the Electric Ceramics Industry

Application and Advantages of Silicon Carbide Square Beams as Kiln Furniture in the Electric Ceramics Industry

Silicon carbide (SiC) square beams are core kiln furniture for electric ceramics, featuring high-temperature structural stability, energy efficiency, long service life and clean firing. They meet the strict firing requirements of high-voltage electric ceramics and are the preferred load-bearing option for tunnel kilns, shuttle kilns and other mainstream kiln types.

I. Core Application Scenarios

SiC square beams play a key role in load-bearing and product support in electric ceramics production, applicable to various kiln types and processes:

1. Tunnel/shuttle kiln load-bearing frames: As kiln car cross beams or shelf main beams, they support saggars/setter plates for high-voltage electric ceramics (insulators, bushings, etc.), withstanding 1300–1380℃ for long-term stable batch firing.

2. Double-layer roller/dual-channel kilns: High strength and lightweight enable multi-layer arrangement, increasing unit space capacity and shortening firing cycles.

3. Special electric ceramics firing: Suitable for glass-ceramic composite and high-strength alumina-based electric ceramics (with high requirements for cleanliness and dimensional accuracy), avoiding slag contamination from traditional kiln furniture (e.g., mullite, alumina).

4. Traditional kiln furniture replacement: Replace oxidation-bonded silicon plates + mullite columns, simplifying kiln car design, reducing total weight and lowering thermal inertia.

II. Key Advantages

1. High-temperature Stability, Zero Deformation

• Excellent high-temperature flexural strength: Siliconized silicon carbide (SiSiC) has 280MPa flexural strength at 1200℃, far exceeding traditional materials, with no bending/deformation under long-term load.

• Low creep and thermal expansion: Negligible creep at high temperatures, thermal expansion coefficient 4.5×10⁻⁶/K, stable dimensional accuracy during repeated heating/cooling, preventing product cracking/eccentricity.

• Wide temperature range: SiSiC applicable to 1380℃, recrystallized SiC (RSiC) up to 1650℃, meeting different electric ceramic formulations.

2. Energy Efficiency, Reduced Costs

• High thermal conductivity + lightweight: 45W/(m·K) at 1200℃, accelerating heat transfer, saving 15%–30% energy; 30%–50% weight reduction lowers kiln car energy consumption and shortens heating/cooling time.

• Long service life: 3–5 times longer than traditional mullite/alumina kiln furniture, reducing replacement frequency and downtime losses, lowering unit product cost.

3. Clean Firing, Stable Insulation

• Dense and non-porous: SiSiC open porosity <0.1%, no slag/dust at high temperatures, avoiding electric ceramic surface defects and insulation decline.

• Chemical inertness: Strong acid/alkali/oxidation resistance, resistant to kiln atmosphere corrosion (e.g., trace SO₂, CO₂), no reaction with billets, ensuring stable dielectric properties.

4. Flexible Design, High Safety

• Strong customization: Customizable cross-sections (rectangular, square) and lengths for different kiln cars; large-span design reduces supporting columns, increasing effective loading space.

• High safety factor: 5-fold safety factor design, 1m-long beams bear over 50kN (adjustable with length), no sudden fracture risk, reliable operation.

III. Selection & Usage Tips

5. Material selection: SiSiC (cost-performance balance) for ordinary high-voltage electric ceramics; RSiC (higher heat resistance/strength) for ultra-high temperature or special types.

6. Dimension matching: Calculate cross-section/thickness based on kiln car span and load; 1m-long beams recommended to bear ≤50kN (5-fold safety factor).

7. Installation & maintenance: Avoid rapid heating/cooling (≤50℃/h); regularly check for cracks/erosion, replace damaged parts timely to ensure product quality.

IV. Conclusion

With four core advantages ofhigh-temperature stability, energy efficiency, clean firing and long service life, SiC square beams solve traditional kiln furniture pain points (deformation, pollution, high energy consumption, short life) in electric ceramics production. Especially suitable for large-scale, high-quality production of high-voltage/UHV electric ceramics, they are a key choice to improve product competitiveness and reduce costs.

【 Go Back 】 | 【 Print 】