Insulate & Resist Electric Current
Materials used for electrical insulation can be required to either contain the voltage, or not interfere with the voltage. High mechanical strength is also a requirement in many such applications. While fasteners may not serve in the role of insulator, their proximity to the electrical field often demands they possess the same critical properties as the insulator itself.
The ability to deliver all three characteristics is found in one material: ceramics. Now, when facing this problem, you'll have the solution… Solid Ceramic Fasteners & Ceramco!
For High Voltage Applications
High voltage applications produce currents so strong they find any defect, leading to the corona effect, corona discharge, or worse, a conduction path other than the one intended for the current. Ceramco’s solid ceramic fasteners of A998 alumina are engineered to provide a defect-free connection for high voltage insulation applications. Our solid ceramic fasteners are tested under a vacuum for leaks and inspected for cracks with a dye penetrant. Fastener batches are also visually inspected under magnification.
For Low Voltage Applications
Managing low voltage electrical fields in sensitive analytical instruments (for example) require equally as sensitive fasteners. In such applications signals as low as 70 eV are found and cannot be interfered with. The high purity of Ceramco’s A998 alumina makes it the ideal material for fasteners for similar applications. Solid ceramic fasteners made of Ceramco’s high purity A998 alumina are non-conductive, gas-tight (non-outgassing) and inert, assuring non-interference. Ceramco already serves numerous areas of the electronics and instrumentation market.
Voltage resistance, conductance or mechanical strength are not always the only considerations when choosing a superior fastener. Selecting the correct ceramic material for a fastener may require guidance from Ceramco's materials engineers. Please contact us for assistance.
A Strong, Reliable Connection
You now know Ceramco solid ceramic fasteners can provide both electrical resistance (like some polymers) and electrical conductance (like most alloys). What you may not realize is that manufacturing techniques exist to produce a solid ceramic fastener with high mechanical strength.
Strength is accomplished in two ways:
- Fully molding the solid ceramic fastener, including the threads to avoid machining, as it is the machining that weakens the ceramic.
- Full density firing of the solid ceramic fastener; the ceramic composition determines the length of time it can fired.
Ceramco’s alumina, zirconia and ZTA fastener compositions are fully molded and fired to full density, resulting in a heat resistant and strong solid ceramic fastener. Solid ceramic fasteners (like all fasteners) have limits to their strength ratings. These characteristics are called: Mechanical Properties." When not over-torqued, or subjected to impacts, Ceramco’s solid ceramic fasteners deliver consistent, reliable and long lasting performance in high heat environments.