SSiC
SSiC is pressureless-sintered silicon carbide, densified with boron and carbon aids to a silicon-free, single-phase body (GB/T 3521), available in fine, coarse, graphite-loaded, porous, liquid-phase-sintered and HIP conditions.
Reference datasheet — SSiC is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the F condition
SSiC tempers and conditions
SSiC is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SSiC-C | Pick when crack deflection and thermal-shock/impact tolerance matter more than peak bend strength (armour tiles, large kiln and pump parts). | 230 | 0.06 | 2,400 HV | 130 W/m·K | |
FDefault As fabricated | Default choice for mechanical seal faces, bushings and slurry components needing maximum corrosion resistance and hardness. | 260 | 2,500 HV | 120 W/m·K | ||
LPS-SiC | Pick when higher strength and roughly double the fracture toughness are worth lower thermal conductivity and reduced resistance to hot caustics/HF. | 2,100 HV | 70 W/m·K | |||
SSiC-G | Choose for seal faces that must survive dry running, flashing or poorly lubricated media — dispersed graphite gives emergency lubrication at the cost of strength. | 2,200 HV | 100 W/m·K | |||
SSiC-P | Use where closed spherical micro-pores are needed as lubricant reservoirs / hydrodynamic pockets in seal faces running on marginal films. | 2,300 HV | 95 W/m·K | |||
Hot isostatic pressed | Highest density and strength route for small, high-reliability parts (precision optics substrates, high-load bearings); highest cost and limited part size. | 2,700 HV | 130 W/m·K |
What is SSiC?
SSiC is pressureless-sintered silicon carbide, densified with boron and carbon aids to a silicon-free, single-phase body (GB/T 3521), available in fine, coarse, graphite-loaded, porous, liquid-phase-sintered and HIP conditions. With no free silicon it holds a 97 corrosion rating and 1600 °C service, 410 GPa modulus, 260 MPa tensile strength and 120 W/m·K conductivity, which is why it is the default for seal rings and slurry-handling wear parts. Sintering shrinkage of about 20 % limits as-fired tolerance and post-sinter work is diamond-only; SiSiC is cheaper for large, less chemically loaded parts. SSiC has a density of 3.12 g/cm³ (0.113 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,700°C (4,892 °F). SSiC has a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi), stronger than 65% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 410 GPa (59.5 Msi).
What is SSiC used for?
- mechanical seal rings
- slurry pump components
- bulletproof armor tiles
- bearing sleeves
- chemical pump parts
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 97/100, better than 99% of ceramic grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 92/100, better than 89% of ceramic grades
- Conducts heat well — 120 W/m·K (69.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 88% of ceramic grades
- High service temperature — 1,600°C (2,912 °F), better than 86% of ceramic grades
SSiC properties
Typical room-temperature values for SSiC-F; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
SSiC has a density of 3.12 g/cm³ (0.113 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,700°C (4,892 °F).
Mechanical11
SSiC has a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi), stronger than 65% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 410 GPa (59.5 Msi).
Thermal5
SSiC is rated for continuous service to 1,600°C (2,912 °F). It conducts heat at 120 W/m·K (69.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 88% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
SSiC has an electrical resistivity of 100 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (97/100), better than 99% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of SSiC takes about 110 MJ of energy and emits 8 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability3
SSiC's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. SSiC is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with SSiC
Is SSiC easy to machine?
Shape in the green/bisque state (green machining or CIP + turning); after sintering only diamond grinding, lapping and polishing are possible — allow 0.1–0.3 mm grind stock and expect ~2 % sintering shrinkage scatter.
Can SSiC be welded?
Not weldable; join by active-metal brazing (Ti/Ag-Cu-Ti) up to ~600 °C service, glass/ceramic sealing, diffusion bonding or shrink-fit into metal holders — respect the 4 µm/m·K CTE mismatch with steel.
Can SSiC be formed, bent or molded?
Formed as a powder body by dry/CIP pressing, slip or gel casting, extrusion or injection moulding, then debound and pressureless sintered at 2050–2150 °C in argon.
SSiC chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| C (free)carbon sintering aid, removes surface SiO₂ | 0.3 – 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Badded as B or B₄C, solid-state sintering aid | 0.2 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Si (free)essentially silicon-free — key difference vs SiSiC | 0 – 0.1 | 0 |
| Al₂O₃ + Y₂O₃only in the LPS-SiC variant (typically 5–10 % combined) | 0 – 10 | 0 |
| SiCα-SiC (6H) dominant after sintering | ≥ 98 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on SSiC?
Seal and bearing faces are diamond-lapped to Ra ≤ 0.05 µm and 1–2 helium light bands flatness; no coating is normally needed, though laser texturing or DLC overlays are used for dry-running duties.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to SSiC in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- GB/T 3521
How much does SSiC cost?
SSiC is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
SSiC — frequently asked
What is SSiC used for?
SSiC is typically used for mechanical seal rings, slurry pump components, bulletproof armor tiles, bearing sleeves and chemical pump parts. In short: most corrosion-resistant SiC; no free silicon phase; standard seal-face ceramic.
What is the tensile strength of SSiC?
SSiC has a typical tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — stronger than 65% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is SSiC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Shape in the green/bisque state (green machining or CIP + turning); after sintering only diamond grinding, lapping and polishing are possible — allow 0.1–0.3 mm grind stock and expect ~2 % sintering shrinkage scatter.
Can SSiC be welded?
Not weldable; join by active-metal brazing (Ti/Ag-Cu-Ti) up to ~600 °C service, glass/ceramic sealing, diffusion bonding or shrink-fit into metal holders — respect the 4 µm/m·K CTE mismatch with steel.
What surface finishes work on SSiC?
Seal and bearing faces are diamond-lapped to Ra ≤ 0.05 µm and 1–2 helium light bands flatness; no coating is normally needed, though laser texturing or DLC overlays are used for dry-running duties.
Can SSiC be formed, bent or molded?
Formed as a powder body by dry/CIP pressing, slip or gel casting, extrusion or injection moulding, then debound and pressureless sintered at 2050–2150 °C in argon.
What is the maximum service temperature of SSiC?
SSiC is rated for continuous use to about 1,600°C (2,912 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does SSiC cost?
SSiC is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Hexoloy SA / SP Sintered Silicon Carbide datasheets — Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics (2023)
- EKasic F / C / P / F plus silicon carbide grade data — 3M Technical Ceramics (ESK) (2022)
- Sintered Silicon Carbide (SSiC) material properties — CoorsTek / Kyocera Fine Ceramics (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.