ADVANCED CERAMICS TECHNOLOGIES
TECHNICAL CERAMICS
ENGINEERING
SWISSCERAMILL CERAMIC CUTTING TOOLS
3D CERAMIC PRINTING
DRY PRESSING
Dry pressing is used for the production of dimensionally accurate mass-produced items. Free-flowing granules are compacted in steel matrices that are profiled according to the part to be manufactured. The high costs for the tool (partly made of hard metal) are usually only justified for large series.
Dry pressing is a commonly used shaping process for the manufacture of technical ceramics. This process is also known as uniaxial pressing. With dry pressing, the powdery raw material is filled into a mold and pressed at high pressure of up to 500 MPa. The goal is to shape the raw material into a specific shape and achieve high density by tightly compressing the particles.
The dry pressing process begins with the preparation of the ceramic powder. The powder is usually ground in a ball mill or other grinding tool to achieve a uniform particle size. Then the powder is placed in a mold and pressed with a punch that moves perpendicular to the mold movement. The high pressure and vibrations ensure that the powder is compressed and takes on a solid shape.
After pressing, the component is dried to remove excess moisture and avoid cracks or deformation. Then it is fired at high temperature to achieve high density and strength. The exact firing temperature depends on the type of ceramic used.
Dry pressing of engineering ceramics offers a cost-effective way to produce high-density, high-strength parts. However, due to the high pressure and associated equipment costs, this process can be more expensive than other forming methods such as injection molding.
THE BENEFITS OF DRY PRESSING
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Dry pressing of engineering ceramics offers several advantages, including:
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High precision: Dry pressing enables the production of ceramic parts with high precision and complex geometric shapes. The use of custom-made molds allows for the production of parts with tight tolerances and high dimensional accuracy.
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Material versatility: Dry pressing can be performed with a wide variety of ceramic powders, including oxides, nitrides, carbides, and more. This enables the production of ceramic parts with different properties such as high hardness, wear resistance, heat resistance, electrical insulation, and more, depending on the requirements of the specific application.
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Cost-effectiveness: Dry pressing is generally a cost-effective process for manufacturing technical ceramics. It enables mass production of parts at relatively low manufacturing costs compared to other production methods, such as injection molding.
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Design flexibility: Dry pressing enables the production of ceramic parts in a wide variety of shapes and dimensions, ranging from simple to complex geometries. This offers designers a high degree of flexibility in designing ceramic parts for various applications.
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Improved material properties: Sintering after dry pressing allows ceramic parts to achieve high density and strength. Sintering also improves the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of the ceramic, resulting in high-performance end products.
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Reproducibility: Dry pressing enables the production of ceramic parts with high reproducibility and consistency. This is particularly important for applications that require consistent quality and performance.
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Overall, dry pressing of engineering ceramics offers a variety of advantages, including high precision, material versatility, cost-effectiveness, design flexibility, improved material properties, and repeatability, making it a popular method for manufacturing engineering ceramics for various industrial sectors.
