Material reference

Silicon Nitride Si₃N₄

High strength, lightweight industrial ceramic with exceptional hardness, fracture toughness, thermal shock resistance, and excellent corrosion resistance.

Used for: Used for: bearing balls & rollers · cutting tools · turbine blades · engine components · welding fixtures · cam followers · metal forming dies · wear parts

At a glance

Key Properties

Very high strength
Very high wear resistance
Excellent thermal shock resistance
Very low thermal expansion
Stable at high temperatures
Excellent chemical resistance
Products in this material

3 Silicon Nitride products in the catalogue

More Details

This material is not limited to the products and applications illustrated above. For more information, or to find out about other products/applications, please click here.

Silicon Nitride possess an outstanding combination of mechanical strength, fracture toughness, and thermal stability, making them one of the most versatile and high-performing advanced ceramic materials available today. At present, Silicon Nitride has been widely used in bearing balls and rollers, cutting tools, turbine blades, engine components, cam followers, metal forming dies, welding fixtures, and other high-stress, high-temperature mechanical parts. Its exceptional resistance to wear, thermal shock, and chemical attack makes it the material of choice for applications where conventional metals and other ceramics fall short.

Silicon Nitride is widely used in the fields of aerospace engineering, automotive manufacturing, precision bearing technology, industrial cutting and machining, molten metal handling, and semiconductor fabrication equipment, among others.

Request the Silicon Nitride datasheet

Full property data, grade comparison, machining guidance and typical applications.

At a glance

Applications

Ceramic bearings Bearing elements Roller elements Machining tools Semi-con manufacturing Ceramic plugs Precision components
FAQs

Frequent technical questions

How does Silicon Nitride differ from Boron Nitride or Alumina Nitride?

Silicon Nitride is much tougher and harder than alumina nitride and boron nitride, making it useful as a structural ceramic where the other material grades would not be used.

Need help choosing a grade? Talk to our materials team.

Tell us your operating temperature, the chemistry it'll see and any mechanical loads. We'll specify a grade — or recommend an alternative material — and link you directly to matching products.