Silicon carbide is one of the hardest technical ceramics and keeps its strength at temperatures where metals soften. In this clip a SiC coating is plasma sprayed onto stainless steel plates for a furnace application where the parts see both heat and chemical attack.
Success with SiC depends on preparation: the plate is thoroughly blasted to give an anchor profile, and a bond layer is often sprayed first so the ceramic keys to the steel instead of flaking off during thermal cycling.
We also apply silicon carbide to graphite trays and furnace furniture, and to steel plates used as a release surface.
