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Performance comparison of silicon carbide beams and other material beams

Time: 2025-07-04

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In Industrial Furnaces And High-Temperature Equipment, Beams Are Key Load-Bearing Components, And The Choice Of Their Materials Directly Affects The Equipment Life, Energy Consumption, And Production Efficiency. Currently, Common Beam Materials Include Silicon Carbide (SiC), Alumina Ceramics, Mullite, Metal Alloys (Such As Heat-Resistant Steel), Etc. This Article Will Compare The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Silicon Carbide Beams With Other Materials In Terms Of High Temperature Resistance, Mechanical Strength, And Service Life.

1. Comparison Of High Temperature Resistance

Silicon carbide beam : can withstand high temperatures up to 1600°C for a long time and 1800°C for a short time. It has little strength loss at high temperatures and excellent anti-oxidation performance.

Alumina/Mullite beam : usually has a temperature resistance below 1300℃, is easily softened and deformed at high temperatures, and may crack after long-term use.

Heat-resistant steel beam : generally the temperature resistance does not exceed 1200℃, it needs to be used with a cooling system, and is prone to oxidation and creep at high temperatures.

Conclusion : Silicon carbide has significant advantages in ultra-high temperature environments and is suitable for high-temperature processes such as ceramic sintering and photovoltaic silicon wafers.

2. Mechanical strength and thermal shock resistance

Silicon carbide beam : high bending strength (100-400 MPa), high thermal conductivity (120 W/m·K), strong thermal shock resistance, and can withstand rapid cooling and heating.

Alumina ceramic beam : low bending strength (200-300 MPa), low thermal conductivity (about 30 W/m·K), easy to crack due to thermal stress.

Metal beam : It has high initial strength, but is prone to creep deformation at high temperatures, has a large thermal expansion coefficient, and requires a reserved expansion gap.

Conclusion : Silicon carbide has the best comprehensive mechanical properties and is especially suitable for kiln environments with large temperature fluctuations.

3. Service life and maintenance cost

Silicon carbide beam : wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant, with a service life of more than 5 years and low maintenance cost.

Alumina/Mullite beam : easy to wear, life span is usually 2-3 years at high temperature, need to be replaced frequently.

Heat-resistant steel beams : require regular cooling and anti-corrosion treatment, are prone to deformation after long-term use, and have high comprehensive maintenance costs.

Conclusion : Silicon carbide has better long-term economic performance and is particularly suitable for continuous production industrial scenarios.

4. Disadvantages and limitations

Higher cost : The initial purchase price of a silicon carbide beam is higher than that of alumina or metal.

Brittleness risk : Although it has high strength, silicon carbide is a brittle material and needs to be protected from mechanical impact.

Processing difficulty : Silicon carbide beams with complex shapes require precision sintering, and the customization cycle is long.

Summarize

Silicon carbide beams far exceed traditional materials in terms of high-temperature strength, thermal stability and service life. Although the initial cost is higher, its long-term benefits are significant, especially for high-end ceramics, metallurgy, new energy and other industries. For budget-limited or low-temperature scenarios, alumina or metal beams can still be used as alternatives, but the performance and maintenance costs need to be weighed.