Silicates
Family Overview
Silicate ceramics, the oldest family of ceramics, are multi-phase materials developed from natural silicate sources such as clay, kaolin, feldspar, and soapstone. Today’s silicates — including cordierite, forsterite, mullite, steatite, and technical porcelain — evolved from traditional ceramics and are useful for cost-effective technical applications such as electrical insulators and chemical labware. Skip to material property data >>
Cordierite
Cordierite combines great thermal shock properties, low thermal expansion rate, and good electrical insulation. It is an excellent fit for inexpensive insulators used in manufacturing and durable goods.
Example Applications:
- Household appliances
- Electrical insulators
Contact a CoorsTek expert to choose a Cordierite solution for your application.
Forsterite
Forsterite is used in electronics, often as silicate substrates, because of its good electrical and dielectric properties.
Example Applications:
- Sensors
- Electrical substrates
Contact a CoorsTek expert to choose a Forsterite solution for your application.
Mullite
Mullite has excellent thermal shock resistance and dielectric strength, making it ideal for electronic components for manufacturing purposes.
Example Applications:
- Ceramic tubes
- Metal foundry filters
Contact a CoorsTek expert to choose a mullite solution for your application.
Porcelain
As the company's longest running line of technical ceramics, CoorsTek chemical and scientific labware has become an industry standard. After glazing, CoorsTek porcelain labware resists corrosion and demonstrates superior thermal properties. Search the CoorsTek Labware Store to find the right piece of equipment for you.
Example Applications:
- Chemical & scientific labware
- Electrical insulators
Contact a CoorsTek expert to choose a porcelain solution for your application.
Steatite
Steatite is used in electronic components and manufacturing processes. Its low dielectric loss combined with a high dielectric strength make it an excellent inexpensive component for electronics and manufacturing processes.
Example Applications:
- Traditional electrical insulators
- Fuses
Contact a CoorsTek expert to choose a steatite solution for your application.
| Properties | Units | Cordierite | Forsterite | Mullite | Porcelain | Steatite |
| Flexural Strength, MOR (20 °C) | MPa | 100 | 20 | 45 - 170 | 130 | 140 - 160 |
| Fracture Toughness, KIc | MPa m1/2 | — | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
|
Thermal Conductivity (20 °C) |
W/m K | 2.5 | 7.3 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 2.5 - 3.0 |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion | 1x10-6/°C | 4.0 | — | 4.0 - 5.0 | 4.9 | 8.5 - 10.0 |
| Maximum Use Temperature | °C | 1200 | 1400 | 1700 | 1400 | 1200 |
| Dielectric Strength (6.35mm) | ac-kV/mm | 10 | — | 9.8 - 10.0 | — | — |
| Dielectric Loss (tan δ) | 1MHz, 25 °C | — | — | 0.002 | 0.0024 | — |
| Volume Resistivity (25°C) | Ω-cm | 1012 | — |
1010 to 1014 |
— |
1013 |