Structural Materials
Alumina (Al₂O₃)
"Alumina," the standard for fine ceramics
Alumina is a representative material and the most widely used among numerous fine ceramics. Leveraging the well-balanced properties of this alumina, we supply components to a wide range of industries.
Main reasons why alumina is chosen-
1.Excellent electrical insulation
It has a high ability to block electricity and has long been used as an indispensable material in the electronics field. -
2.High durability
It is highly resistant to chemicals (corrosion resistance), highly resistant to wear from rubbing (wear resistance), and also possesses mechanical strength.
Examples of use within the Niterra Group
High insulation materials for spark plugs
Insulation technology supporting the "miniaturization" and "high output" of spark plugs
To accommodate the reduction in diameter (thinning) of spark plugs, which increases the degree of freedom in engine design, the Niterra Group has developed a high withstand voltage alumina insulating material that resists dielectric breakdown even when made thinner. Using our proprietary microstructural control technology, it demonstrates stable insulation performance even in harsh, high-temperature environments.
・Purpose-driven material design
By minimizing invisible microscopic gaps (pores) and impurities within the material to the utmost limit, and through advanced control to precipitate specific crystals at the boundaries of ceramic particles (grain boundary phase), we have eliminated electrical bias (uneven electric field distribution) inside the material and improved withstand voltage performance at high temperatures.
Corrosion-resistant materials for semiconductor manufacturing equipment components
Corrosion-resistant materials supporting extreme clean environments and stable equipment operationFor CVD and etching equipment that use plasma processes among semiconductor manufacturing equipment, the Niterra Group provides high-purity alumina materials that suppress the generation of impurities caused by plasma to the utmost limit, fundamentally supporting precise manufacturing processes.
Prevention of contamination by impurities: With high corrosion resistance (resistance to plasma and chemicals), the inside of the equipment is constantly kept clean.
Unchanging stability even in high-frequency environments: A stabilized material with suppressed electrical loss (dielectric loss).
Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)
"Silicon Nitride," offering high reliability to withstand harsh environments
Based on "silicon nitride," which is extremely resistant to heat and friction, we provide high-performance components with long lifespans that are hard to break.
Main reasons why silicon nitride is chosen-
1.Excellent strength even at high temperatures
A material that stands out for its high strength and high hardness, especially in high-temperature ranges, it can be used with peace of mind even in places subjected to constant high loads, such as automotive engine components and bearings. -
2.Precise thermal control
Because of its high ability to dissipate heat (thermal conductivity), it solves challenges in advanced fields where accurate temperature management is required, such as substrates and heater components for semiconductor equipment. -
3.Prevents wear and maintains reliability
It is highly resistant in "sliding parts" where components rub against each other, reducing the risk of failure for the entire equipment and alleviating maintenance burdens.
High thermal conductivity materials for heat dissipation substrates
90W/m・K class high thermal conductivity silicon nitride materialMaterials for heat dissipation substrates used in circuit boards require insulation properties, high heat dissipation, and material strength. Aluminum nitride (AlN), known as a material with good heat dissipation, on the other hand, has low strength, which limited the degree of freedom in product design. The Niterra Group uses high-strength silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) and, through the optimization of firing conditions and proprietary material technologies such as grain boundary composition control, minimizes microscopic defects and other factors that impede heat transfer. This achieves both high heat dissipation (90W/m・K class) and material strength that withstands harsh environments.
High sliding materials for bearings
A material with an excellent balance of mechanical properties achieving ASTM standard Class 1By utilizing HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) technology, the Niterra Group highly and evenly controls fracture toughness, density, hardness, and microstructure, adopting silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) that conforms to ASTM F2094 Class 1. Possessing excellent sliding characteristics, it suppresses sliding noise during bearing operation over the long term and achieves high reliability. Additionally, we also adopt silicon nitride that conforms to Class 2.
High heat resistance materials for glow plugs
A material combining high thermal conductivity and high heat resistance, with excellent thermal shock resistance at high temperaturesIn addition to precise control of the silicon nitride grain boundary composition and crystal phase, we have achieved both high strength and high thermal conductivity at high temperatures by pursuing densification (pore-free state) using HP (Hot Press) technology. This realizes extremely high thermal shock resistance capable of withstanding rapid temperature increases, reaching 1000°C from room temperature in just one second.
Other Oxide Composites
"Custom-made materials" combining stability and strength
Based on "oxides," which have high chemical stability and are resistant to heat, chemicals, and moisture, we develop composite materials with new added performance through our proprietary technologies.
Main reasons why oxide-based composite materials are chosen-
1.Excellent chemical stability
Because they have properties that make them unlikely to undergo chemical reactions, they prevent material degradation even in harsh, easily corrosive environments, and continue to function stably over a long period. -
2.Realizing the "best of both worlds" from different materials
Through proprietary technology that combines the base oxide with other materials, hardness and strength can be further enhanced while maintaining stability. -
3.Optimizing the balance between cost and performance
For example, it is possible to design optimal materials tailored to applications, such as a "low-cost material for bearings" that can withstand high loads while being less expensive than silicon nitride.
Low-cost materials for bearings
High-strength oxide-based material realized through proprietary composite technologyThrough our proprietary composite technology, we have achieved a bending strength of 1200 MPa, which is highly strong even among conventional oxide-based ceramics. While possessing high durability capable of withstanding high-load bearing applications, it is less expensive than silicon nitride-based materials, thus balancing performance and economy at a high level.
