Is ceramics chemically inert?What are its characteristics? And where is it applied?

Firstly: Ceramics are chemically inert because after being sintered at high temperature, the microstructure of ceramics becomes densified, chemical bonds are strengthened and stabilized, and the phase transformation is also stable. Therefore, ceramics are not prone to chemical reactions and have relatively stable chemical properties.

Inert ceramic properties

Strong chemical stability: It has a strong resistance to chemical substances such as acids, bases, salts, and various organic solvents, and is unlikely to undergo chemical reactions. For example, in the sulfuric acid production process, it can maintain structural integrity in a strongly acidic environment.

Outstanding thermal stability: It can withstand temperatures up to several thousand degrees Celsius and can withstand rapid temperature changes without easily cracking or deforming. For instance, in the high-temperature and highly fluctuating temperature environment of steel smelting, it can maintain good performance.

Excellent mechanical properties: It has high strength, high hardness, and outstanding wear resistance. In the catalytic cracking unit of petrochemicals, it shows minimal wear even under high-speed scouring.

Main Components:

The main chemical components are aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), and also contain small amounts of alkaline metal compounds such as calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), potassium oxide (K₂O), sodium oxide (Na₂O), and very small amounts of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), etc.

Application fields

Petrochemical industry: In catalytic cracking units, it serves as a support material for catalysts, ensuring uniform passage of oil and gas through the catalysts and facilitating efficient cracking of large-molecule hydrocarbons in crude oil.

Environmental protection field: In industrial wastewater treatment, it is used for adsorption and retention of harmful substances such as heavy metal ions and organic pollutants in water; in flue gas desulfurization systems, it assists in the capture of sulfur dioxide in flue gas by absorbents.

Natural gas industry: In natural gas purification units, it protects catalysts for desulfurization and decarbonization, preventing catalyst pulverization due to gas flow impact; in storage stages, it is laid at the bottom of storage tanks to prevent erosion of the tanks and optimize the gas distribution inside the tanks.

Other fields: It can also be used as a grinding medium in industries such as mineral processing, coatings, and inks, effectively crushing and dispersing materials due to its high hardness and wear resistance; it can also be used as an insulating material to reduce heat transfer from high-temperature equipment or pipelines.