Silicon nitride is one of the most important structural ceramics around right now. It's used a lot in wear-resistant and high-temperature
applications.
Automotive
Silicon nitride is currently used primarily in the automotive industry. This material is used in engine parts and accessories, including turbochargers to reduce inertia and reduce engine latency and emissions, glow plugs to speed up starting, exhaust gas control valves to increase acceleration, and rocker arm linings for gas engines to reduce wear. Regulatory limits on engine emissions and rising fuel costs are driving the use of silicon nitride in the automotive industry.Each application in the automotive industry requires completely different but highly controlled performance to meet the requirements and achieve the greatest performance improvement compared to other materials.
Bearing Industry
Silicon nitride is considered an extremely promising material for the manufacture of high-performance all-ceramic or hybrid steel-ceramic rolling bearings due to its superior impact resistance compared to other ceramics. It's incredibly strong, tough and resistant to chemicals and heat, which makes it great for making bearings that can last longer and be used in high-speed systems like gas turbine engines. It can also handle really tough conditions, like extreme temperatures, large temperature differences, and ultra-high vacuum, as well as in critical applications where safety is a top priority. Silicon nitride is great for aircraft maintenance and other important jobs. Silicon nitride bearings are super reliable and perform well in extreme situations, so it's no surprise that they're expected to be used a lot in various industries.
