Glass-ceramic – find manufacturers and suppliers

Glass-ceramic is a material that is first melted and shaped like glass, but is then partially transformed into a ceramic structure through controlled crystallization (ceramization)

The result is a material that combines the properties of glass and ceramic: It is dimensionally stable, heat-resistant, chemically resistant and often transparent or translucent at the same time.

Below you will find an overview of how glass-ceramic works and its properties, as well as a brief description of how it is manufactured, its use and its advantages:

How glass-ceramic works and its properties:

The function and performance of glass-ceramic results from its special microstructure, a fine crystalline matrix in a glassy phase. This structure gives it the following properties:

1. Thermal properties:
   Extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion: glass-ceramic hardly expands at all when the temperature changes.
   Very high heat resistance: In some cases up to 750 °C or more.
   Thermal shock resistance: Crack-free resistance to rapid temperature changes.
2. Mechanical properties:
   High strength and dimensional stability.
   Depending on the design, good scratch and abrasion resistance.
3. Chemical resistance:
   Resistant to acids, bases and other aggressive media.
4. Optical properties:
   Transparent, translucent or opaque, depending on composition.
   Special versions are infrared-permeable or UV-resistant.

Production of glass-ceramics (in brief):

The exact composition and the crystallization process determine the subsequent properties.

1. Melting: Raw materials (e.g. silicates, oxides) are processed into a glass melt.
2. Shaping: The material is poured or pressed into the desired shape.
3. Ceramization (tempering): Targeted heating creates microscopically small crystals - the material becomes glass-ceramic.

Use of glass ceramics:

1. Household & kitchen:
Cooktops / glass ceramic hobs e.g. CERAN®: Heat-resistant, easy to clean, translucent for radiant heaters.
Oven windows and microwave components.
Tableware, e.g. casserole dishes resistant to temperature changes.

2. Industry & technology:
Laboratory equipment: reaction vessels, viewing windows and support plates.
Oven construction: viewing windows in high-temperature ovens.
Solar technology: Covers for solar collectors.
Mechanical engineering: Insulation parts and workpiece carriers.

3. Aerospace and aviation:
Heat shields and thermal protection systems for spacecraft.
Glass ceramics with extremely low expansion, e.g. for mirrors in satellites.

4. Medical technology & dental technology:
Dental restorations e.g. crowns, inlays made of lithium disilicate glass ceramics.
Biocompatible implant materials.

5. Design & architecture:
Glass facades, work surfaces and decorative elements.
Colored or translucent panels with high resistance.

Advantages of glass-ceramics:

• Very high thermal shock resistance
• Good chemical resistance.
• Combination of hardness and malleability.
• Environmentally friendly and recyclable.
• aesthetically versatile (clear, matt, colored, polished).

Due to its versatility, glass-ceramics is used in household appliances, industry, medical technology and high-tech areas such as aerospace. Despite higher manufacturing costs, glass-ceramic offers a durable and high-performance solution for numerous technical and design challenges thanks to its unique properties.

Below is an overview of the most important points to consider when purchasing glass-ceramics:

Purchasing glass-ceramic requires precise matching to the specific requirements of the application, whether in terms of heat resistance, chemical resistance or optical properties. An optimum price-performance ratio can be achieved by carefully selecting the material, taking quality and suppliers into account and ensuring long-term cost-effectiveness.

• Before purchasing, it should be clear where and how the glass-ceramic will be used. The right product variant can only be selected with a clear requirements profile.
• Is it a matter of thermal load, e.g. hob and viewing window in the oven?
• Is mechanical strength required, e.g. work surfaces and machine components?
• Should the glass-ceramic be chemically resistant, e.g. laboratory and medical technology?
• Does appearance or design play a role, e.g. architecture and displays or furniture?
• The selection should be based on the required material properties:
• Thermal expansion: For applications with strong temperature changes, a near-zero coefficient of expansion is crucial.
• Temperature resistance: Does the material have to withstand temperatures above 500 °C?
• Transparency or translucency: Important for hobs, displays or lighting.
• Surface hardness and scratch resistance: Relevant for kitchen worktops or technical housings, for example.
• Chemical resistance: For applications with cleaning agents, acids or alkalis.
• Processing properties: Can the material be cut, drilled or coated?
• For professional applications in particular, it is important to pay attention to quality and certifications:
• Material standards and test certificates e.g. DIN EN standards, ISO, CE marking.
• Traceability and quality assurance are particularly important in the field of medical technology or aviation.
• Not every glass-ceramic is available in every shape:
• Can standard formats be used or do you need customized cuts?
• Is a surface treatment such as polishing, satin finishing or coating necessary?
• Are there options for edge processing, drilling or engraving?
• How good is the fastening mechanism, e.g. gluing or screwing?
• These aspects have a considerable influence on costs, installation time and functionality.
• Glass-ceramic is generally more expensive than normal glass, but is much more resistant. It is therefore important:
• What are the long-term benefits, e.g. lower maintenance, longer service life?
• What are the total costs, including processing, installation and replacement cycles?
• Is the product economically viable for the planned application?
• Does the supplier offer advice and technical support for selection and processing?
• What about delivery times, spare parts and repeat orders?
• More and more projects require environmentally friendly materials:
• Is the glass-ceramic recyclable and must ecological standards e.g. REACH, RoHS be met?

Glass-ceramic offers many advantages, but must be specifically tailored to the intended use - be it in the kitchen, laboratory, architecture or industry. If you choose the right material and rely on reliable suppliers, you will get a high-performance material with a long service life and versatile benefits.

Glass-ceramic can be purchased from various suppliers. Comprehensive information about manufacturers and suppliers of Glass ceramics from all over the world can be found on Exportpages.