Ceramic tube and ceramic rod products are used in high-temperature applications that require erosion resistance and electrical or thermal insulation. Like other ceramic products, ceramic tubes and rods consist of oxides, carbides, nitrides, carbon, and other non-metals with high melting points. These refractories are hard, heat-resistant materials and products such as alumina cement, fire clay, bricks, and precast shapes. Some examples of ceramic tube and ceramic rod products are precast tubes, ladle impact pads, damns and weirs, impact runners, troughs, covers, furnace roofs, and skimmer paddles.
Many different materials are used in ceramic tube and ceramic rod products. Alumina, a compound of aluminum metal and oxygen, is used in refractory tubes, industrial crucibles, analytical labware, dielectric substrates, wear components, refractory cements, and abrasives. Depending on its purity, density and crystal structure, carbon is used for refractory linings, industrial crucibles, arc furnace electrodes, analytical labware, composites, refractory cements and superabrasives. Ferrites, garnets, and ferromagnetic materials have dielectric and magnetic properties that are useful in RF, microwave, and specialized industrial applications. Sapphire ceramics are used in lasers, substrates, jewel bearings, watch crystals, and other specialized optical, wear, and electronic applications.
Ceramic tube and ceramic rod products are available in a variety of shapes and types. Recuperator tubes are cross-shaped ceramic components that recover heat from combusted gases. Degassers are sometimes porous and bar stock usually has a square cross-section. Immersion tubes protect heating elements, burners, and other devices in high temperature furnaces from immersion in molten metal, glass, or other melted materials. Muffle or furnace tubes form a barrier between the heating elements and heated parts in a furnace.