Product Information 3M™ Silicon Nitride Heater Tubes Introduction Features and Benefits ESK Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG, a 3M company, offers a family of foundry accessories made from silicon nitride, a high-strength ceramic material with excellent resistance to corrosion and high temperatures. • Gas-tight • Long life >12 months • Unaffected by corrosion • No melt contamination • Can be used in melts containing sodium and strontium 3M™ Silicon Nitride Heater Tube 3M™ Silicon Nitride Heater Tubes offer high thermal conductivity and thermal shock resistance. At the same time, they resist chemical attack by molten aluminum. This not only helps extend equipment service life but also prevents particles from separating from the tubes and contaminating the melt. • Resists build-up of dross • High temperature resistance up to 1,300°C • High thermal shock resistance • No preheating required at operation temperatures below 900°C • Easy cleaning of bake-on Application Molten aluminum is processed at temperatures between 680°C and 800°C. Radiant heater tubes are used to keep melts on temperature. The tube material should have sufficient mechanical stability to withstand the stresses of operation. In addition, the material must be resistant to chemical attack by the melt, and must not contaminate the melt with loose particles. • High thermal conductivity • Suitable for gas burners • Suitable for electrical heating systems • Best price/performance ratio Typical Material Properties (Not for specification purposes) Property Phase composition Density (g/cm³) 3M™ Silicon Nitride ß - Si3N4, Oxide >3.24 Porosity Open (Vol %) 0 Porosity Total (Vol %) <0.5 Flexural Strength, 4-pt Bending (MPa) Compressive Strength (MPa) 800 >2,500 Vickers-hardness HV1 (GPa) 15 Young’s Modulus (GPa) 300 Coefficient of thermal expansion (10-6 / K) 25°C – 500°C 500°C – 1.000°C Thermal conductivity at 25°C (W/m·K) 2.5 3.9 27 3M™ Silicon Nitride Heater Tubes 3M™ Sintered Silicon Nitride is a sintered grade of silicon nitride. This material is produced at our Kempten, Germany facility and is formed using iso-pressing. The primary applications are long tubes such as thermocouple protection tubes and heat riser tubes, both used in the aluminum and non-ferrous alloy industries. This material has excellent temperature response, is unaffected by corrosion, and is gas tight. Product is manufactured and sold by ESK Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG, a 3M company. Warranty, Limited Remedy, and Disclaimer: Many factors beyond ESK’s control and uniquely within user’s knowledge and control can affect the use and performance of an ESK product in a particular application. User is solely responsible for evaluating the ESK product and determining whether it is fit for a particular purpose and suitable for user’s method of application. User is solely responsible for evaluating third party intellectual property rights and for ensuring that user’s use of ESK product in user’s product or process does not violate any third party intellectual property rights. Unless a different warranty is specifically stated in the applicable product literature or packaging insert, ESK warrants that each ESK product meets the applicable ESK product specification at the time ESK ships the product. ESK MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION ARISING OUT OF A COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM OR USAGE OF TRADE. If the ESK product does not conform to this warranty, then the sole and exclusive remedy is, at ESK’s option, replacement of the ESK product or refund of the purchase price. Limitation of Liability: Except where prohibited by law, ESK will not be liable for any loss or damages arising from the ESK product, whether direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential, regardless of the legal theory asserted, including warranty, contract, negligence or strict liability. Technical Information: Technical information, recommendations, and other statements contained in this document or provided by ESK personnel are based on tests or experience that ESK believes are reliable, but the accuracy or completeness of such information is not guaranteed. Such information is intended for persons with knowledge and technical skills sufficient to assess and apply their own informed judgment to the information. No license under any ESK or third party intellectual property rights is granted or implied with this information. 3 ESK Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG, a 3M company Max-Schaidhauf-Straße 25 87437 Kempten, Germany T +49 (0)831 5618-0 F +49 (0)831 5618-345 info.esk@mmm.com The management system has been certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 50001, DIN EN ISO 14001. Please recycle. Printed in USA. © 3M 2015. All rights reserved. Issued: 1/15 10308HB 98-0050-0501-6 3M is a trademark of 3M Company. Used under license by 3M subsidiaries and affiliates.