High-strength structural materials
Non-metallic materials typically have a much lower density compared to traditional metals like steel, iron, copper, and lead. Some of them are even lighter than aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. Their specific strength (strength-to-weight ratio) is often higher, making them ideal for lightweight structural components. For example, fiber-reinforced composites can achieve room-temperature specific strengths that surpass those of high-strength steel and aluminum alloys. These materials are widely used in applications such as handwheels, handles, brackets, covers, and instrument panels. They also play a crucial role in aerospace, where they are used for aircraft wings, blades, and fuselage parts. In the automotive industry, they help reduce vehicle weight, improve fuel efficiency, and increase performance. Additionally, they are used in high-pressure vessels, boats, and drive shafts, offering significant advantages in terms of weight reduction and durability.
Antifriction and wear-resistant materials
Some inorganic non-metallic materials are highly resistant to abrasion due to their extreme hardness. Examples include grinding wheels, abrasive cloths, oilstones, and cutting tools made from diamond, silicon carbide, and corundum, which are used for grinding and cutting operations. Others, like rubber and polyurethane, exhibit excellent elasticity and wear resistance, making them suitable for conveyor belts, tires, and other components exposed to abrasive particles such as sand, coal, or ore. Certain materials possess inherent lubricity and low friction coefficients, reducing wear and tear on mechanical systems. For instance, ceramics like silicon nitride are used in bearings, guide rails, piston rings, and seals, allowing them to operate with minimal or no lubrication. This makes them particularly valuable in environments where oil supply is difficult or impossible.
Corrosion-resistant materials
Many non-metallic materials, including ceramics, enamels, graphite, cast stone, and various plastics, are highly resistant to corrosion. They can withstand exposure to acids, alkalis, salts, and organic solvents, making them ideal for use in harsh chemical environments. Impervious graphite, for example, is resistant to concentrated acids and bases, while PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is known for its exceptional chemical resistance, even in strong oxidizing agents like aqua regia. These properties make them well-suited for manufacturing chemical processing equipment such as towers, pumps, valves, and piping systems.
Sealing materials
Materials like rubber, plastic, asbestos, and flexible graphite are commonly used for sealing applications due to their flexibility and resilience. They are ideal for dynamic and static seals, such as in compressor piston rings, gaskets, O-rings, and V-rings. Since the 1960s, resin-based sealants have also become popular, offering easy application and effectiveness for static seals. These materials provide reliable sealing solutions in a wide range of industrial and mechanical systems.
Electrical insulation materials
Non-metallic materials such as rubber, plastic, ceramic, asbestos, mica, and glass cloth laminates are widely used as electrical insulators. They are essential in electrical and electronic devices, providing protection against current leakage and ensuring safe operation. These materials are often used in wiring, circuit boards, and insulation layers in motors and transformers.
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