Ceramics

The ceramics site of Beta Research Limited is capable of producing slips, powders, compacts and fired products from alumina and spinel type raw materials and although Beta research Limited specialises in producing Beta”Alumina and spinel artefacts for the production of the solid electrolyte used in the sodium/sulphur or sodium/metal chloride electrochemical cell, the processing methods can be applied to a wider variety of materials.

Raw materials are mixed and dispersed as aqueous slurries (with or without organic binders, lubricants and dispersants) and milled in horizontal bead mills to a specified particle distribution (laser sizing) before being spray dried in either rotary or 2 fluid nozzle configuration to produce free flowing powders suitable for isostatic pressing. In addition to this there are jaw crushing, disc milling and pan granulation facilities available as well as small electric powered kilns rated 1250C should any pre calcination of raw materials be required.

The pressing capability is from two iso-static presses: a large wet bag press (250mm diameter x1200mm rated to 2500bar) suitable for tooling/product development and short production runs; and a small semi-automatic wet bag press (diameter 50mm x 400mmfor rated at 2000bar) suitable for longer production runs.

Firing capability is from two 1m³ gas fired kilns rated at 1600C and 1650C, fitted with afterburners to destroy all volatile organic components that may have been used in powder formulation.

Diamond blade cutting and grinding to size of fired components.

Thermo-compression bond seals of sizes up to 60mm can be manufactured at temperatures up to 1000°C and pressures of up to 1t on site.

Glass sealing/soldering capabilities area also present with an atmosphere controlled kiln rated to 1050°C

Naturally, a wide range of QC and QA are employed.