CERAMITEC 2006 - Microsystem Technology Needs Ceramics

People have used ceramics on the way to today’s civilization for thousands of years. We encounter it daily as dishes on dining tables, in bathtubs and as WC, on floors and walls as tiles, in cars as spark plugs, etc. But this ancient material has recently spread to new areas, which allow at least just as much progress. We are moving into new dimensions, into the world of micrometers (1 µm = 0.001 mm).

Almost all known ways of production have to be discarded and replaced by innovative processes and machines to make it possible to work in these dimensions from 0.1 to a few hundred µm. The raw materials are no longer the known workable clay used for thousands of years either. Instead, people work with synthetic materials in the finest granularity, which are produced using chemicals or special milling. Raw material suppliers and machine manufacturers are going to exhibit numerous novelties for this area to visitors from throughout the world at ceramitec 2006. Not just laymen, but even specialist will not be able to stop marveling at what they see there.

Without microtechnology, computer technology – for which microelectronics are decisive – would have come to a standstill long before reaching its perfection of today (which is continually being improved). The performance (and low prices) are only possible there thanks to micro-components, which are produced using micro-structure technology. By the way, ceramic materials were used last in manufacturing micro-components; plastics and metal gained valuable experience there beforehand.

Microsystems are generally composed of micro-mechanic, micro-optic or micro-chemical components as well as control and evaluation electronics. They are key technologies of the new century, and they have found use in almost all areas of science and technology in the meantime. Microsystems contain micro-electronic components (the “brain”) between micro-sensors (“nerves”) and micro-actuators (regulating units or “muscles”). The latter send signals about the processes they measure to a micro-controller. As a result, ceramic actuators (analog to muscles) are controlled, which perform the required counter-reactions. Such Microsystems are built into large systems, e.g., as ABS in vehicles.

The chemical industry has promoted this development intensively since the end of the 90s; it has learned to appreciate the advantages of ceramic materials, especially with the micro-actuators. Resistance to corrosion and high temperatures are only two of the advantages. Such mini-factories include mini-mixers, mini-pumps and mini-piping as well as heat exchangers or very different micro-sensors within a few cubic centimeters. They are extremely flexible and can let up to 1,000 liters per hour flow through or only 0.1 liter/h at a controlled rate. The military, especially in the USA, has dealt intensively with microsystem technology; it spends more than ten times for it than the rest of the world. They are trying to develop safety systems against weapons, but also routing systems for munition and small robots. Micro-sensors are also used in mechanical engineering and the automobile industry.

Medicine uses microsystems in diagnostic equipment, pacemakers and inner ear implants. It has been possible to open a door with microsystems, through which examinations, measurements and invasive treatment are possible within the body. The production of small components is also required in dental technology, e.g., for complete ceramic crowns or inlays (fillings). It is inevitably a question of measurements of micrometers, because the part has to fit perfectly mechanically on one hand, and on the other hand the gap between crown or filling and tooth must be sealed against bacteria, i.e., practically be eliminated.

The production of components in minimum dimensions requires the development of completely new procedures. Optical lithography and structuring with laser, micro-injection molding, and hot pouring and forming are standard today.

It is also a question of a substantial measurement range in the micro-sector: from pore diameters of a catalytic layer with 0.5 nanometers (0.5 millionth millimeter) to the strength of a membrane coating with 0.1 mm and the canal diameter of heat exchange with 0.095 mm all the way to widths and lengths of such (100 mm); processing covers a measurement range of 1:100 million. Consequently, many components can only be produced completely automatically.

Sales in microsystem technology already amount to billions today. Ceramics make use of the advantages of their mechanical, physical and thermal properties. It is also an advantage that miniaturization reduces the frequency of errors considerably and consequently increases reliability enormously.

CERAMITEC 2006 is going to present raw materials, systems, processes and products of this highly innovative area of ceramics in its full range.

About CERAMITEC
CERAMITEC, 10th International Trade Fair for Machinery, Equipment, Plant, Processes and Raw Materials for CERAMICS and POWDER METALLURGY, will take place on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from May 16 to 19, 2006. CERAMITEC has developed into the world’s leading trade fair for the ceramic industry since its premier in 1974. The comprehensive supporting program provides an ideal overview of current trends and innovations in the ceramic market. Approximately 765 exhibitors from 41 countries and 25,000 visitors from 106 countries came in 2003. Exhibitor and visitor figures for CERAMITEC are checked by an independent auditor contracted by the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics).

About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI, Munich Trade Fairs International Group) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair companies. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With four subsidiaries abroad and with 62 foreign representatives serving 86 countries, MMI has a truly global network.

Additional information and the latest press releases are available at www.ceramitec.de

Contact for journalists:
Merle Hirsch
CERAMITEC 2006 Press Office
Tel. (+49 89) 9 49-2 02 47
Fax (+49 89) 9 49-2 02 49
Merle.hirsch@messe-muenchen.de
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This release was published on openPR.