What is heat resistance?
Heat resistance defines the maximum operating temperatures of materials without them losing their mechanical or chemical properties. Heat-resistant materials are used wherever components are permanently or temporarily exposed to high thermal loads.
Many Ageing mechanisms run faster at elevated temperatures, so that even short-term temperature peaks can cumulatively lead to premature Ageing contribute.
Heat-resistant materials
Heat resistance must always be considered relatively within material families. Within the family of metals, titanium, nickel-based alloys such as Inconel. Stainless steels are resistant to corrosion and oxidation even at high temperatures, while hot-work tool steels remain high-strength and wear-resistant even at high temperatures thanks to alloying elements such as chromium, molybdenum, vanadium and tungsten. Application temperatures of 400°C (titanium) to 1100°C (Inconel) are possible.
Tungsten can be used in special applications and in an inert gas atmosphere at 2000°C-3000°C. Ceramic materials such as aluminium oxide or silicon nitride offer extreme temperature resistance combined with high hardness and chemical resistance. High-temperature plastics such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) are suitable for applications where low weight is required in addition to temperature resistance. Elastomers such as fluororubber (FKM) or silicone rubber (VMQ) can withstand temperatures of 200 °C and more and are often used for thermally loaded Seals and hoses.
Use of heat-resistant materials
Heat-resistant materials are used for flue gas components, oven linings and other applications, Seals, They are used for sterilisation, bearings, turbine components or electrical insulation in aerospace technology, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. In food and medical technology, they are used in sterilisation processes as they can withstand repeated heat cycles without any loss of quality.