Sialon

SiAlON ceramics are a specialist class of high-temperature refractory materials, with high strength (including at high temperature), good thermal shock resistance and exceptional resistance to wetting or corrosion by molten non-ferrous metals, compared to other refractory materials such as, for example, alumina. A typical use is with handling of molten aluminium. They also are exceptionally corrosion resistant and hence are also used in the chemical industry. Sialons also have high wear resistance, low thermal expansion and good oxidation resistance up to above ~1000 °C. They were invented by Kenneth Henderson Jack in 1984.