As is well known, automobiles operate in extremely harsh environments and conditions, therefore, the various components that make up this behemoth must possess excellent functionality. Currently, the use of zirconia ceramic structural components in automotive parts is very common.

1. Zirconia ceramic structural component sensor

Zirconia ceramic oxygen sensors possess high mechanical properties and reliability. As a component of purified exhaust gas, they can be used to determine the concentration of O2 in automotive exhaust, and then the measured value is fed back to the engine’s air and fuel supply systems to ensure complete combustion of the fuel. Because all phases of this ceramic material are fully cubically stable zirconia, tetragonal zirconia, and partially stable mixed monoclinic crystals, its mechanical properties during use are excellent, and it can reduce heat generated by friction.

2. Zirconia Ceramic Valve Heaters

To ensure complete combustion during engine start-up, a heating device, namely a valve heater, is installed on the engine’s intake side to heat the intake air and complete fuel evaporation and mixing. To control the temperature and improve the reliability of the equipment during suction heating, a barium titanate ceramic PTC (thermistor) is used as the valve heater. By using a ceramic valve heater, the engine is in a state of complete combustion after start-up, achieving the effects of improved thermal efficiency, energy saving, and exhaust gas purification. The valve heater is made of a special ceramic material.

3. Zirconia Ceramic Engines

With the application of special ceramics in automobiles, existing piston engines, which are already popular and widely used, will feature auxiliary combustion chambers, cylinder heads, cylinder liners, and turbocharger rotors. All these components are considering the use of special ceramic materials, such as silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and partially stabilized zirconia. The mechanical strength requirements here are: a bending strength of over 50 kg/mm² and a coefficient of thermal expansion of 3.5 × 10⁻⁶°C.

Basically, the above-mentioned materials can meet these requirements, especially partially stabilized zirconia ceramics, which not only have a mechanical strength as high as 100 kg/mm², but also a thermal conductivity of only -0.04 g/cm², compared to other materials.

Regarding gas turbine engines, to achieve the same fuel cost as diesel engines, the turbine inlet temperature must reach as high as 1350°C. Only silicon carbide and silicon nitride ceramic materials can withstand such high temperatures. Currently, experts have high expectations for this and believe that the above-mentioned ceramic materials are the ideal choice for turbine rotors and stators. In the future, ceramic motors will most likely be made by combining silicon nitride with silicon carbide ceramics or partially stabilized zirconia ceramics.

4. Zirconia Ceramic Sensing Element

High-end automotive shock absorbers utilize the positive piezoelectric effect, inverse piezoelectric effect, and electrostrictive effect of sensitive ceramics to develop intelligent shock absorbers. This type of intelligent shock absorber has the ability to recognize road surface conditions and adjust itself automatically. It can minimize vehicle vibrations on rough roads and improve passenger comfort.

Intelligent Ceramic Cleaner: This cleaner is made from barium titanate ceramics with pressure-sensitive properties. It can automatically detect rainfall and adjust the car’s windshield wipers to the optimal speed. Other ceramic sensing elements, such as those made from thermosensitive, pressure-sensitive, moisture-sensitive, and magnetosensitive ceramic materials, can also display sensitive information and automatically control temperature, humidity, condensate, and antifreeze settings.

In addition, many devices, parts, and small devices used in automobiles are also made from special ceramic materials, such as electronic buzzers, ultrasonic transducers, heat-absorbing glass, phototubes, oil plug rings, and oil-water seals. These automotive products, made from novel and special ceramic materials, typically possess superior physical and chemical properties, such as impact resistance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, lightweight, and ease of processing and production.