Materials

Eight qualified grades.

Five oxide grades we run every week, plus three non-oxide grades for heat, thermal shock and wear. Every number below is measured on printed and sintered test bodies, not copied from a pressed and machined data sheet. Where a value is theoretical rather than measured, we say so instead of printing it anyway.

Alumina

CoreCera 999

Aluminium oxide, Al₂O₃. Highest purity alumina grade for wear, thermal and electrical work.

Purity99.9 %

Density3.985 g/cm³

Relative density99.4 % of theoretical

Hardness HV101550

Bending strength, 4 pt430 MPa

Young's modulus300 GPa

CTE7 to 8 ppm/K

Thermal conductivity37 W/mK

Surface roughness Ra0.4 µm

Max service temperature1650 °C

Maximum part size84.9 x 51.4 x 156.8 mm

Wall thicknessup to 4 mm

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Alumina

CoreCera 998

Aluminium oxide, Al₂O₃. Thicker walls and a stiffer modulus where the geometry demands it.

Purity99.8 %

Density3.985 g/cm³

Relative density98.4 % of theoretical

Hardness HV101550

Bending strength, 4 pt400 MPa

Young's modulus380 GPa

CTE7 to 8 ppm/K

Thermal conductivity29 W/mK

Surface roughness Ra0.9 µm

Max service temperature1650 °C

Maximum part size84.9 x 51.4 x 156.8 mm

Wall thicknessup to 5 mm

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Zirconia

CoreCera 3Y

Yttria stabilised zirconia, 3 mol% Y₂O₃. The strongest grade we print, and the one specified most for medical work.

Purity99.8 %

Density6.088 g/cm³

Relative density99.4 % of theoretical

Hardness HV101250

Bending strength, 4 pt930 MPa

Young's modulus205 to 210 GPa

CTE10 ppm/K

Thermal conductivity2.5 to 3 W/mK

Surface roughness Ra0.3 µm

Max service temperature1500 °C

ColourWhite

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Alumina toughened zirconia

CoreCera ATZ

Alumina toughened zirconia. The highest bending strength we offer, and the only grade that holds walls up to 20 mm.

Density5.5 g/cm³

Relative density99 % of theoretical

Hardness HV101400

Bending strength, 3 pt993 MPa

Young's modulus220 GPa

CTE13.5 ppm/K

Thermal conductivity6 W/mK

Max service temperature1650 °C

Wall thicknessup to 20 mm

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Silica core

CoreCera SC

Silica based material for investment casting cores. Intentionally porous so it leaches out of the casting afterwards.

Density2.44 g/cm³

Relative density72 % of theoretical

Bending strength, 3 pt10 MPa

Surface roughness Raunder 3 µm

Max service temperature1575 °C

Maximum part size110.6 x 61.5 x 192.1 mm

Wall thicknessup to 6 mm

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Aluminium nitride

CoreCera AN

Aluminium nitride, AlN. The grade for moving heat: high thermal conductivity with the electrical insulation of a ceramic, and a CTE close to silicon.

Purityat least 98 %

Density3.26 g/cm³

Relative density98 % of theoretical

Hardness HV101100

Bending strength, 3 pt265 MPa

Young's modulus320 GPa

CTE, 20 to 400 °C4.5 ppm/K

Thermal conductivity170 W/mK

Volume resistivityabove 10¹³ Ω·cm

Surface roughness Ra0.8 µm

Max service temperature1000 °C in air, 1800 °C inert

Wall thicknessup to 3 mm

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Silicon nitride

CoreCera SN

Silicon nitride, Si₃N₄. High strength that survives thermal shock, and low thermal expansion. The grade to reach for when the part cycles between temperatures.

Purityat least 99 %

Density3.23 g/cm³

Relative density98 to 99 % of theoretical

Hardness HV101500

Bending strength, 3 pt700 MPa

Compressive strengthat least 3000 MPa

Fracture toughness6 MPa·m½

Young's modulus300 GPa

CTE2.5 to 3.2 ppm/K

Thermal conductivity28 W/mK

Thermal shockno cracking at 800 °C ΔT

Surface roughness Ra0.7 µm

Max service temperature1200 °C in air

Wall thicknessup to 4 mm

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Silicon carbide

CoreCera SiC

Silicon carbide, SiC. The hardest grade we print, and the one that keeps its strength furthest up the temperature scale. Semiconducting, not an insulator.

Purityat least 99 %

Density3.21 g/cm³

Relative density97 % of theoretical

Hardness HV102500

Bending strength, 3 pt380 MPa

Compressive strengthat least 2000 MPa

Fracture toughness3.5 MPa·m½

Young's modulus400 GPa

CTE4.0 ppm/K

Thermal conductivity120 W/mK

Volume resistivity10⁵ to 10⁷ Ω·cm

Surface roughness Ra1.2 µm

Max service temperature1600 °C in air

Wall thicknessup to 4 mm

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Side by side

Compare every grade at once.

Oxide and non-oxide grades are listed separately, because they sinter under different atmospheres and shrink by different amounts. Maximum part size and minimum feature size vary with the resolution you select. High, normal and large format resolutions are available per grade.

Oxide grades, sintered in air

Technical data for the five oxide ceramic grades, measured on printed and sintered test bodies
Property	CoreCera 999	CoreCera 998	CoreCera 3Y	CoreCera ATZ	CoreCera SC
Material	Al₂O₃	Al₂O₃	ZrO₂, 3 mol% Y₂O₃	Alumina toughened zirconia	Silica based, SiO₂
Purity	99.9 %	99.8 %	99.8 %	-	-
Density	3.985 g/cm³	3.985 g/cm³	6.088 g/cm³	5.5 g/cm³	2.44 g/cm³
Relative density	99.4 %	98.4 %	99.4 %	99 %	72 %
Hardness HV10	1550	1550	1250	1400	-
Bending strength	430 MPa, 4 pt	400 MPa, 4 pt	930 MPa, 4 pt	993 MPa, 3 pt	10 MPa, 3 pt
Young's modulus	300 GPa	380 GPa	205 to 210 GPa	220 GPa	-
CTE	7 to 8 ppm/K	7 to 8 ppm/K	10 ppm/K	13.5 ppm/K	-
Thermal conductivity	37 W/mK	29 W/mK	2.5 to 3 W/mK	6 W/mK	-
Surface roughness Ra	0.4 µm	0.9 µm	0.3 µm	-	under 3 µm
Max service temperature	1650 °C	1650 °C	1500 °C	1650 °C	1575 °C
Maximum part size	84.9 x 51.4 x 156.8 mm	84.9 x 51.4 x 156.8 mm	-	-	110.6 x 61.5 x 192.1 mm
Wall thickness	up to 4 mm	up to 5 mm	-	up to 20 mm	up to 6 mm

Non-oxide grades, sintered under nitrogen or inert gas

Technical data for the three non-oxide ceramic grades, measured on printed and sintered test bodies
Property	CoreCera AN	CoreCera SN	CoreCera SiC
Material	Aluminium nitride, AlN	Silicon nitride, Si₃N₄	Silicon carbide, SiC
Purity	at least 98 %	at least 99 %	at least 99 %
Density	3.26 g/cm³	3.23 g/cm³	3.21 g/cm³
Relative density	98 %	98 to 99 %	97 %
Hardness HV10	1100	1500	2500
Bending strength	265 MPa, 3 pt	700 MPa, 3 pt	380 MPa, 3 pt
Compressive strength	-	at least 3000 MPa	at least 2000 MPa
Fracture toughness	-	6 MPa·m½	3.5 MPa·m½
Young's modulus	320 GPa	300 GPa	400 GPa
CTE	4.5 ppm/K	2.5 to 3.2 ppm/K	4.0 ppm/K
Thermal conductivity	170 W/mK	28 W/mK	120 W/mK
Volume resistivity	above 10¹³ Ω·cm	above 10¹² Ω·cm	10⁵ to 10⁷ Ω·cm
Surface roughness Ra	0.8 µm	0.7 µm	1.2 µm
Max service temperature	1000 °C in air, 1800 °C inert	1200 °C in air	1600 °C in air
Sintering atmosphere	Nitrogen	Nitrogen, gas pressure	Inert
Wall thickness	up to 3 mm	up to 4 mm	up to 4 mm

Values measured on printed and sintered test bodies. Hardness, modulus and conductivity figures marked as theoretical in the source data are not repeated here. Properties depend on part shape and operating conditions, so treat these as reference values rather than guaranteed specifications. CoreCera AN, SN and SiC are non-oxide grades: they are sintered under nitrogen or inert gas, they shrink differently from the oxide grades, and their strength depends on the sintering route, so we confirm the route on each quote before we commit to a number.

Which grade for which job.

If two grades both clear your requirements, we quote both and tell you which one we would run.

Highest strength

CoreCera ATZ then CoreCera 3Y, at 993 MPa and 930 MPa. Reach for ATZ when the section is thick, 3Y when you need the smoother 0.3 µm surface.

993 MPa, 3 pt

High temperature

CoreCera 999 and 998 carry a 1650 °C ceiling. Use them for fixtures, nozzles and any part that sees heat without needing the highest toughness.

1650 °C

Casting cores

CoreCera SC, intentionally porous at 72% of theoretical density, so it leaches cleanly out of the casting once the metal has set.

72% density, leachable

Moving heat away

CoreCera AN at 170 W/mK, roughly five times alumina, while staying an electrical insulator. The default pick for heat spreaders, semiconductor fixtures and packages.

170 W/mK, insulating

Thermal shock

CoreCera SN survives an 800 °C thermal shock without cracking and expands at only 2.5 to 3.2 ppm/K. Use it where the part cycles between temperatures.

800 °C ΔT, no cracking

Wear and abrasion

CoreCera SiC at HV10 2500, the hardest grade we print, holding 1600 °C in air. Note that it conducts electricity, so it is not a substitute for an insulator.

HV10 2500, 1600 °C

Not sure which grade fits.

Send the geometry and the operating conditions, temperature, load and atmosphere. We will come back with a grade and a quote.

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Quoted within two business days.

Eight qualified grades.

CoreCera 999

CoreCera 998

CoreCera 3Y

CoreCera ATZ

CoreCera SC

CoreCera AN

CoreCera SN

CoreCera SiC

Compare every grade at once.

Which grade for which job.

Highest strength

High temperature

Casting cores

Moving heat away

Thermal shock

Wear and abrasion

Not sure which grade fits.

Ready to print your first part?