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Umicore are the UK agents for the technical ceramics division of FRIATEC, Mannheim, Germany. FRIATEC are one of the leading manufacturers of high-performance ceramic components for industrial use.
Engineering ceramics, high-temperature ceramics, electro ceramics and fine-grinding tools
FRIATEC's products fall into four main categories: engineering ceramics, high-temperature ceramics - such as tubes and laboratory ware - electro ceramics and fine-grinding tools. Marketed under the FRIALIT®-DEGUSSIT® brand name, the products are manufactured from high-purity ceramic materials including alumina (aluminium oxide), zirconia (zirconium oxide), silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide and many more.
FRIALIT-DEGUSSIT materials are used in a wide range of applications in mechanical and chemical engineering, the offshore industry, pharmaceutical and food processing industries and in the electrical and electronic engineering and microwave fields. FRIALIT-DEGUSSIT products are noted for their maximum operational safety, reliability and long lifetimes.
Engineering ceramics
FRIALIT-DEGUSSIT engineering ceramic materials all exhibit the same basic characteristics, including:

High mechanical strength even at high temperatures
Extremely resistant to wear and chemical corrosion
Excellent resistance to thermal shock
Low specific gravity
Highly suitable for applications in the pharmaceutical and food processing machinery - certified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Excellent properties for electrical and thermal resistance
Stability at high temperatures up to 1,950°C

These characteristics enable the engineer to design ceramic parts that will work under extreme conditions where traditional materials would fail. Special problems demand special solutions.
Components for the offshore industry include components for wear and corrosion applications such as pumping, dosing and filling components (bushings, casings, shafts, pistons and plungers, cylinders etc.), flow meters, slide bearings, components for valves (precision balls, shafts, sealing discs, valve discs, valve balls, valve cones and seats etc.) and components for precision tools, plus many more.
We are specialists in joining ceramic to ceramic, and ceramic to metal. This can improve the performance of metal parts by incorporating ceramics in zones exposed to abrasion and corrosion. In addition to traditional mechanical fixings, different connecting methods are used such as shrink-fitting, glass-soldering, high-temperature brazing, adhesive bonding and sintering-in.
Electro ceramics
FRIALIT ceramic-metal assemblies are joined together using high-temperature brazing, including electrical feedthroughs for high voltage and high current, insulating tubes, high pressure feedthroughs, standoffs, insulators, sensor housings, sensors and thyristor housings.
Electro ceramics are ideal for high-pressure and high-temperature applications or in vacuum technology, furnaces, flow meters, level detectors, electronics, locomotives, X-ray tubes, medical devices, nuclear applications, scientific instruments and research such as particle accelerator etc.
High-temperature ceramics
Tubes, multi-bores, rods, laboratory ware and insulating powders made of DEGUSSIT oxide ceramics have excellent properties when used for temperature resistant and anti-corrosion applications in measuring, electronics, microwave and radar equipment as well as the heat treatment industries.
These applications exploit characteristics such as high dielectric strength, good thermal conductivity, stability in oxidising and reducing atmospheres, ultra high vacuum resistance, extreme resistance to corrosion and thermal shock.
Fine-grinding tools
DEGUSSIT fine-grinding tools developed by FRIATEC include whetstones, files, midget files, grinding wheels, mounted points and burnishing wheels. They all offer the same advantages, which include extreme hardness, great wear resistance, excellent stability of edges and profiles, outstanding surface finish of the machined parts and extensive size and shape availability.
DEGUSSIT fine grinding tools are bond-free, and the great hardness of the sintered crystals results in high wear resistance and excellent shape stability. This property is particularly important for precision work with hard metals, glass and porcelain to ensure the finest surface finish and accuracy of shape. The outstanding wear resistance also makes them economical in use.
Oxide ceramics
FRIATEC have over 50 years of experience in the manufacture of high-tech ceramic products and materials as a specialist division of a company over 145 years old.
In this time, we have naturally consolidated great knowledge and experience in the production of customer-specific components, including the offshore industry, regarding both material selection and component design. We have a team of highly experienced engineers ready to solve problems. This makes us an obvious co-operating partner in achieving the highest quality solutions.
Today we supply many internationally-recognised companies with our ceramic products, including ABB, Aker Kvaerner, Bosch, Endress & Hauser, ITT Flygt, Krohne, Lego, Océ, Ray-O-Vac, Rolls-Royce, Roxar, Saab, Schlumberger, Siemens, Tetra Pak, Varta, Volvo and Zeiss.