Porous Ceramic Parts in Alumina, Zirconia, Silicon Carbide and Mgo
ADCERAX is a porous ceramic manufacturer in China. We supply ceramic foam filters, porous vacuum chucks, tubes, rods, plates and membrane elements in alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide and magnesia, in listed sizes and to drawing.
- By part type: foam filter, vacuum chuck, tube, rod, plate, membrane element.
- By material: alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide or magnesia.
- By specification: pore size, PPI, porosity and dimensions — confirmed before quotation.
What Are Porous Ceramics?
Porous ceramics are ceramic parts engineered with a controlled network of open pores, so gas or liquid passes through the body at a predictable rate. Pore size, open porosity and pore connectivity are set during forming and sintering. Typical uses: filters, diffusers and spargers, flow distributors, vacuum holding surfaces and membrane supports.
Porous Ceramic Products & Types
These part families cover most porous ceramic inquiries. Each card states what the family is for, the materials normally supplied and the first thing to confirm; the linked page carries the full size list.
Porous Ceramic Materials
Default: foam filters, tubes, plates, rods and vacuum chucks for water, chemical and molten-aluminum duty.
Zirconia foam filters for carbon and stainless steel melts, and fine zirconia porous filter tubes.
Porous Silicon Carbide Ceramic
SiC foam filters for iron and copper alloys; microporous discs; membrane tubes for abrasive, high-solids duty.
Magnesia foam filters for magnesium alloy casting; used in dry or controlled environments.
Porous Ceramic Types
Molten-metal filtration for aluminum, iron, copper and steel.
Materials:
Alumina, SiC or zirconia; magnesia for magnesium alloys.
Confirm:
Alloy, PPI, plate size and preheat.
Vacuum holding for wafers, glass, film and PCB.
Materials:
Alumina or silicon carbide.
Confirm:
Workpiece thickness, flatness, vacuum level and diameter.
Inline filtration with a long, uniform flow path.
Materials:
90% alumina or zirconia.
Confirm:
OD/ID, length, end form and nominal pore size.
Diffusion, wicking and use as a core inside a housing.
Materials:
Porous alumina.
Confirm:
Diameter, length, pore grade and support at each end.
Vacuum workholding, diffusion and filtration.
Materials:
Alumina plates and discs.
Confirm:
Size, thickness, pore designation and sealing face.
Crossflow microfiltration and ultrafiltration.
Materials:
Alumina or SiC; tubes and flat sheets.
Confirm:
Support material, separation layer and separation target.
Also supplied: activated alumina balls for adsorption and gas drying. Both ball and foam formats are porous ceramic parts quoted from their own pages
Porous Ceramic Pore Structure Quick Reference
Different duties need different pore structures. Use the typical ranges below to place your requirement, then confirm the exact window by engineering review.
| Duty / Branch | Typical Materials | Typical Pore Structure | Typical Open Porosity | Key Spec to Confirm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic foam filter for molten metal | SiC, Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, or MgO, depending on the alloy type. | The pore structure is usually 10–60 PPI, with common plate sizes of about 40–500 mm and thicknesses of about 11–50 mm. | The typical open-cell porosity is about 80–90%. | Please confirm the alloy type, PPI, plate size, and preheat condition. |
| Porous vacuum chuck or plate | Al₂O₃ or SiC is commonly used. | The pore size is usually about 1–120 µm, with common grades of 15 µm, 30 µm, 50 µm, and 100 µm. | The typical open porosity is about 30–50%. | Please confirm the flatness requirement, workpiece thickness, vacuum level, and whether fine pores are needed to prevent print-through. |
| Diffuser or sparger element | Al₂O₃ or cordierite is commonly used. | The pore size is usually about 40–200 µm. | The open porosity is usually medium to high. | Please confirm the target bubble size, flow rate, pressure drop, medium, and cleaning method. |
| Filter tube, disc, or plate | Al₂O₃ or SiC is commonly used. | The pore size can range from about 0.1 µm to more than 1000 µm, depending on the retention target. | The typical open porosity is about 15–65%. | Please confirm the particle retention requirement, flow rate, pressure drop, medium, and operating temperature. |
| Ceramic membrane element | Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, or TiO₂ is commonly used. | The cut-off range is usually about 2 nm to 1.4 µm for MF or UF applications, with a layered membrane structure. | The porosity depends on the membrane layer design and support structure. | Please confirm the separation target and the cleaning or regeneration cycle, as each case should be reviewed individually. |
Typical industry ranges, not ADCERAX guaranteed limits. Pore size, porosity and permeability cannot be chosen independently – send material, pore target, flow/ΔP, dimensions, medium, temperature, quantity and drawing for review.
How to Choose a Porous Ceramic Part
Select the product family for your duty:
Molten metal · Filtration · Diffusion · Flow distribution · Vacuum holding · Membrane separation
- Foam: PPI
- Filters and chucks: µm
- Membranes: nm or µm, as specified
Include the flow rate and allowable pressure drop. PPI cannot be directly converted to pore size.
Send a drawing, part number or photos, together with the process medium.
Porous Ceramic Material Properties
Porous ceramics combine controlled open porosity with reliable mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical durability. Tuned pore size and porosity deliver predictable permeability while maintaining consistent performance.
Mechanical Properties of Porous Ceramic Materials
| Material | Bulk Density (g/cm³) | Open Porosity (%) | Compressive Strength (MPa) | Flexural Strength (MPa) | Young’s Modulus (GPa) | Fracture Behavior | Typical Mechanical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porous Alumina (Al₂O₃) | 2.0 – 3.2 | 30 – 70 (extendable to 10 – 90) | 20 – 150 | 10 – 60 | 80 – 200 | Brittle | Wide tunable porosity window with a good balance of strength and permeability; special formulations extend porosity to 10–90%; widely used for filters, supports, and core rods. |
| Porous Zirconia (ZrO₂) | 3.0 – 4.5 | 30 – 90 | 50 – 250 | 20 – 100 | 100 – 210 | Semi-toughened | Higher fracture resistance than other porous ceramics with porosity tunable up to 90%; strength decreases toward the high-porosity end; suitable for precision and load-bearing porous parts at moderate porosity. |
| Porous Silicon Carbide (SiC) | 2.2 – 3.0 | 10 – 85 | 80 – 300 | 30 – 120 | 200 – 350 | Brittle | Broadest porosity range from dense-like 10% to open-cell 85%; very high stiffness and wear resistance retained at low-to-mid porosity; ideal for high-temperature and abrasive environments. |
| Porous Magnesium Oxide (MgO) | 1.6 – 2.5 | 30 – 93 | 10 – 80 | 5 – 40 | 30 – 120 | Brittle | Highest achievable porosity up to 93% for lightweight, highly permeable and insulating duty; mechanical strength is limited at the high-porosity end, so best where insulation or chemical compatibility matters more than load capacity. |
Thermal Properties of Porous Ceramic Materials
| Material | Max Service Temperature (°C) | Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) | Thermal Expansion (×10⁻⁶ /K) | Thermal Shock Resistance | Heat Retention / Dissipation | Typical Thermal Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porous Alumina (Al₂O₃) | 1200 – 1600 | 2 – 10 | 6.5 – 8.5 | Moderate | Balanced | Good high-temperature stability; reduced thermal conductivity due to porosity; suitable for heated filtration and hot gas flow components |
| Porous Zirconia (ZrO₂) | 900 – 1400 | 1.5 – 5 | 9.5 – 11 | Good | High heat retention | Low thermal conductivity with higher expansion; better thermal shock tolerance than most porous ceramics; suitable for precision thermal fixtures |
| Porous Silicon Carbide (SiC) | 1400 – 1800 | 15 – 60 | 4.0 – 4.8 | Excellent | Fast heat dissipation | High thermal conductivity even in porous form; outstanding thermal shock resistance; ideal for high-temperature and rapid heating/cooling environments |
| Porous Magnesium Oxide (MgO) | 1000 – 1600 | 1 – 6 | 12 – 14 | Fair | High insulation | Very low thermal conductivity; excellent thermal insulation performance; often used where heat loss must be minimized rather than controlled |
Electrical Properties of Porous Ceramic Materials
| Material | Volume Resistivity (Ω·cm) | Dielectric Strength (kV/mm) | Dielectric Constant (εr) | Electrical Insulation Stability | Typical Electrical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porous Alumina (Al₂O₃) | 10¹² – 10¹⁴ | 6 – 15 | 8 – 10 | Excellent | Strong electrical insulation even with open porosity; widely used for insulating supports, porous heaters, and vacuum systems |
| Porous Zirconia (ZrO₂) | 10⁹ – 10¹² | 4 – 10 | 20 – 30 | Good | Higher dielectric constant; suitable for applications requiring insulation with enhanced thermal compatibility |
| Porous Silicon Carbide (SiC) | 10² – 10⁶ | <1 | 10 – 40 | Limited | Semiconductive behavior; electrical resistivity decreases with temperature; suitable for heating or sensing rather than insulation |
| Porous Magnesium Oxide (MgO) | 10¹³ – 10¹⁵ | 5 – 12 | 9 – 11 | Excellent | High resistivity and low dielectric loss; preferred for high-temperature electrical insulation and heater supports |
Chemical Properties of Porous Ceramic Materials
| Material | Acid Resistance | Alkali Resistance | Solvent Resistance | Oxidation Resistance | Chemical Stability Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porous Alumina (Al₂O₃) | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Chemically inert to most inorganic acids and organic solvents; limited attack by strong alkalis at elevated temperature |
| Porous Zirconia (ZrO₂) | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Outstanding chemical stability across acids, alkalis, and solvents; minimal ion leaching; suitable for aggressive chemical environments |
| Porous Silicon Carbide (SiC) | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Highly resistant to acids, alkalis, and molten salts; surface oxidation possible at very high temperatures in oxidizing atmospheres |
| Porous Magnesium Oxide (MgO) | Fair | Poor | Good | Excellent | Sensitive to moisture, acids, and strong alkalis; prone to hydration; mainly used in dry or controlled chemical environments |
All values are typical industry reference ranges for porous ceramic materials, not certified ADCERAX ratings. Actual performance depends on pore structure, geometry, load and service conditions, and material-level values do not equal assembly-level ratings; final figures are confirmed in engineering review.
Porous Ceramics Applications
Porous ceramics are used across industrial filtration, process equipment, chemical engineering, automation systems, thermal management, and high-temperature processing, where controlled permeability and material stability are critical.
Rigid, cleanable pore network for liquid and gas filtration — geometry holds under pressure, abrasion and aggressive cleaning, so flow stays predictable.
Typical products: porous ceramic tubes, discs, plates, foam filters.
To review: medium, retention target, flow/ΔP.
A rigid flow distributor where uneven inlet flow causes channelling or seal stress — interconnected pores smooth velocity profiles and damp pressure spikes.
Typical products: porous ceramic plates, discs, core rods.
To review: line size, medium, allowable pressure drop.
Porous SiC and alumina keep permeability and structure where polymers soften and metals wear; ceramic foam filters trap inclusions at stable pour rates.
Products: porous SiC elements, porous alumina parts, ceramic foam filters by alloy and PPI.
To review: alloy or gas, temperature, PPI or pore target, dimensions
Even suction across the full surface holds thin or fragile parts — glass, film, PCB — without suction marks or slip.
Typical products: porous ceramic chucks, porous plates.
To review: workpiece size and thickness, flatness need, vacuum level.
Custom Porous Ceramic Parts
Need a nonstandard porous ceramic part? Send a drawing or tell us the application. Still choosing a part type? Start with the material, medium and job.
Customization Options
Select a pore-size range and porosity for filtration, diffusion, flow distribution, wicking or vacuum holding. Flow and pressure drop are reviewed for the specified part.
Customize OD, ID, length, plate size, thickness, end form, sealing lands and mounting features to match the drawing.
Review the process medium, solids, temperature and cleaning method when selecting the pore structure and material.
Compare alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide and magnesia based on the application, media and operating conditions. Surface finish and porous regions are reviewed against the drawing.
Customization Process
Send function, pore size, flow/ΔP target, temp/chemistry, and cleaning method. Include drawing/interface, quantity, lead time, destination.
We confirm material (Al₂O₃/ZrO₂/SiC/MgO), porosity grade, pore window, OD/ID/length or plate size, and sealing/mount details.
We produce porous ceramic parts to spec and inspect key dimensions plus pore/permeability targets by batch. Traceable marking and records available.
Parts are protected, labeled, and packed to prevent chipping/contamination, then shipped with export-ready documents.
Why Source Porous Ceramics from ADCERAX?
ADCERAX supplies export-ready porous ceramic components with controlled processing and batch inspection. The working method: review your pore requirement, drawing or old part first, then quote what can actually be manufactured.
Forming, pore-structure control, sintering, machining and inspection. Available processes depend on the part family and drawing.
We review the part type, material, pore specification, flow requirements and interfaces against your application before quotation.
Dimensions, pore grade and flow or pressure-drop checks are agreed for the selected part and order. Inspection records are available when specified.
China Porous Ceramic Manufacturers-ADCERAX
ADCERAX manufactures porous ceramic parts in alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide and magnesia. Available formats include foam filters, tubes, rods, plates, discs and vacuum chucks. Product options depend on the material and part family.
Browse by part type or material above, or send a drawing or existing-part details for an engineering review.
Porous Ceramics Processing
Four proven pore-forming routes cover most porous ceramic duties; the route for your part is selected and confirmed per geometry and pore target in engineering review.
Pore-Former Sintering (Sacrificial Additives)
- How it’s made: ceramic powder is blended with pore formers (polymer beads, starch, graphite, etc.), formed, then fired; pore formers burn out to leave open pores.
- Best for: porous plates, discs, rods, blocks (uniform porosity).
- What it delivers: tunable porosity level and pore size band; good batch repeatability.
Partial Sintering (Necking-Control Porosity)
-
How it’s made: the green body is sintered below full densification so particles “neck” together while keeping inter-particle voids open.
- Best for: fine porous structures where strength must remain acceptable (often small parts).
- What it delivers: interconnected pores with relatively tight pore network; stable geometry.
Extrusion + Burnout + Sintering
- How it’s made: plasticized ceramic mix is extruded into tubes/rods; pore former burnout creates open pores; sintering locks structure.
- Best for: porous ceramic tube, porous ceramic rod, long straight flow paths.
- What it delivers: consistent ID/OD along length; good inline sealing and assembly.
Freeze Casting (Directional Porosity)
- How it’s made: slurry is frozen; ice crystals template aligned channels; ice is removed (freeze-dry), then sintering fixes the structure.
- Best for: parts needing anisotropic flow—one-direction channels, controlled gradients.
- What it delivers: aligned pore channels and high directional permeability.
FAQs About Porous Ceramics
Some ceramics can be porous, but industrial porous ceramics are intentionally engineered. Pore size, porosity, and permeability are controlled during forming and sintering.
Ceramic can be either porous or non-porous depending on processing.
- >Porous ceramics contain an interconnected pore network and are used for flow, filtration, and diffusion.
Non-porous (dense) ceramics have negligible open porosity and are used for insulation, sealing, wear surfaces, or leak-tight parts.
Engineers differentiate them by open porosity %, permeability (flow/ΔP), and leak rate. A simple lab test is to measure flow at a small pressure differential.
Start from the function: filtration needs a pore-size window tied to particle retention, while diffusion or vacuum holding focuses more on stable permeability. Define your target flow and allowable ΔP first, then confirm pore grade.
Porous alumina: cost-effective, good chemical & thermal stability, typical filtration duties.
Porous zirconia: higher fracture toughness, better mechanical shock resistance; good when strength under stress matters.
Porous SiC: high wear resistance, high temp tolerance, excellent for abrasive or heavy solids loading duties.
You should choose by media chemistry, temp range, solids load & desired permeation stability.
Yes, critical fit zones (OD/ID, flatness, sealing lands) can be finished to drawing. The porous region is handled carefully to avoid pore blockage and edge chipping.
Porous ceramics are made as:
-
Plates/discs: wide area flow & distribution.
-
Tubes: inline filtration & sealing integration.
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Rods/core rods: diffusion & wicking cores.
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Chucks: vacuum holding with uniform suction.
-
Balls/beads & foam: packed beds & high throughput media.
Common checks include key dimensions, pore grade confirmation, and permeability verification (flow/ΔP) by batch. Traceable marking and inspection records can be provided if required.
Include cleaning method and lead time target to get the most accurate build recommendation and quote.
Porous ceramic is made by forming a ceramic “green body” and then engineering an interconnected pore network during burnout and sintering to meet a target pore size, porosity, and permeability (flow/ΔP).
Typical production workflow (step-by-step)
- Define targets: pore size window, open porosity %, permeability (flow/ΔP), temperature/chemistry, and part geometry.
-
Raw material prep: select ceramic powder + binders; add pore-forming agents if required.
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Mixing & de-airing: disperse uniformly to avoid pore banding and weak zones.
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Forming: press/extrude/cast to create the green shape (plate/disc/tube/rod/foam).
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Drying: controlled drying to prevent cracks and distortion.
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Debinding & burnout: remove binders and pore formers to open the pore network.
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Sintering: lock pore structure and mechanical integrity with a controlled firing profile.
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Finish machining (as needed): OD/ID, flatness, sealing lands, grooves, mounting features—without blocking pores.
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Cleaning: remove machining dust and residues to stabilize permeability.
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Inspection: verify key dimensions plus pore grade and permeability (flow/ΔP) by batch, then pack for shipment.
Porous ceramics can be cleaned without blocking pores by:
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Rinse/flush at low ΔP to remove loose solids.
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Soak in compatible solvent for oils/greases.
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Controlled alkali or acid wash for specific foulants.
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Backwash flow for filtration parts.
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Final rinse & drying.
Avoid hard brushes or high-pressure jets that can chip pore walls. Confirm success by comparing flow vs. ΔP before and after cleaning.
PPI (pores per inch) balances melt cleanliness against flow rate. As typical industry guidance: 10–20 PPI suits primary smelting and large billets where flow matters most; 30–40 PPI is the common choice for quality extrusion billets and general castings; 50–60 PPI serves critical, high-purity work. The right PPI also depends on alloy, gating design and filter size, so share the alloy, dimensions and pour conditions for engineering review.
Get in touch with us
Send your drawing, pore requirement or old-part photos with the working conditions. Our engineers reply with what we can make and what still needs confirmation.
info@adcerax.com
Tel:+86-0731-84428843
WhatsApp:+86 19311583352
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