Ceramic Crucibles for Laboratory, Furnace and Melting Review
ADCERAX is a China-based advanced ceramics manufacturer specializing in custom ceramic crucibles for laboratory analysis, furnace processing, calcination, sintering and selected metal-melting applications.
Choose from alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide, boron nitride and quartz, with custom sizes, lids, spouts, holes and ceramic boat forms matched to your temperature, atmosphere, process chemistry and equipment.
What Is a Ceramic Crucible?
A ceramic crucible is a refractory container made from engineering ceramics such as alumina, zirconia, boron nitride or silicon carbide, designed to hold solids or melts during high-temperature treatment. Compared with metal vessels, a ceramic crucible offers excellent resistance to heat, corrosion and thermal shock, while keeping metal ions and other impurities away from your sample.
How to Choose Your Ceramic Crucible — Quick Decision Guide
Answer these questions to quickly identify the right ceramic crucible material and shape for your application:
Step 1: What Is Your Maximum Operating Temperature?
Maximum operating temperature is the first key factor in crucible selection. It helps narrow the best material based on heat resistance, purity needs, thermal shock, and contact environment.
| Temperature Range | Recommended Material | Link |
|---|---|---|
| ≤1700°C (general lab/furnace) | Alumina (99-99.7%) — best cost/performance | Alumina Crucibles → |
| ≤1800°C (ultra-high purity) | Alumina (99.99%) — lowest contamination | Alumina Crucibles → |
| ≤2200°C (precious metals) | Zirconia (ZrO₂) — Pt, Pd, Au melting | Zirconia Crucibles → |
| ≤1600°C (rapid cycling) | Silicon Carbide (SiC) — best thermal shock | SiC Crucibles → |
| ≤2300°C (vacuum, molten metal) | Boron Nitride (BN) — non-wetting to metals | BN Crucibles → |
Step 2: What Is Your Primary Application?
Crucible selection should also consider the dominant process requirement. Use the table below to compare which material and shape best fit each application.
Still not sure? Share your temperature, atmosphere, sample type and furnace details — our engineers will recommend the optimal ceramic crucible.
| Application | Best Material | Best Shape |
|---|---|---|
| TGA / DSC thermal analysis | Alumina (99.7%+) or Zirconia | Small cylindrical (70-250 μl) |
| Ashing / LOI analysis | Alumina (99%+) | Cylindrical or rectangular |
| calcination/sintering | Alumina (99%+) | Rectangular or trapezoid |
| Precious metal melting (Pt, Pd, Au) | Zirconia | Cylindrical |
| Reactive metal melting (Ti, Zr) | Boron Nitride | Cylindrical |
| Metal pouring / casting | SiC or Alumina | With spout |
| Tube furnace / combustion | Alumina | Boat |
| C/S analyzer | Alumina (high purity) | Small cylindrical (standard sizes) |
| Silicon ingot / solar | Boron Nitride | Custom shape |
Ceramic Crucible Material Comparison — Quick Reference
Compare key properties across all ceramic crucible materials at a glance:
Max Temp (°C):1700-1800
Thermal Shock: Good (ΔT 200-228°C)
Molten Metal Contact: Limited (some metals)
Chemical Inertness: Excellent
Electrical Insulation: Excellent 
Cost: Low
Best For: General lab, calcination, ashing
Max Temp (°C): 2200
Thermal Shock: Excellent
Molten Metal Contact: Good (Pt, Pd, Au)
Chemical Inertness: Excellent
Electrical Insulation: Good
Cost: High
Best For: Precious metal melting, TGA
Max Temp (°C): 1380-1600
Thermal Shock: Excellent
Molten Metal Contact: Good
Chemical Inertness: Excellent
Electrical Insulation: Semi-conductive
Cost: Medium-High
Best For: Rapid cycling, metal melting
Max Temp (°C): 1000 (air) / 2300 (vacuum)
Thermal Shock: Excellent
Molten Metal Contact: Excellent (non-wetting)
Chemical Inertness: Excellent
Electrical Insulation: Excellent
Cost: Very High
Best For: Reactive metals, silicon, vacuum
Common Ceramic Crucible Sizes — Quick Reference
Crucible size should be selected based on process volume, loading method, and furnace limitations. Use the table below as a practical starting reference.
Typical Capacity: 70-250 μl
Common Dimensions: Ø5-7mm × 2-4mm H
Typical Capacity: 5-10 ml
Common Dimensions: Ø20-25mm × 15-20mm H
Typical Capacity: 10-100 ml
Common Dimensions: Ø30-50mm × 25-40mm H
Various rectangular/cylindrical
Typical Capacity: 50-500 ml
Common Dimensions: Ø40-80mm × 50-100mm H
Typical Capacity: 500-5000+ ml
Common Dimensions: Custom sizes
Properties of Ceramic Crucibles
Ceramic crucibles made from advanced ceramics such as alumina, zirconia, boron nitride and silicon carbide offer a combination of high hardness and wear resistance, excellent chemical stability and strong resistance to oxidation at elevated temperatures.
Alumina Ceramic Crucible
Alumina ceramic crucibles (Al₂O₃) combine high hardness, excellent chemical stability, good thermal shock resistance and reliable electrical insulation at elevated temperatures.
| Property | Unit | 99% Al₂O₃ | 99.5% Al₂O₃ | 99.6% Al₂O₃ | 99.7% Al₂O₃ | 99.8% Al₂O₃ | 99.9% Al₂O₃ | 99.99% Al₂O₃ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alumina content | % | 99 | 99.5 | 99.6 | 99.7 | 99.8 | 99.9 | 99.99 |
| Density | g/cm³ | 3.88 | 3.89 | 3.91 | 3.92 | 3.93 | 3.94 | 3.98 |
| Flexural strength | MPa | 360 | 379 | 312 | 313 | 314 | 315 | 320 |
| Hardness | GPa | 13.5 | 14.1 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 30 |
| Thermal conductivity | W/m·K | 30–35 | 35 | 32–37 | 33–38 | 34–39 | 35–40 | 36–42 |
| Thermal shock resistance ΔT | °C | 200 | – | 222 | 223 | 224 | 225 | 228 |
| Maximum use temperature (no load) | °C | ≤1700 | ≤1750 | 1755 | 1760 | 1765 | 1770 | 1800 |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion | 10⁻⁶/°C | 8.2 | 8.4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Melting point | °C | ≈2050 | ≈2050 | ≈2050 | ≈2050 | ≈2050 | ≈2050 | ≈2050 |
Zirconia Ceramic Crucible
Zirconia ceramic crucibles (ZrO₂) provide higher maximum temperature capability, superior thermal shock resistance and greater fracture toughness than standard alumina, together with low thermal conductivity and strong corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures.
| Property | Specification |
| Maximum Working Temperature | 1500 °C continuous use |
| Density | 5.65 g/cm³ |
| Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 10.3 × 10⁻⁶/K (25–1000 °C) |
| Thermal Conductivity | 2.2 W/m·K at 1000 °C |
| Chemical Stability | 0.08% mass loss after 24 h acid/alkali exposure at 1200 °C |
| Flexural Strength | 900 MPa at room temperature |
| Fracture Toughness | 8 MPa·m½ |
| Hardness (Vickers) | 12 GPa |
| Elastic Modulus | 210 GPa |
Boron Nitride Ceramic Crucible
Boron nitride ceramic crucibles (BN) offer excellent thermal shock resistance, high-temperature stability, very low wettability to metals and molten silicon, along with good chemical inertness and electrical insulation.
| Property | Unit | Pyrolytic Boron Nitride | Hot Pressed Boron Nitride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity | % | 99.99% | 99.50% |
| Density | g/cm³ | 2.15–2.19 | 1.96–2 |
| Hardness | HVO.5 | 651 | 62 |
| Volume resistivity | Ohm·cm | 2×10¹⁴ | 1.2×10¹⁴ |
| Dielectric strength | kV/mm | 55 | 76 |
| Maximum working temperature | °C | 1000 (air), 2300 (vacuum) | 900 (air), 1850 (vacuum) |
| Bending strength | MPa | 173 (A direction) | 310 |
| Thermal conductivity | W/m·K | 60 (A direction) | 55 |
| Tensile strength | MPa | 112 (A direction) | 110 |
| Thermal expansion coefficient | 1/°C | 6×10⁻⁷ | 1.8×10⁻⁶ |
| Compressive strength | MPa | 154 (A direction) | 120 |
Silicon Carbide Ceramic Crucible
Silicon carbide ceramic crucibles (SiC) feature high thermal conductivity, excellent mechanical strength and strong thermal shock resistance, together with good oxidation and wear resistance at elevated temperatures.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material System | RBSiC (80% SiC, 20% free Si) / SSiC (≥99% SiC) |
| Maximum Operating Temperature | ≤1380°C (RBSiC) / ≤1600°C (SSiC) |
| Bulk Density | 3.02 g/cm³ (RBSiC) / 3.10 g/cm³ (SSiC) |
| Open Porosity | <0.1% |
| Flexural Strength (20°C) | 250 MPa (RBSiC) / 380 MPa (SSiC) |
| Flexural Strength (1200°C) | 280 MPa (RBSiC) / 400 MPa (SSiC) |
| Compressive Strength | 1000–2200 MPa |
| Elastic Modulus | 330 GPa (RBSiC) / 420 GPa (SSiC) |
| Thermal Conductivity | 45 W/m·K (RBSiC) / 74 W/m·K (SSiC) |
| Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 4.1–4.5 ×10⁻⁶/K |
| Hardness | 2600–2800 kg/mm² |
| Chemical Stability Range | pH 2–12 |
| Oxidation Stability | <1% microstructural oxidation after 50 cycles (1000°C → RT) |
Types of Ceramic Crucibles
Ceramic crucibles are chosen by both material, shape and use. Here you can quickly compare alumina, zirconia, BN, SiC and multiple forms—cylindrical, rectangular, boat, conical and others—to match your furnace, sample size and process.
Ceramic Crucible Material
Alumina Ceramic Crucible
Matched sets with consistent wall and rim geometry, making it easy to scale from tiny lab tests to larger furnace batches.
Zirconia Ceramic Crucible
Extra-tough rims and bodies tolerate tighter clamping and frequent handling in demanding R&D or pilot lines.
Quartz Ceramic Crucible
Ultra-smooth inner surface and precise flat base give clean release, clear observation and accurate fill control.
Silicon Carbon Ceramic Crucible
Rigid thin-wall design helps shorten heat-up and cool-down time while keeping the crucible stable over repeated cycles.
Silicon Nitride Ceramic Crucible
Lightweight but strong bodies reduce furnace thermal mass and make manual loading and unloading easier.
Magnesia Ceramic Crucible
Optimised for basic oxide and slag environments, helping maintain crucible shape and volume over long campaigns.
Aluminum Nitride Ceramic Crucible
Wide locating flange and high heat-spreading body help keep temperature uniform across the whole melt zone.
Beryllium Oxide Ceramic Crucible
Slim, light walls with very high heat transfer minimise thermal gradients in compact high-power test setups.
Boron Nitride Ceramic Crucible
Naturally non-wetting inner surface lets melts release cleanly, cutting scrap and simplifying post-process cleaning.
Ceramic Crucible Shape
Cylindrical Ceramic Crucible
Symmetrical walls give even heating and strong mechanical support, while straight sides make tongs handling simple and repeatable.
Ceramic Rectangular Crucible
Flat bottoms and long straight walls maximise usable surface area, ideal for spreading powders or aligning parts in rows.
Trapezoid Ceramic Crucible
Tapered sides make loading, scraping and pouring easier, and allow crucibles to nest compactly to save furnace space.
Ceramic Crucible with Spout
Curved lip focuses flow into a narrow stream, giving smoother, drip-free pouring into moulds or vials.
Semicircular Ceramic Crucible
Shallow, rounded profile spreads material in a thin layer, making heating uniform and scraping or sampling very easy.
Point Bottom Ceramic Crucible
Shallow, rounded profile spreads material in a thin layer, making heating uniform and scraping or sampling very easy.
Alumina Conical Crucible
Tapered walls concentrate material at the bottom, improving heat focus and making complete pouring and scraping easier.
Ceramic Boat Crucible
Elongated, shallow channels spread powders in a thin bed, giving very uniform gas contact along the furnace path.
Ceramic Flat Crucible
Reinforced corners and low profile support heavier loads while keeping parts stable during stacking and conveyor handling.
Ceramic Crucible Uses
TGA Ceramic Crucible
Used in thermogravimetric analyzers to hold tiny powder or film samples securely so mass change can be tracked through controlled heating.
DSC Ceramic Crucible
Used in thermogravimetric analyzers to hold tiny powder or film samples securely so mass change can be tracked through controlled heating.
Ceramic Crucible for C/S Analyzer
Matched to carbon/sulfur analyzers where its porous, shaped body promotes complete combustion of steel, alloy or coal samples for C/S determination.
❓ Not Sure Which Ceramic Crucible Fits Your Process?
Share your drawing and operating conditions—temperature range, furnace type, atmosphere, chemistry and batch volume—and we’ll recommend the most suitable ceramic crucible material and design, together with a manufacturable solution you can qualify and repeat.
Applications of Ceramic Crucible
Ceramic crucibles support laboratory analysis, powder processing, melting and industrial furnace operations. Each application requires the material and shape to be matched to temperature, atmosphere, process chemistry, thermal cycle and equipment fit.
Laboratory & Analytical Testing
Small ceramic crucibles are used for TGA, DSC, carbon and sulfur analysis, ashing, LOI and other laboratory heating procedures. Selection should consider instrument compatibility, sample chemistry, purity, lid requirements and the heating program.
Industrial Furnace Processing
Ceramic crucibles support repeated thermal processing in tube, muffle, box and other industrial furnaces. Confirm furnace dimensions, loading and support method, working atmosphere, heating cycle, required capacity and handling conditions.
Powder Processing
Cylindrical, rectangular and boat-shaped crucibles are used for powder calcination, sintering and heat treatment. Key considerations include sample depth, gas flow, atmosphere, thermal cycling and possible reactions between the powder and ceramic.
Metal & Glass Melting
Alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide and boron nitride crucibles serve different metal and glass melting conditions. Material selection depends on melt chemistry, flux, atmosphere, temperature, holding time, wetting behavior and contamination limits.
Custom Ceramic Crucibles for Your Process
ADCERAX reviews ceramic crucible material, shape, capacity, wall thickness, lids, spouts, holes and furnace fit against your drawing and operating conditions. Send a drawing, existing-part photo or target dimensions to begin a manufacturability review.
Customization Options
Extra-large / Extra-small diameters, non-standard thicknesses, and ultra-long / ultra-short lengths.
Provide higher - level dimensional accuracy and concentricity control than the standard.
Flanges, steps, threads, drilling holes, grooves, etc.
Adjust the material according to the application requirements.
Polish and grind the surface to achieve a specific surface roughness.
Customization Process
Send us your drawing, CAD file, or physical sample with material grade, dimensions, tolerances, and quantity. Our engineers will evaluate the design and provide a detailed quotation with lead time and pricing.
Once the quote is approved, we proceed with sample prototyping (1–50 pcs) if needed, for testing and validation.
After sample approval or direct confirmation, we begin batch manufacturing using CNC machining, sintering, and polishing. All parts undergo dimensional checks, material purity testing, and surface finish inspection.
Finished products are securely packed and shipped via DHL/FedEx/UPS or your preferred method. We support global delivery with full documentation.
How We Manufacture Ceramic Crucibles for Your Process
ADCERAX manufactures standard and custom ceramic crucibles in alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide, boron nitride and other technical ceramics. Each request is reviewed from material selection and forming feasibility through sintering, finishing, dimensional inspection and repeat-production requirements.
We review operating temperature, atmosphere, sample or melt chemistry, thermal cycle and contamination requirements before recommending a ceramic material route.
Drawings, existing-part samples or target capacities can be reviewed for cylindrical, rectangular, lidded, spouted, holed and ceramic boat forms, including wall, rim and equipment-fit requirements.
The forming and sintering route is selected according to the ceramic material and crucible geometry. Deburring, machining, glazing or polishing is applied only where the material and application require it.
Dimensions, wall and rim condition, lid fit and visible defects are checked against the confirmed drawing or specification to support consistent repeat orders.
Professional Ceramic Crucible Factory-ADCERAX
ADCERAX has been engaged in advanced ceramics for over 20 years and has developed more than 2,000 types of high-temperature components, with a strong focus on ceramic crucibles made from alumina, zirconia, boron nitride, silicon carbide, aluminum nitride and related materials.
We supply both custom and standard ceramic crucibles for laboratory use, muffle and box furnaces, metal and glass melting and other thermal processes, exporting to more than 50 countries and supporting industrial users and OEMs that require stable, low-contamination and long-life crucible performance.
Ceramic Crucible Processing Strength
ADCERAX completes every step, from forming to diamond machining, to keep crucible walls and rims consistent. Tuned sintering profiles and 100% visual checks for cracks or chipping give you strong, thermal-shock-resistant crucibles that run reliably over many furnace cycles.
CNC Forming Stability & Wall Thickness Control
Dimensional accuracy for ceramic crucible bowl is achieved through CNC-assisted forming and machining, keeping wall thickness, roundness and base flatness within tight, repeatable tolerances for reliable furnace loading.
Holding crucible wall variation within ±0.2 mm for stable heating and cooling.
Controlling mouth roundness and base flatness to ensure smooth stacking and contact with supports.
Machining rims so lids and bodies mate correctly, improving sealing and handling strength.
Clean, Low-Contamination Surface Finishing
Internal and external crucible surfaces are refined to reduce residue build-up, minimise contamination and limit micro-cracks, helping each firing cycle stay stable and easy to clean.
Optimised Ra reduces sample adhesion while preserving suitable wetting in melts and slurries.
Removing sharp rims and micro-chips to lower breakage risk during loading and tongs handling.
Applying selected finishes where lower porosity or easier cleaning is required.
Sintering for Service Life & Thermal Shock Resistance
Microstructure density and strength in ceramic crucibles are developed through controlled high-temperature sintering cycles, tuned to each material system for long life under repeated firing.
Matching soak times and peak temperatures to alumina, zirconia, BN or SiC crucible materials.
Managing ramp and cool-down rates to balance strength, density and resistance to cracking.
Low open porosity improves chemical stability and cuts contamination over many cycles.
FAQs About Ceramic Crucibles
Start with the operating temperature, atmosphere, sample or melt chemistry, flux, thermal cycle and contamination limits. Alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide, boron nitride and quartz each suit different operating conditions.
There is no single maximum temperature for every ceramic crucible. The usable temperature depends on the material grade, atmosphere, dwell time, load, geometry and process chemistry.
A ceramic crucible is the broader high-temperature container family. A ceramic boat is generally shallow and elongated for tube furnaces, combustion analysis and thin powder layers.
A lid can help reduce splashing, evaporation and external contamination, but it does not create a sealed atmosphere. A spout supports controlled pouring and must be matched to the melt chemistry and crucible geometry.
Yes, selected ceramic materials can be used for metal, alloy or glass melting. Selection depends on the melt, flux, atmosphere, temperature, holding time, wetting behavior and contamination requirements rather than the material name alone.
Ceramic crucibles are commonly considered for oxidizing or contamination-sensitive processes. Graphite offers high thermal conductivity and thermal-shock resistance but may oxidize in air at elevated temperatures.
Common causes include rapid heating or cooling, local hot spots, incompatible sample or melt chemistry, penetration by molten material, mechanical impact and unstable furnace support.
Allow the crucible to cool gradually and use a cleaning method compatible with both the ceramic and the residue. Avoid quenching, hard impact and aggressive grinding, and do not reuse a crucible with cracks, chips or persistent contamination.
Ceramic Crucible RFQ Checklist
Include the following details for a more accurate material, manufacturability and quotation review:
- Preferred ceramic material, if known
- Crucible shape: cylindrical, rectangular, conical, lidded, spouted or boat
- Required dimensions and capacity: OD, ID, height, length, width and depth
- Wall thickness, rim, lid fit, holes or other custom features
- Furnace or instrument type and available installation space
- Peak temperature, dwell time, atmosphere and thermal cycle
- Sample or melt chemistry, flux and contamination requirements
- Required quantity and repeat-production needs
A drawing, existing-part photo or basic dimensions are enough to get started. We can confirm the remaining details during the review.
*Our team will answer your inquiries within 24 hours.
*Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
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