3M™ Silicon Nitride Metal Forming Roll

A Lightweight Alternative
3M™ Silicon Nitride Metal Forming Rolls feature the strength, non-magnetic, non-porous and electrical resistivity necessary for the efficient production of metal tubing. Our lightweight, high-strength ceramic material is used as an alternative to stainless steel, super alloys, tungsten carbides and first-generation ceramics such as Al2O3 and ZrO2. It offers excellent thermal shock resistance, high fracture toughness and compatibility with nonferrous metal melts.

Insights into the Advantages of the 3M Manufacturing Process
3M™ Silicon Nitride materials and components are produced at 3M manufacturing plants using unique compositions and processing techniques. These processes yield a fully dense and nonporous microstructure of interlocking needle-shaped grains. This microstructure toughens the silicon nitride by a crack-deflection process similar to that found in composite materials. The result is a monolithic silicon nitride with extremely high hardness and increased fracture toughness. This can translate to improved mechanical reliability compared to other ceramic materials. 3M silicon nitride can be produced in cost effective, complex net shapes, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for expensive diamond grinding.

About 3M Advanced Ceramics
These advanced ceramic products are manufactured at ISO 9001 certified facilities. Our manufacturing processes are optimized for quality, efficiency and consistency – helping ensure reliable and repeatable product performance. We have more than 85 years of experience in designing and manufacturing cutting-edge ceramic solutions, and we continually work to develop new applications for ceramic materials in cooperation with our customers and with research institutions.