Ceramics and Glass in Aerospace Applications
laser gyroscopeHall thrustersSpace Optics

Aerospace

In the aerospace field, advanced ceramics and hard-brittle glass have become core materials for critical structures and functional components due to their excellent properties.

Ceramics in the Aerospace Industry

The use of technical ceramics in extreme aerospace environments is well known. Some of the most demanding applications are found in propulsion and satellite systems, where ceramics operate in ultra-high vacuum providing electrical insulation whilst withstanding high temperatures, intense radiation, and rapid thermal cycling.

The ability of technical ceramics to survive and deliver consistent performance across a range of aerospace applications—from electric propulsion and navigation systems to optical payloads and thermal control—demonstrates the scope and capability of the materials we offer.

We provide custom ceramic components and precision machining services tailored specifically for aerospace applications, supporting both prototype development and low-to-medium volume production.

Key Applications

Across aerospace applications—such as attitude control, navigation systems, electric propulsion, satellite structures and payloads, and optical and laser systems—ceramics and glass are indispensable in critical components requiring high precision, thermal stability, and reliability.

  • Ring Laser Gyroscope Cavity
  • Hall Thruster Insulation Components
  • Ion Thruster Support Structures
  • igh-Temperature Thermal Insulation Components for Rockets
  • Aerospace Sensor Structural Components

1um

Delivering aerospace-grade precision with tolerances up to ±1 um for mission-critical components

Recommended Materials

Aerospace systems—especially high-precision instruments such as Ring Laser Gyroscopes (RLG), satellite optics, and vacuum subsystems—require materials with exceptional dimensional stability, thermal resistance, and long-term reliability. Advanced ceramics and glass materials play a critical role in ensuring performance under extreme conditions.

Ability

Precision machining for complex aerospace ceramic and glass components

Aerospace Ceramic Machining

We provide ultra-precision machining for advanced ceramic and glass components used in aerospace applications, including gyroscopes, inertial navigation systems, optical systems, and satellite structures. Our capabilities ensure tight tolerances, excellent thermal stability, and reliable performance in extreme environments such as vacuum, high temperature, and vibration conditions.

Capability MACOR Aluminum Nitride Alumina Silicon Carbide Zirconia Silicon Nitride SHAPAL Hi-M
Flatness 0.002mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm
Concentricity 0.005mm 0.005mm 0.005mm 0.005mm 0.005mm 0.005mm 0.005mm
Cylindricity 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm
Parallelism 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm 0.001mm
Wall (Min) 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.1
Hole Ø (Min) 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1
Slot (Min) 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.2
Thread (Min)  M1.2 M1.6 M1.6 M1.6 M1.6 M2.0 M1.2
Polishing Ra0.03 μm Ra0.03 μm Ra0.02 μm Ra0.005 μm Ra0.01 μm Ra0.005 μm Ra0.04 μm
Sandblasting  3.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2 2 3
Capability Zerodur Optical Glass
Flatness 1/20 λ 0.001mm
Concentricity 0.005mm 0.005mm
Cylindricity 0.001mm 0.001mm
Parallelism 0.001mm 0.001mm
Min. Wall Thickness 0.2 0.2
Min. Hole Diameter 0.1 0.1
Min. Slot Width 0.3 0.2
Min. Internal Thread M2.0 M2.0
Polishing Ra0.005 μm Ra0.002 μm
Sandblasting 3 3

Disclaimer: The values presented are mean and typical of those resulted from test samples