Whether you need a standard ceramic component or a custom part manufactured to your specifications, Du-Co Ceramics has the materials, manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise to help.
Explore answers to frequently asked questions about our ceramic materials, products, manufacturing capabilities, engineering support, ordering and more. If you don’t see the information you need, contact our team for assistance with your application.
About Du-Co Ceramics
What does Du-Co Ceramics specialize in?
Du-Co Ceramics specializes in the manufacture of precision technical ceramic insulators and components for demanding industrial and OEM applications.
How long has Du-Co Ceramics been in business?
Du-Co Ceramics was founded in 1949 and has decades of experience manufacturing technical ceramic components.
Is Du-Co Ceramics a U.S. manufacturer?
Yes. Du-Co Ceramics is headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, with manufacturing facilities in Saxonburg and Monroe, North Carolina. Du-Co serves customers globally.
What industries does Du-Co serve?
Du-Co manufactures ceramic components for a wide range of industries, including HVAC, temperature measurement and sensors, electrical and electronics, process and electric heating, lighting, oil and gas ignition, medical, automotive, outdoor cooking and aerospace, among others.
What makes Du-Co different from other ceramic manufacturers?
Du-Co offers fully integrated operations that include an engineering team, tool and die shop, and development labs under one roof. This allows Du-Co to support customers from product development through high-volume manufacturing.
Is Du-Co Ceramics ISO certified?
Du-Co Ceramics is ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Ceramic Products & Custom Components
What ceramic products does Du-Co manufacture?
Du-Co manufactures pressed and extruded ceramic components, roll-compacted alumina green tape, and alumina substrates, along with a broad range of standard and custom technical ceramic products.
What standard ceramic products are available?
Standard products include ball and socket beads (fish spine beads), post terminal caps and skirts, band heater insulators, grooved bushings, resistor cores, ribbed bushings, cup bushings, shoulder bushings, washers, thermocouple tubes, welding ferrules, 96% alumina substrates, metallized bushings and alumina tape.
Does Du-Co manufacture custom ceramic parts?
Yes. Du-Co manufactures precision ceramic components to customer drawing specifications.
Does Du-Co manufacture ceramic insulators?
Yes. Ceramic insulators are a core part of Du-Co’s product offering, including components for applications requiring electrical insulation at elevated temperatures.
Does Du-Co manufacture ceramic-to-metal assemblies?
Yes. Du-Co manufactures ceramic-to-metal assemblies and offers ceramic-to-metal sealing capabilities.
Does Du-Co offer metallized ceramics?
Yes. Du-Co provides metallization services and metallized ceramic components.
Does Du-Co manufacture ceramic substrates?
Yes. Du-Co manufactures ceramic substrates, including 96% alumina substrates.
Does Du-Co manufacture ceramic bushings and thermocouple components?
Yes. Du-Co manufactures a variety of ceramic bushings and components used in thermocouple and temperature-measurement applications.
Ceramic Materials
What ceramic materials does Du-Co offer?
Du-Co works with a variety of technical ceramic materials, including:
Alumina • Cordierite • Magnesium Oxide • Mullite • Steatite • Forsterite • High-Purity Crushable Alumina • Aluminum Silicate
What is alumina ceramic?
Alumina, or aluminum oxide, is a technical ceramic offering excellent electrical insulation, high-temperature performance, wear resistance and mechanical strength.
Du-Co works with 96% alumina, 99.8% dense alumina and 99.65% crushable alumina, allowing the material to be matched to different application requirements.
What is steatite ceramic?
Steatite is a magnesium silicate ceramic that provides an effective balance of electrical properties, durability and cost-effectiveness. It is commonly used in electrical heating equipment, insulators, thermocouples, sensors and industrial applications.
What is cordierite ceramic?
Cordierite is a magnesium aluminosilicate ceramic with low thermal expansion, good mechanical strength and wear resistance. It is well suited to applications exposed to rapid temperature changes and repeated heating and cooling cycles.
What is mullite ceramic?
Mullite is an alumina-silica ceramic offering low thermal expansion, good strength and cost-effective performance. It is commonly used in furnaces, kilns, thermocouples and applications involving repeated thermal cycling.
What is forsterite ceramic?
Forsterite is a magnesium silicate ceramic with relatively high thermal expansion. It is useful for vacuum devices, hermetic seals and specialized electrical applications and can operate at temperatures up to approximately 1000°C.
What is magnesium oxide (MgO) ceramic?
Magnesium oxide combines electrical insulation with thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures. Du-Co offers electrically fused MgO materials as extruded ceramic cores, dry-pressed bushings and spacers.
How do I choose the right ceramic material for my application?
Provide Du-Co with your application requirements and a description of how the component will be used. The team can review your requirements and suggest materials for consideration.
Which Du-Co ceramic offers the highest temperature capability, electrical insulation, wear resistance and strength?
Among the materials Du-Co offers, alumina is identified for the highest temperature capability, electrical insulation, wear resistance and strength.
Manufacturing & Engineering Capabilities
What ceramic manufacturing processes does Du-Co use?
Du-Co’s primary forming methods are extrusion and dry pressing, along with roll compaction. Additional capabilities include machining, glazing and metallizing.
Does Du-Co offer dry pressing?
Yes. Du-Co’s dry pressing capabilities can produce components up to 5 inches in diameter and 2½ inches thick.
Does Du-Co offer ceramic extrusion?
Yes. Du-Co’s extrusion capabilities can produce components up to 3 inches in diameter and 50 inches in length.
Does Du-Co offer roll compaction and spray drying?
Yes. Du-Co offers both roll compaction and spray drying capabilities.
What secondary operations are available?
Secondary operations include glazing, metallizing, machining, lapping and centerless grinding.
What manufacturing tolerances can Du-Co achieve?
Du-Co’s typical tolerance is ±1% or .010″, whichever is greater. Tighter requirements may require secondary operations.
Can Du-Co manufacture prototypes?
Du-Co is typically a high-volume manufacturer, but prototype options are available. Customers should provide their requirements and quantities so the team can recommend appropriate options.
Can Du-Co engineers assist with component design?
Yes. Du-Co’s engineering team can assist customers and review drawings for custom ceramic components.
What drawing and CAD file formats does Du-Co accept?
Customer prints are typically supplied in PDF, STP or DWG formats. Other formats may be reviewed upon request.
Applications & Performance
What applications are Du-Co ceramic components used in?
Du-Co ceramic components are commonly used in applications requiring electrical resistivity and insulation, particularly electrical insulation at elevated temperatures.
Can Du-Co ceramics withstand high temperatures?
Yes. Du-Co offers ceramic materials designed for demanding high-temperature applications.
Are Du-Co ceramic materials electrically insulating?
Yes. Electrical insulation is one of the primary reasons technical ceramics are used in many Du-Co applications.
Are Du-Co ceramics chemically resistant?
Yes. Du-Co offers ceramic materials with chemical-resistant properties.
Are Du-Co ceramic materials suitable for vacuum applications?
Some Du-Co materials are compatible with vacuum applications. The team can help determine an appropriate material based on your requirements.
Does Du-Co manufacture components for aerospace, electronics, medical and industrial heating applications?
Yes. Du-Co serves these industries along with numerous other industrial and OEM markets.
Quotes, Ordering & Lead Times
How do I request a quote from Du-Co Ceramics?
Use the Request a Quote option on the Du-Co website or contact the sales team at Sales@du-co.com.
What information should I provide for a ceramic component quote?
When possible, provide a drawing or print, along with the component dimensions and tolerances, preferred ceramic material and quantity required.
Does Du-Co have minimum order quantities?
Du-Co’s typical minimum order quantity begins at 1,000 pieces. Exceptions may be possible for prototypes or other circumstances and are reviewed when an RFQ is received.
Can I order prototype ceramic components?
Yes. Prototype options are available depending on the project requirements.
Does Du-Co provide samples?
Yes, when stock is available or in conjunction with a tooling order.
What are Du-Co’s typical lead times?
Typical lead times are approximately 7–12 weeks for production and 14–18 weeks for tooling.
Can orders be expedited?
Expedited requests and available options can be reviewed upon request.
Does Du-Co ship internationally?
Yes. Du-Co serves customers globally and ships internationally.
Technical Support & Quality
Can Du-Co engineers review customer drawings?
Yes. The majority of Du-Co products are manufactured to customer drawings. Engineers can review initial drawings as well as subsequent revisions.
Can Du-Co manufacture complex ceramic shapes?
Yes. Complex shapes can be produced using Du-Co’s forming and finishing capabilities. Du-Co’s Global Technical Ceramics division can also provide options through manufacturing partners for parts outside Du-Co’s in-house capabilities.
Does Du-Co manufacture high-volume ceramic orders?
Yes. Du-Co specializes in high-volume manufacturing.
Can Du-Co manufacture low-volume specialty parts?
Yes. Low-volume specialty parts can also be considered.
What quality-control procedures does Du-Co use?
Du-Co is ISO 9001:2015 certified and uses statistical process control and final inspection. Inspection to specific AQL levels may also be quoted.
How does Du-Co inspect finished ceramic components?
Inspection can include dimensional checks, water absorption testing and break-load testing, as required by the application.
Need Help With Your Ceramic Application?
Whether you need a standard ceramic component, assistance selecting a material, or a custom component manufactured to your specifications, Du-Co Ceramics can help evaluate your requirements.
Contact Du-Co Ceramics or Request a Quote to discuss your application.