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Steatite

Steatite is a low cost material with high electrical resistance at high temperatures, good mechanical strength and a very low dielectric loss factor. Such properties make it ideal for high frequency, low loss, and high voltage insulation. Moreover, steatite is an excellent material for electrical engineering as it can be readily shape sintered into a wide variety of forms such as washers, bushings, resistor forms, spaces and beads. 

Steatite has been used for many years in large-scale industrial systems, household electronic appliances, aerospace and automotive applications, and specialized eletro-technical instruments such as cathode-ray tubes.

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Property Charts & Safety Data Sheets
Property Charts Steatite
Master Ceramics Property Chart Full Color
Printer Friendly - Color
Printer Friendly - B&W
Safety Data Sheets Dense Steatite Ceramic
Unfired Steatite
Prime Features
Low cost material High electrical resistance at high temperatures
Good mechanical strength Very low dielectric loss factor
Typical Applications
Excellent material for electrical engineering Large-scale industrial systems
Household electronic appliances Aerospace and automotive engineering
Specialized eletro-technical instruments (e.g. cathode-ray tubes)  
Materials Property Chart
  Silicates
  Property ASTM Method Units Steatite L-4 Steatite L-5
General Crystal Size (Average) Thin Section Microns 7 7
Color -- -- Tan Gray-Green
Water Absorption C 20-97 % 0 0
Mechanical Density C 20-97 g/cc 2.65 2.75
Hardness Vickers 500gm GPa (kg/mm2) 4.9 (500) 4.9 (500)
Hardness -- R45N 57 57
Flexural Strength (MOR)
(3 point) @ RT		 F417-87 MPa (psi x 103 117 (17) 138 (20)
Tensile Strength @ RT -- MPa (psi x 103) 103 (15) 103 (15)
Compressive Strength @ RT -- MPa (psi x 103) 551 (80) 586 (85)
Elastic Modulus C848 GPa (psi x 106) 103 (15) 103 (15)
Poisson's Ratio C848 -- 0.24 0.24
Thermal C.T.E. 25 - 100° C C 372-96 x 10-6/C 7.3 8.5
C.T.E. 25 - 300° C C 372-96 x 10-6/C 7.4 8.6
C.T.E. 25 - 600° C C 372-96 x 10-6/C 7.5 8.6
Thermal Conductivity @ RT C 408 W/m K 3 3
Max Use Temp -- Farenheit (°F) 2350 2350
-- Celsius (°C) 1290 1290
Electrical Dielectric Strength (.125" Thick) D 149-97A V/mil 260 270
Dielectric Constant @ 1 MHz D 150-98 -- 5.6 5.7
Dielectric Constant D 2520-95 -- 5.6 5.8
@ Gigahertz D 2520-95 -- 9.2 12.5
Dielectric Loss @ 1 MHz D 150-98 -- 0.003 0.0014
Dielectric Loss D 2520-95 -- 0.005 0.0017
@ Gigahertz D 2520-95 -- 9.2 12.5
Volume Resistivity, 25°C D 257 ohms-cm > 1 x 1014 > 1 x 1014
Volume Resistivity, 300°C D 1829 ohms-cm 2 x 1010 1 x 1011
Volume Resistivity, 500°C D 1829 ohms-cm 1 x 109 4 x 1010
Volume Resistivity, 700°C D 1829 ohms-cm 2 x 108 1 x 109
Note: The information in this data sheet is for design guidance only. STC does not warrant this data as absolute values. Forming methods and specific geometry could affect properties. Slight adjustments can be made to some of the properties to accommodate specific customer requirements. Most of the dense materials in the table are resistant to mechanical erosion and chemical attack. STC has performed ASTM testing qualification for certain compositions, in accordance with ASTM D2442. Please consult our technical staff for appropriate material and specific test results.