Industrial Ceramic Rollers are most commonly used in commercial printing as anilox rollers as well as in heated roller applications such as roller-driven kilns for firing tile, tableware, pottery, and other similar products.
Ceramic rollers take advantage of temperature control and overall longevity.
Manufacturers may also choose ceramic roller coatings over various roller cores in order to take advantage of the temperature control and overall longevity of ceramic to provide additional protection against wear from guiding films, fibers, paper, or cardboard, as well as from sliding or rubbing abrasion in general. Most operations also look to ceramic roller coatings to deliver enhanced color receptivity, high degrees of hardness (up to 1300 Hv 0.3 possible), electrical insulation or conductivity, and low coefficients of friction.
They are resistant to oxidizing agents, strong acids, and bases.
Ceramic is very hard, resistant to high temperatures and thus good for providing thermal insulation, non-conductivity (electrical insulation), and corrosion protection properties to a surface – they are resistant to oxidizing agents, strong acids, and bases. They are also commonly used in heat transfer rollers, chilled rollers, and corona treater rollers for improved printing, coating, and lamination applications.
Commonly used for improved printing, coating, and lamination applications.
In print settings ceramic rollers are typically laser-engraved with microscopic patterns to help with ink transfer or in applying adhesives or other print finish coatings onto substrates like paper, cardboard, or certain plastics. In heat-sensitive applications, ceramic rollers deliver consistent performance as they do not expand, contract, or otherwise change in the presence of heat, and can withstand extremely high temperatures.
Despite this strength against heat, ceramic rollers and ceramic coatings can occasionally be prone to chipping and scoring (either microscopic or larger, visible damage). Martin Solutions Group can help you select the right ceramic roller for your operation, and can also offer services related to laser resurfacing or re-engraving as needed. We also regularly administer Holiday NDT (non-destructive testing) for all corona treater rollers treated with ceramic coatings to ensure uniform thickness and quality of the ceramic coating.