Cermet is a hard material that can withstand high temperatures. The name comes from the words ceramic and metal. Ceramic materials are hard and brittle. A cermet consists of a refractory ceramic and a metallic binder. See Ceramics ; Refractory .
Manufacturers make typical cermets by mixing an oxide or carbide with a powdered metal. Examples include aluminum oxide and chromium, and titanium carbide and nickel. The mixture is then pressed and baked at extremely high temperatures. It does not melt but undergoes certain changes because of the heat and pressure. Cermets behave much like metals but resist heat that would melt metals. They are especially useful in jet engines and in certain electrical devices that must withstand high temperatures. Cermets are also used in electronics applications that require high electrical resistance.
Cermets also have several drawbacks. They shrink when baked, so it is difficult to mold precision parts. They are also extremely hard and can be smoothed only with grinding wheels.
