A discussion is ongoing in the ozone community regarding the preferred material for constructing ozone cells used in producing medical-grade ozone with therapeutic benefits. One viewpoint advocates for using only glass for this purpose, excluding ceramic as a suitable material. Conversely, another perspective asserts that ceramic is the optimal choice. This article aims to explore the distinct attributes of both ceramic and glass, ultimately demonstrating that not only is ceramic a secure option for these applications, but it also stands as a superior material for all ozone-related applications, including ozone therapy.

Glass Examples

To begin, let's examine the components we are currently contrasting. Glass is also referred to as silicon dioxide, abbreviated as SiO2. As the abbreviation suggests, each molecule consists of one silicon atom for every two oxygen atoms. These two elements, silicon and oxygen, rank as the most prevalent substances in the Earth's crust. In the natural world, familiar variations of SiO2 appear as quartz crystals, obsidian, and sand.
Ceramic is alternatively identified as aluminum oxide or Al2O3. In its structure, two aluminum atoms are accompanied by three oxygen atoms within each molecule. Aluminum stands as the Earth's third most abundant element, and in nature, corundum and bauxite represent the prevailing variations of aluminum oxide. Interestingly, rubies and sapphires are categorized as high-quality corundum gemstones, with their distinct hues attributed to trace elements.

Hardness

As per Mohs' hardness scale, quartz glass achieves a rating of 7, whereas aluminum oxide ceramic surpasses it by two points, reaching a hardness of 9. In comparison, diamonds hold a top rating of 10, merely one point above aluminum oxide. The heightened hardness of aluminum oxide ceramic grants it superior mechanical properties, enabling it to endure significantly greater levels of stress. Consequently, this enhanced durability is expected to contribute to a longer lifespan compared to the more brittle quartz glass.

Oxidation

Both quartz glass and aluminum oxide ceramic exhibit complete inertness when subjected to high oxygen and ozone conditions. Neither material undergoes a reaction with oxygen, owing to the fact that each molecule (Al2O3 and SiO2) is already fully oxidized. Full oxidation indicates that the oxidation process has already occurred in both glass and ceramic, thereby preventing any contamination of the ozone supply. There is absolutely no substantiated evidence supporting claims that ceramic will "leach" or "deteriorate," releasing its components into the ozone supply. In terms of ozone purity, ceramic ensures an equivalent level of purity to that of glass, as both materials are fully oxidized substances.

Heat Resilience

Due to its minimal heat retention attributes, aluminum oxide ceramic exhibits an increased resistance to elevated temperatures. This underscores the remarkable durability of Al2O3 ceramic in comparison to SiO2. While quartz glass boasts a melting point of 3,092 °F, suggesting its ability to endure high temperatures, this is only partially accurate. Glass is vulnerable to thermal shock when exposed to high temperatures. Such thermal shock can materialize at weaker points within the glass and can manifest at significantly lower temperatures than its melting point. This susceptibility might result in the formation of cracks or chips in the glass, leading to cell destruction.

The Al2O3 ceramic material possesses resistance to thermal shock due to its capacity to endure elevated temperatures, boasting a melting point of 3,762°F. The superior heat dispersion capability of ceramic is the key factor behind its superiority. Companies that market their ozone generators with glass cells as "cold corona" are bending the truth. This is because heat is inevitably produced as a byproduct during ozone generation, regardless of the method used.
Given that glass retains heat for longer durations compared to ceramic, referring to a glass ozone cell as "cold corona" is inaccurate. The underlying issue is that the prolonged heat retention in glass leads to significant instability in ozone concentrations, particularly at higher gamma levels. In contrast, ceramic possesses the distinct quality of efficiently dispersing heat, resulting in the production of stable ozone levels without requiring a cooling system. This unique property makes ceramic a far superior medium for the cold corona technique.

Which is Better for Ozone Generators

The Growth of Ceramic

The properties mentioned above play a crucial role in enhancing the overall cell integrity, establishing ceramic as a significantly superior alternative to glass. This is precisely why an increasing number of companies are transitioning from glass cell generators to ceramic for their ozone production processes.
Notably, the pharmaceutical and semi-conductor industries, which demand ultra-precise, high-concentration, and high-output ozone generators, have shifted to ceramic. Glass fails to meet the required specifications and proves susceptible to malfunctions when subjected to the rigorous demands of high-stress industrial applications.

Additional sectors that utilize ozone generators with ceramic cells encompass water treatment, bio-technology, and aerospace. Prominent entities such as NASA, Boeing, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Johnson & Johnson, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute are among these industry players. The adoption of ceramic cell technology for ozone by these significant leaders underscores their demand for top-tier equipment, validating the pursuit of the utmost quality.
The ultimate objective is to achieve ozone of exceptional quality. I trust that this article has established the fact that while both glass and ceramic cells are suitable for generating ozone for therapeutic purposes, ceramic stands out as the superior choice. If you are contemplating the purchase of a glass cell ozone generator, it's advisable to ensure that the company refrains from incorporating lead in their quartz glass cells. Lead is employed as a strengthening agent to mitigate the brittleness of quartz glass, but its presence could potentially lead to severe health concerns in the event of cell breakage.

We believe that manufacturing encompasses more than mere part assembly. It involves conceiving ideas, testing principles, refining engineering, and culminating in final assembly. This underlines the significance of companies challenging ourselves to offer the utmost quality products to their customers. Merely achieving functionality should not preclude the pursuit of improvement. Innovation is the driving force behind discovering inventive solutions. In any design, there exists a scope for enhancement, and while glass cells have served well in the past, ceramic emerges as the superior material tailored for present and future applications. The robustness of ceramic reinforces its indispensable role in ozone production, a reliance that will extend well into the future.

Purchase at Sihon-Ozone

You can purchase ozone generators for a variety of applications at Sihon-Ozone. Our Ozone Spare Parts and DIY Ozone Generators includes a wide range of ozone tubes and ozone plates made of quartz and ceramic materials. In addition, at Sihon-Ozone, you can also choose ozone-related equipment including Ozone Monitors, PSA Oxygen Generators and Ozone Accessories.