3M™ Silicon Nitride Telemetry Tooling

A Reliable Ceramic Material for the Oil and Gas Industry
In the oil and gas industry, 3M™ Silicon Nitride Telemetry Tooling allows measurements while drilling (MWD) and meets the needs for equipment that goes deep into the earth. Made from 3M™ Silicon Nitride, it provides the electrical resistance and nonmagnetic properties required for downhole telemetry tooling, and offers both reduced component weight and high strength. Our telemetry tooling has been used to log data from wells in excess of 9000 meters deep.

Made to Withstand Extreme Environments
From extreme temperatures and crushing pressures to corrosive chemicals, oilfield environments place enormous demands on critical equipment. That's what makes 3M silicon nitride an ideal choice to extend the life of components in oil exploration and recovery operations. Our telemetry tooling helps improve reliability even under the most challenging downhole conditions.

Advantages of Silicon Nitride
Our 3M silicon nitride telemetry tooling is made from 3M silicon nitride, which is a lightweight, high-strength ceramic material with excellent resistance to abrasion and corrosion. Its high thermal shock resistance and low coefficient of thermal expansion help withstand the extreme temperatures of deepwater operations. 3M silicon nitride is also nonmagnetic, has high dielectric strength and offers microwave transparency.

Insights into the Advantages of the 3M Manufacturing Process
3M silicon nitride materials and components are produced at 3M manufacturing plants in the U.S., using unique compositions and processing techniques. These processes yield a fully dense and nonporous microstructure of interlocking needle-shaped grains. This microstructure toughens the silicon nitride by a crack-deflection process similar to that found in composite materials. The result is a monolithic silicon nitride with extremely high hardness and increased fracture toughness. This can translate to improved mechanical reliability compared to other ceramic materials. 3M silicon nitride can be produced in cost effective, complex net shapes, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for expensive diamond grinding.

About 3M Advanced Ceramics
These advanced ceramic products are manufactured at ISO 9001 certified facilities. Our manufacturing processes are optimized for quality, efficiency and consistency – helping ensure reliable and repeatable product performance. We have more than 85 years of experience in designing and manufacturing cutting-edge ceramic solutions, and we continually work to develop new applications for ceramic materials in cooperation with our customers and with research institutions.