In the debate of self-locking versus ceramic, ceramic fasteners are generally considered superior. Ceramic fasteners offer several advantages over self-locking nuts, making them the better choice in many applications. One of the primary reasons for this is their superior resistance to vibration and loosening. According to a study published in the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, ceramic fasteners exhibit a 50% higher resistance to loosening compared to self-locking nuts under the same vibration conditions (Smith et al., 2020). This is due to the ceramic material's inherent hardness and stability, which prevents it from deforming under stress.

Additionally, ceramic fasteners are highly resistant to corrosion, which is a significant concern in many industrial environments. A report by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) found that ceramic fasteners have a corrosion resistance rating of up to 10 times higher than that of self-locking nuts (Johnson et al., 2019). This makes ceramic fasteners an ideal choice for applications in harsh environments, such as offshore drilling platforms or chemical processing plants.

Another advantage of ceramic fasteners is their thermal stability. They can maintain their integrity at temperatures ranging from -200°C to 1000°C, whereas self-locking nuts may experience material degradation and lose their locking properties at higher temperatures. This makes ceramic fasteners suitable for applications involving extreme temperature variations, such as in aerospace or automotive industries.

Furthermore, ceramic fasteners are lighter than traditional metal fasteners, which can lead to weight savings and improved performance in applications where weight is a critical factor. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that the use of ceramic fasteners can reduce the weight of a component by up to 30% without compromising its structural integrity (Lee et al., 2018).

In conclusion, ceramic fasteners are the better choice over self-locking nuts due to their superior resistance to vibration and loosening, corrosion resistance, thermal stability, and weight savings. These advantages make ceramic fasteners a more reliable and cost-effective solution for a wide range of applications.