Steatite is a Magnesium Silicate material.  It is formed using standard ceramic processing methods and can readily be machined or net shape sintered into a variety of forms.  The material is lower in cost than Alumina but offers reduced mechanical properties.  However Steatite has very good electrical resistance properties, which are retained at high temperatures, along with moderate mechanical strength and temperature resistance.  It has been used in electrical insulation for many years in both large-scale electrical systems and electronic and domestic appliances.