Introduction to Ceramics
A ceramic is any hard, brittle, heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant nonmetallic inorganic material like clay. Ceramics are made by shaping clay and firing at high temperatures. The earliest ceramics were pots, vessels, vases or figurines made from clay.
Basic Characteristics of Ceramics
- Ceramicware is porous earthenware fired at low heat.
- Stoneware is less porous and more chip resistant.
- Ceramics are often covered in glazes.
Ceramic Composition and Properties
- Ceramics have no rows of atoms. Their atoms are locked in crystals or amorphous solids.
- Advanced ceramics are made by heating and rapidly cooling glass. This combination of crystalline and amorphous states enables customizable properties like strength, toughness, and thermal shock resistance.
Ceramic Production Processes
- The four basic ceramic making processes are: digging clay, adding water, shaping, and firing.
- There are 7 stages of clay and 7 common firing methods.
- Ceramics can be fired in wood stoves.
The Origin and Materials of Ceramics
The word “ceramic” comes from the Greek “keramos” for pottery. Ceramics are made from clay, feldspar, quartz, and other natural resources. They can be molded into shapes and fired. Traditional ceramics like pottery, bricks and tiles are irreversibly hardened during firing. Clay’s plastic property allows shaping.
Defining Ceramic Products
A ceramic is any hard, brittle, heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant nonmetallic inorganic material. Ceramics are made by shaping clay and firing at high temperatures. The earliest ceramics were pots, vessels, vases, or figurines made from clay.
Classification of Ceramics
- Ceramicware is porous earthenware fired at low heat.
- Ceramics are often covered in glazes.
- There are 7 stages of clay and 7 common firing methods.
Unique Properties of Ceramics
- Ceramics have no rows of atoms. Their atoms are locked in crystals or amorphous solids.
- This combination of crystalline and amorphous states enables customizable properties like strength, toughness, and thermal shock resistance.