Typical data of current commercial ceramics:

Example 1 – Porcelain
Known famously as delicate and decorative tableware, it can also be used for electric insulation,
dental applications, and tiles.

Grain size 1-10 µm

Density 2.3 - 2.4 g/cm³
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale
Toughness Made of a denser clay and fired at a higher
heat, making toughness low therefore
brittleness high
Conductivity Low thermal conductivity and very low
electrical conductivity therefore insulator of
heat and electricity

Example 2 – Earthenware
Known for decorative items, flowerpots, tiles, and ovenware.

Grain size 10-100 µm

Density 2.0 - 2.3 g/cm³
Hardness 3-4 on Mohs scale
Toughness Low even compared to the other commercial
ceramics. This is because they have low
hardness and are porous, making them
vulnerable to cracking, chipping, and breaking
under an applied stress
Conductivity Higher relative thermal conductivity making it a
weak choice for any insulation application.
Moreover, it has low electrical conductivity
synonymous with other commercial ceramics

Example 3 – Stoneware
Used to produce tableware and artware. Also, chemical stoneware is used in applications where
resistance to chemical attack is needed.

Grain size 1-10 µm

Density 2.4 to 2.6 g/cm³
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale
Toughness While still relatively brittle, they have a better
toughness than the others caused by
differences in microstructure such as being
denser
Conductivity Thermal conductivity is not as high as
earthenware but adopts a more moderate level
suitable for basic heat resistance. It has low
electrical conductivity as it is mostly made up of
 materials such as clay and silica which are
clearly not conductive

Example 4 – Bone China

Bone China is a lightweight, elegant material famous for tableware and tea ware such as plates,
bowls, and teacups.

Grain size 0.5-5 µm

Density 2.3 to 2.4 g/cm³
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale
Toughness Similar to porcelain in its inability to plastically
deform well so is relatively brittle. A real-life
example is dropping tea ware such as teacups
and plates on the floor, which results in it
breaking into several parts demonstrating its
brittleness
Conductivity Low thermal conductivity similar to Porcelain
and low electrical conductivity due to its dense
microstructure and overall composition