Ceramics

They are inorganic and nonmetallic materials.

Most
ceramics are compounds between

metallic and nonmetallic elements for which

the interatomic bonds are either totally ionic,
or predominantly ionic but having some
covalent character.
The term ceramic comes from the Greek
word keramikos, which means burnt stuff,
indicating that desirable properties of these
materials are normally achieved through a
high-temperature heat treatment process
called firing

Ceramics Phase Diagram

Phase diagrams have been experimentally

determined for a large number of ceramic

systems.
For binary or two-component phase
diagrams, it is frequently the case that the
two components are compounds that share
a common element, often oxygen.
These diagrams may have configurations
similar to metalmetal systems, and they
are interpreted in the same way

Comparison metals and

ceramics
Metals

Ceramics

Al2O3Cr2O3
One of the relatively simple ceramic phase diagrams is

that found for the aluminum oxidechromium oxide

system.
This diagram has the same form as the isomorphous
coppernickel phase diagram consisting of single liquid
and single solid phase regions separated by a two-phase
solidliquid region having the shape of a blade.
It exists for all compositions below the melting point of
Al2O3 inasmuch as both aluminum and chromium ions
have the same charge as well as similar radii (0.053 and
0.062 nm, respectively).
Furthermore, both Al2O3 and Cr2O3 have the same crystal
structure.

Al2O3Cr2O3

MgOAl2O3
The

phase diagram for the magnesium oxide

aluminum oxide system is similar in many respects
to the leadmagnesium diagram.
There exists an intermediate phase, or better, a
compound called spinel, which has the chemical
formula MgOAl2O3 .
Even though spinel is a distinct compound [of
composition 50 mol% Al2O3 50 mol% MgO (72 wt%
Al2O328 wt% MgO)].
It is represented on the phase diagram as a singlephase field, that is, there is a range of compositions
over which spinel is a stable compound.

MgOAl2O3
Thus,

spinel is nonstoichiometric for

other than the 50 mol% Al2O3 50 mol%
MgO composition.
Furthermore, there is limited solubility of
Al2O3 in MgO below about 14000C at the
left-hand extremity of diagram, which is
due primarily to the differences in
charge and radii of the and ions (0.072
versus 0.053 nm).

MgOAl2O3

ZrO2-CaO
Another important binary ceramic system is that for

zirconium oxide (zirconia) and calcium oxide (calcia).

The horizontal axis extends to only about 31 wt% CaO
(50 mol% CaO), at which composition the compound
CaZrO3 forms. It is worth noting that one eutectic
(22500C and 23 wt% CaO) and two eutectoid (10000C
and 2.5 wt% CaO, and 8500C and 7.5 wt% CaO)
reactions are found for this system.
ZrO2 phases having three different crystal structures
exist in this systemnamely, tetragonal, monoclinic, and
cubic. Pure ZrO2 experiences a tetragonal-to-monoclinic
phase transformation at about 11500C

ZrO2-CaO

SiO2 Al2O3
Commercially, the silicaalumina system is

an important one since the principal

constituents of many ceramic refractories
are these two materials.
The polymorphic form of silica that is stable
at
these
temperatures
is
termed
cristobalite

SiO2 Al2O3
Silica and alumina are not mutually soluble in

one another, which is evidenced by the

absence of terminal solid solutions at both
extremities of the phase diagram
Also, it may be noted that the intermediate
compound mullite, 3Al2O3-2SiO2 exists, which is
represented as a narrow phase field.
Furthermore, mullite melts incongruently at
18900C.
A single eutectic exists at 15870C and 7.7 wt%
Al2O3

SiO2 Al2O3

Types of Ceramics
Whitewares
Refractories
Glasses
Abrasives
Cements

Whitewares
Crockery
Floor and wall tiles
Sanitary-ware
Electrical porcelain
Decorative ceramics

Whiteware: Bathrooms

Whitewares

Refractories
Firebricks for furnaces and ovens. Have
high Silicon or Aluminium oxide content.
Brick
products
are
used
in
the
manufacturing plant for iron and steel, nonferrous metals, glass, cements, ceramics,
energy
conversion,
petroleum,
and
chemical industries.

Refractories
Used to provide thermal protection of other materials in

very high temperature applications, such as steel

making (Tm=1500C), metal foundry operations, etc.

They are usually composed of alumina (Tm=2050C)

and silica along with other oxides: MgO (Tm=2850C),

Fe2O3, TiO2, etc., and have intrinsic porosity typically
greater than 10% by volume.

Specialized refractories, (those already mentioned) and

BeO, ZrO2, mullite, SiC, and graphite with low porosity

are also used.

Refractory Brick

Amorphous Ceramics
(Glasses)
Main ingredient is Silica (SiO2)
If cooled very slowly will form crystalline

structure.
If cooled more quickly will form amorphous
structure consisting of disordered and linked
chains of Silicon and Oxygen atoms.
This accounts for its transparency as it is the
crystal boundaries that scatter the light,
causing reflection.
Glass can be tempered to increase its
toughness and resistance to cracking.

Glass Types
Three common types of glass:
Soda-lime glass - 95% of all glass, windows
containers etc.
Lead glass - contains lead oxide to improve
refractive index
Borosilicate - contains Boron oxide, known
as Pyrex.

Glasses
Flat glass (windows)
Container glass (bottles)
Pressed and blown glass (dinnerware)
Glass fibres (home insulation)
Advanced/specialty glass (optical fibres)

Glass Containers

Crystalline Ceramics
Good electrical insulators and refractories.
Magnesium Oxide is used as insulation
material in heating elements and cables.
Aluminium Oxide
Beryllium Oxides
Boron Carbide
Tungsten Carbide.
Used as abrasives and cutting tool tips.

Abrasives
Natural (garnet, diamond, etc.)
Synthetic abrasives (silicon carbide,

diamond, fused alumina, etc.) are used for

grinding, cutting, polishing, lapping, or
pressure blasting of materials

Cements
Used to produce concrete roads,

bridges, buildings, dams.

Advanced Ceramics
Advanced ceramic materials have been developed over the past

half century

Applied as thermal barrier coatings to protect metal structures,

wearing surfaces, or as integral components by themselves.

Engine applications are very common for this class of material which

includes silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon carbide (SiC), Zirconia (ZrO2)

and Alumina (Al2O3)

Heat resistance and other desirable properties have lead to the

development of methods to toughen the material by reinforcement

with fibers and whiskers opening up more applications for ceramics

Advanced Ceramics
Structural: Wear parts, bioceramics, cutting

tools, engine components, armour.

Electrical: Capacitors, insulators, integrated
circuit packages, piezoelectrics, magnets
and superconductors
Coatings: Engine components, cutting
tools, and industrial wear parts
Chemical and environmental: Filters,
membranes, catalysts, and catalyst
supports

Engine Components

Rotor (Alumina)

Gears (Alumina)

Turbocharger
Ceramic Rotor

Ceramic Brake Discs