Ceramic

What is Ceramic?
•A ceramic is
an inorganic non-metallic
solid made up of either metal
or non-metal compounds
that have been shaped and
then hardened by heating to
high temperatures.
 “Ceramics are used for the manufacturing
process. Ceramic materials may exist in glass
and crystalline solids or a combination of
both. They can be inorganic and non-metallic
materials. Ceramic materials possess high
strength, good bonds, brittle, low thermal
conductivity, anti-corrosivity, and poor
conductivity.
The word ceramic is derived from a Greek
word “KERAMOS” which means
“POTTER’S CLAY”. Objects are created
HISTORY
“Ceramics is one of the most ancient industries going
back thousands of years. Once humans discovered
that clay could be found in abundance and formed
into objects by first mixing with water and then
firing, a key industry was born. The oldest known
ceramic artifact is dated as early as 28,000 BCE,
during the late Paleolithic period. It is a statuette of a
woman, named the Venus of Dolní Věstonice, from a
small prehistoric settlement near Brno, in the Czech
Republic. In this location, hundreds of clay figurines
representing Ice Age animals were also uncovered
near the remains of a horseshoe-shaped kiln.
Types of Ceramic
 Earthenware
“Earthenware is clay fired at
relatively low temperatures of
between 1,000 to 1,150 degrees.
This results in a hardened but brittle
material which is slightly porous
(small holes through which liquid or
air can go through), therefore cannot
be used to contain water.
To remedy this, a glaze is used to
cover the object before it is fired in
 STONEWARE
“Stoneware is made from a
particular clay which is fired at
a higher temperature of
1,200°C. This results in a more
durable material, with a denser,
stone-like quality. The finished
product will be waterproof and
unlike earthenware, does not
 PORCELAIN
Porcelain comes from a
refined clay which is fired at
very high temperatures of
approximately 1,200–
1,450°C. The result is an
extremely hard, shiny
material often white and
translucent in appearance.
3 BASIC
COMPONENTS
OF CERAMICS
 CLAY
Clay ceramics have been an important
source of building materials and
pottery in many cultures throughout
time. Understanding their origin and
production method can provide
historians with invaluable information
regarding the technology and trade of
past civilizations.
 SILICA
• As for silica's function in clay and
glazes, it provides the melting, or
glass forming agents in a clay
body that allow the material to
fuse together.
• The silica has high melting
temperature and is the is
 FELDSPAR
In the manufacture of ceramics,
feldspar is the second most
important ingredient after clay.
Feldspar does not have a strict
melting point, since it melts
gradually over a range of
temperatures.