What are Ceramics?

Ceramics encompass such a vast array of materials that a concise definition is almost impossible. However, one workable definition of ceramics is a refractory, inorganic, and nonmetallic material. Ceramics can be divided into two classes: traditional ceramics and advanced ceramics.

Traditional ceramics include clay products, silicate glass and cement
Advanced ceramics consist of carbides (SiC), pure oxides (Al2O3), nitrides (Si3N4), non-silicate glasses and many others.

In general, advanced ceramics have the following inherent properties:

Hard (wear resistant)
Resistant to plastic deformation
Resistant to high temperatures
Good corrosion resistance
Low thermal conductivity
Low electrical conductivity

However, some ceramics exhibit high thermal conductivity and/or high electrical conductivity.

The combination of these properties means that ceramics can provide:

High wear resistance with low density
Wear resistance in corrosive environments
Corrosion resistance at high temperatures

Ceramics offer many advantages compared to other materials. They are harder and stiffer than steel; more heat and corrosion resistant than metals or polymers; less dense than most metals and their alloys; and their raw materials are both plentiful and inexpensive. Ceramic materials display a wide range of properties which facilitate their use in many different product areas.

Aerospace: space shuttle tiles, thermal barriers, high temperature glass windows, fuel cells
Consumer Uses: glassware, windows, pottery, Corning¨ ware, magnets, dinnerware, ceramic tiles, lenses, home electronics, microwave transducers
Automotive: catalytic converters, ceramic filters, airbag sensors, ceramic rotors, valves, spark plugs, pressure sensors, thermistors, vibration sensors, oxygen sensors, safety glass windshields, piston rings
Medical (Bioceramics): orthopedic joint replacement, prosthesis, dental restoration, bone implants
Military: structural components for ground, air and naval vehicles, missiles, sensors
Computers: insulators, resistors, superconductors, capacitors, ferroelectric components, microelectronic packaging
Other Industries: bricks, cement, membranes and filters, lab equipment
Communications: fiber optic/laser communications, TV and radio components, microphones

What are Ceramics?

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