Ceramic materials

Ceramic materials

1. Ceramic materials

   • Ceramic materials are made from clay, which is very abundant in nature. When clay is wet, it is both soft and pliable, so it can be shaped very easily. All of these qualities make ceramic materials not only useful, but also very versatile.

2. HOW CERAMICS MATERIALS ARE MADE

   • Preparation
     • Then large chunks of clay are broken into smaller pieces by large rollers.
   • Mixing
     • This vitrification process increases both the resistance and the impermeability of the final product.
   • Shaping
     • Factory-made ceramics are typically shaped by moulds, presses or extruding machines.
   • Drying
     • In factories, this process takes place in heated tunnels, using recirculated air.
   • Firing
     • This is done in special ovens called kilns at temperatures between 700ºC and 1700ºC, depending on the type of clay that is being used
   • Decoration
     • After objects have been fired, they can be decorated and finished with different types of glaze.

3. CLASSIFICATION OF CERAMIC MATERIALS

   • COARSE CERAMICS
     • Terracotta
       • Bricks, roof tiles, and pottery such as jars, vases, flower pots and jugs.
     • Earthenware
       • Crockery, decorative objects and bathroom tiles.
     • Refractory ceramics
       • Blast furnace linings, electrical and electronic components.
   • FINE CERAMICS
     • Stoneware
       • Very hard, durable tiles, tubes and bricks.
     • Porcelain
       • Tableware, decorative objects, bathroom fixtures, laboratory materials for the chemical industry.