Ceramic materials

Ceramic materials

1. General materials

   • Ceramic objects are made of clay that when wet is very moldable when it dries it becomes much more resistant and rigid

2. HOW CERAMICS MATERIALS ARE MADE

   • To create ceramic materials, clay is processed in the following way:
     • Preparation: it is cleaned and the large pieces break them into smaller ones
     • Mixing:The clay is mixed with water, colouring, temper and flux This vitrification process increases both the resistance and the impermeability of the final product.
     • ShapingThe ceramic is molded by mold, presses ...
     • Drying:The clay is dried to eliminate water. In factories, this process takes place in heated tunnels, using recirculated air.
     • Firing: This is done in special ovensat 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

3. Coarse ceramics

   • Terracotta: is made with ordinary clay is rough and fragile.
   • Earthenware:is made from a mixture of white clay, silica and feldspar. It is fine and smooth, as well as hard.
   • Refractory ceramics:are made with baked clay and metal oxides. They can resist temperatures up to 3000ºC.

4. fine ceramics