Ceramic materials

Ceramic materials

1. 1. General properties

   • Is made with clay.
   • When this is wet, is soft so it can be moulded or shaped so easily
   • When it is dry clay becomes porous and chemically inert, and it can resist to very high temperatures.
   • There are a lot of colours.

2. 2. Creation of ceramic materials

   • 1. Preparation
     • Is cleaned of leaves and roots. Then, it is broken with rollers into smaller pieces.
   • 2. Mixing
     • Is mixed with water, colouring, temper and flux.
   • 3. Shaping
     • Is shaped using moulds, presses or extruding machines.
   • 4. Drying
     • Clay is dried to eliminate water.
   • 5. Firing
     • Is done with especial machines to reach very high temperatures.
   • 6. Decoration
     • It can be decorated with different types of glaze.

3. 3.Classification

   • Coarse ceramics
     • Terracotta
       • It is hard, rough and fragile.
       • Uses: bricks, roof tiles, jars, vases, flower pots and jugs.
     • Earthenware
       • It is fine and smooth, and hard.
       • Uses: crockery, decorative objects and bathroom tiles.
     • Refractory ceramics
       • They can resist temperatures up to 3000ºC.
       • Uses: blast furnace linings, electrical and electronic components.
   • Fine ceramics
     • Stoneware
       • It is very compactable and hard.
       • Uses: very hard, durable tiles, tubes and bricks.
     • Porcelain
       • It is transparent, translucent, compact, acid-resistant and hard.
       • Uses: tableware, decorative objects, bathroom fixtures, laboratory materials for the chemical industry.