"A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature."
Overview of the different types of clay and raw materials used in ceramics, including their properties and how to prepare and process them.
Types of clay: There are several types of clay, including earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, and terra cotta, and each has its unique characteristics that affect how it behaves and is processed.
Clay mineralogy: An understanding of the mineral makeup of clay, including the various minerals that are commonly found (such as kaolin, feldspar, and quartz), can help guide decision-making in terms of clay selection and processing.
Clay chemistry: Knowledge of the chemical composition of clay can aid in understanding how it interacts with other materials, as well as understanding how firing affects the final properties of a ceramic piece.
Raw material sourcing: The collection, processing, and acquisition of raw materials (such as clay, feldspar, and silica) that are used in ceramics production is a crucial part of the process.
Clay drying and preparation: Proper drying and preparation of clay is essential to ensure ease of use and successful firing results.
Shaping techniques: There are several techniques available for shaping clay, including throwing on the wheel, hand-building, and slip-casting.
Glazing: Applying a glaze to a ceramic piece can transform its appearance, and an understanding of the chemistry behind different glazes and how to apply them is key.
Firing techniques: High-temperature firing is necessary to transform clay into ceramic, and knowledge of the different types of firing techniques (such as oxidation and reduction) is important.
Kiln operation: Understanding how to operate a kiln correctly is essential to ensure that ceramic pieces are properly fired and achieve the desired results.
Ceramic properties: Knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of ceramics, including thermal expansion, hardness, and permeability, is important in understanding how to use and care for these materials.
Kaolin: This type of clay is white and fine, with excellent plastic properties. It is used mainly in high-quality porcelain production.
Ball clay: This type of clay is very fine-grained and has good plasticity, making it ideal for use in high-quality ceramics.
Bentonite: This type of clay is highly plastic and expands when wet. It is often used as a binder in ceramics.
Fire clay: This type of clay is highly heat-resistant and is used in the production of ceramics that are meant to withstand high temperatures.
Porcelain clay: This type of clay is white and fine-grained. It is used in the production of high-quality porcelain.
Red clay: This type of clay is usually reddish-brown or tan in color and is often used to produce earthenware or terra cotta pottery.
Stoneware clay: This type of clay is gray or brown in color and is less porous and more durable than earthenware clay. It is often used to produce dinnerware or other household items.
Feldspar: This is a mineral that is often used as a flux in ceramics, as it helps to lower the melting point of other materials.
Talc: This is a soft mineral that is often used in ceramics as a filler or to improve the properties of other materials.
Silica: This mineral is used in ceramics to improve the strength and durability of other materials, as well as to lower their melting point.
"Common examples are earthenware, porcelain, and brick."
"The earliest ceramics made by humans were pottery objects (pots, vessels, or vases) or figurines made from clay, either by itself or mixed with other materials like silica, hardened and sintered in fire."
"Later, ceramics were glazed and fired to create smooth, colored surfaces, decreasing porosity through the use of glassy, amorphous ceramic coatings on top of the crystalline ceramic substrates."
"Ceramics now include domestic, industrial, and building products, as well as a wide range of materials developed for use in advanced ceramic engineering, such as semiconductors."
"The word ceramic comes from the Ancient Greek word κεραμικός (keramikós), meaning 'of or for pottery' (from κέραμος (kéramos) 'potter's clay, tile, pottery')."
"The earliest known mention of the root ceram- is the Mycenaean Greek ke-ra-me-we, workers of ceramic, written in Linear B syllabic script."
"The word ceramic can be used as an adjective to describe a material, product, or process, or it may be used as a noun, either singular or, more commonly, as the plural noun ceramics."
"...made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature."
"...hardened and sintered in fire."
"...decreasing porosity through the use of glassy, amorphous ceramic coatings on top of the crystalline ceramic substrates."
"Ceramics now include domestic, industrial, and building products..."
"Ceramics now include domestic, industrial, and building products..."
"...a wide range of materials developed for use in advanced ceramic engineering, such as semiconductors."
"Later, ceramics were glazed and fired to create smooth, colored surfaces..."
"...hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials..."
"...clay, either by itself or mixed with other materials like silica..."
"...hardened and sintered in fire."
"Ceramics now include domestic, industrial, and building products..."
"The word ceramic can be used as an adjective to describe a material, product, or process, or it may be used as a noun, either singular or, more commonly, as the plural noun ceramics."