2. WHAT ARE CERAMICS?
• A ceramic is a material that is neither metallic
nor organic.
• It may be crystalline, glassy or both crystalline
and glassy.
• Ceramics are typically hard and chemically non-
reactive and can be formed or densified with
heat.
3. ORIGIN OF CERAMICS
• The term ceramics comes from the Green word “keramikos” which
means ‘burnt stuff’.
Ceramic Technology in Syria and Iran in the Eleventh Century
4. HISTORY OF CERAMICS
Archeologists have uncovered human-made ceramics that date back to at least 24,000 BC.
These ceramics were found in Czechoslovakia and were in the form of animal and human figurines,
slabs, and balls. These ceramics were made of animal fat and bone mixed with bone ash and a fine
claylike material.
Use of ceramics increased dramatically during the Neolithic period, with the establishment of
settled communities dedicated to agriculture and farming.
One of the first breakthroughs in the fabrication of ceramics was the invention of the wheel
5. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CERAMICS
• Mainly made of metal oxides like silicon dioxide, Aluminium
dioxide,Iron oxide etc
• In atomic structure they are most often crystalline, although they also
may contain a combination of glassy and crystalline phases.
• Diamond and graphite, which are two different forms of carbon, are
considered to be ceramics
• Ball clay, China clay, Feldspar, Silica, Dolomite, Talc, Calcite and
Nepheline are the common materials used for the formation of
ceramic.
6. CLASSIFICATION OF CERAMICS
Based on Composition
•Oxides
•Carbides
•Nitrites
•Sulphides
•Fluorides
Based on Application
•Glasses
•Clay Products
•Abrasives
•Cements
•Advanced Ceramics
7. Classification Based on Application
• Non crystalline silicates containing
oxides, usually CaO, Na2O, K2O, Al2O3
etc
• Used in containers, mirrors, windows etc
• Desirable Property- Response to Heating
Glasses
• Abrasive ceramics are used to grind or
cut away other softer material.
• Desirable Property- Toughness, hardness
and wear resistance
• Example: Diamond, Silicon Carbide,
Tungsten Carbide, Aluminum Oxide etc.
Abrasive
Ceramic
Materials
8. • When mixed with water, they form slurry
which sets and then hardens
• Thus it is possible to form any shapes
• Used as bonding phase between bricks
• Eg: Plaster of Paris, Lime
Cements
• Ceramics that are made from clay that has
been fired in a kiln
• Depending on the desired application different
types of clay - or combinations of clays - may
be used to give certain characteristics
• Kaolin, ball clay, stoneware, earthenware and
fire clay are some of the most widespread
examples
Clay
Products
9. ADVANCED CERAMICS
• The term advanced ceramics refers to all the products made from
inorganic, high-purity compounds through a series of specialized
manufacturing processes.
• Advanced ceramics can be used for various purposes due to their
permeability, magnetism, insulation, and conduction.
• They are used in Heat Engines, Ceramics Armors, Electronic Packaging
etc.
10. Some Examples of Advanced Ceramics
ALUMINIUM OXIDE/ ALUMINA (Al2O3)
• Commonly used ceramic material
• Applications- insulators in spark plugs, contain molten metals at
high temperature
ALUMINIUM NITRIDE (AlN)
• Properties- Good Electrical insulation, High Thermal Conductivity
• Application- Electrical circuits operating at high frequency,
integrated circuits etc
11. Some applications of Advanced Ceramics
IN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
• In engines heat-resistant ceramic parts like valve
components are used.
• Backings of crankshaft housing and components for
water and fuel pumps are ceramics nowadays.
IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
• Biocompatible and wear resistant advanced ceramics
are of great help for the medical industry .
• Artificial bone
• Dental products
12. IN AEROSPACE
• In Engines: Shielding a hot running airplane
engine from damaging other components .
• Airframes : Used as a high stress, high-temp
and lightweight bearing and structural
component.
• Missile Nose-Cones: Shielding the missile
internals from heat.
• Space Shuttle tiles
• Rocket nozzles : Withstands and focuses the
exhaust of the rocket booster.
13. HOW ARE CERAMICS MADE
• Manufacturers collect the clay to make ceramics by excavating the
earth.
• Ceramics on the other hand cannot be made with just any clay. The
clay must have silicon and sand mixed with it.
COLLECTION OF CLAYS
• The next phase of creating ceramics involves making the clay soft
enough to give it any desired form.
• To do that, manufacturers use water and some other chemical agents.
MAKING THE CLAY FLEXIBLE
14. • Now that the clay is flexible, it is high time to give it a shape that is useful for any particular
purpose.
• If you are making pottery with ceramic, you need to shape the clay just like the final product.
• If you want to use ceramics for industrial purposes, you need to make clay shapes using
machines.
GIVING THE CLAY PROPER FORM
• At this stage of making ceramics, the clay is baked at a high temperature to harden it into a
permanent shape.
• When you heat the clay at 1500 °C, it takes an irreversible form thanks to a series of chemical
reactions.
BAKING THE CLAY
• Finally, the ceramic is glazed and heated. By glazing, the material manufacturers make them
non-porous or water-resistant.
GLAZING THE CERAMICS
15. PROPERTIES OF CERAMICS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• Ceramics have the highest melting point.
Ceramics possess poor thermal conductivity but they can sustain at high temperatures easily its
thermal conductivity lies between metals and polymers.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
• Ceramics are mostly resistant to chemical attack by gases, liquids, and even high temperature melts.
• Ceramics are non-recyclable in nature but not all hazardous to the environment
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
• They have poor impact strength.
• Ceramics usually have high compressive strength.
• They are extremely stiff and rigid showing very little or no yielding.
• Ceramic products are hard, strong in compression having high softening temperature.
16. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
• Ceramics are usually electrical insulators although some exhibit semiconducting and
conducting behaviour also.
• Some ceramics especially quartz exhibit piezo-electrical behaviour under which a
mechanical loading generates potential difference across its surfaces.
• Ceramics also widely used in the production of lasers.
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
• Ceramics can be transparent, translucent, or opaque for one composition.
The colour of many ceramics can be changed by small additions: additives, dopants, or
point defects.
Ceramics can emit light in response to an electric field or illumination by light of
another wavelength.
Ceramics can reflect and/or refract light.
17. USE OF CERAMICS IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
• Ceramic materials have been used in buildings since at least 3000 BC
when fired bricks were used to build cities in the early Indus Valley
civilization.
• The production of bricks and roof tiles is one of the most well-known
applications of ceramics. Bricks and roof tiles have been used for
centuries because of their proven ability to protect homes from
weathering agents
• Other applications are Bricks, Cements, Concretes and building
interiors
18. BRICKS
• Engineering bricks are especially strong, have low water
porosity, and high acid resistance, and are used in building
foundations and damp courses.
CEMENT
• Tying bricks into walls is typically done with cement-based
mortar, which is also composed of ceramic material.
• Cement is used in many large modern buildings for its
versatility of shape and high compression strength.
19. CONCRETE
• Concrete, which is a combination of aggregate, water and cement,
is a pourable construction material favored by Roman and
modernist architects alike.
• Nano concrete which contains nanoscale cement particles and is
used for highly decorative plates or foamed to create lightweight
concrete.
• Microbial concrete adds bacteria to the mix to increase
compression strength
• Specialist concretes include pervious or porous concrete, used to
mitigate ecological damage caused by paving
20. BUILDING INTERIOR
• From the clay pots and mosaic tiles of ancient civilizations to
the porcelain kitchen and bathroom fittings and polished
countertop surfaces of sleek modern designs, ceramic
materials have been widely used in building interiors.
21. COST ANALYSIS OF CERAMICS
CURRENT SCENARIO:
• The global ceramics market size was valued at USD 239.53 billion in
2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 5.2% from 2023 to 2030.
• The size of the ceramic tiles market in India is expected to reach INR
501.70 Billion by the end of 2023 expanding at a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 13% .
22. • Among the different types of ceramic tiles, wall tiles constitute 50% of
the market share, followed by floor tiles (23%), vitrified tiles, and
industrial tiles
• The key companies profiled in the India ceramic tiles market report
include Kajaria, Somany, Prism Johnson, Asian Granito, RAK Ceramics,
Simpolo, Varmora, Orient Bell Ceramics, Nitco Tiles, and Sun Heart.
• The rise of building & construction, medical and other industries give
great demand for the ceramics industry.
23. CHALLENGES FACED:
• The depleting availability of raw materials like clay and kaolin are the
main challenges.
• Rise in gas prices also give the industry a challenge.
24. FUTURE SCOPE:
• The 3D printed ceramic industry is a rising industry with so much
potential in the future. With 3D printing technology, intricate detailing
in ceramics is no longer hard.
• A major chunk of costs in this industry is for finding raw materials and
hardening them. Increasing efficiency of furnaces and finding cheap
sources will increase profitability .
