Ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic solids formed through heating and cooling processes. Early ceramics were made from clay but now include a wide variety of domestic, industrial, and artistic products. Ceramic materials are divided into three main categories: clay products like tiles, refractories used in high-temperature applications, and glass. Tiles are commonly used for floors, walls, and roofs and are made from clay due to their durability, variety of colors, and resistance to weathering.

1. CERAMICS

2. INTRODUCTION
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and
subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly
crystalline structure, or may be amorphous (e.g., a glass). Because most
common ceramics are crystalline, the definition of ceramic is often restricted to
inorganic crystalline materials, as opposed to the noncrystalline glasses.
The earliest ceramics were made from clay, either by itself or mixed with other
materials, hardened in fire. Later ceramics were glazed and fired to create a
colored, smooth surface. Ceramics now include domestic, industrial and
building products and art objects. In the 20th century, new ceramic
materials were developed for use in advanced ceramic engineering; for
example, in semiconductors.
The ceramic products are broadly divided into three categories
1. Clay products
2. Refractories
3. Glass

3. Clay Products – Tiles
1. Common tiles – These tiles have different shapes and sizes. They are mainly
used for paving, flooring and roofs.
2. Encaustic tiles – These tiles are used for decorative purposes in floors, walls,
ceilings and roofs.
Characteristic features of a good tile;
1. It should be free from any cracks, flaws and bends.
2. It should be in regular shape and size.
3. It should be hard and durable.
4. It should be well burnt.
5. It should fit properly when placed in position.
6. It should possess uniform color

4. Common tiles
Drain tiles – used in water logged areas to convey irrigation water.

5. Floor /paving tiles – available in different colors, easier to lay, lighter than marble,
scratch proof, anti-slip, and do not require polishing.

6. Roof tiles – they are used to serve as covering for pitched roof. The varieties are;
Allahabad Tiles

7. Corrugated tiles
Flat tiles
Flemish tiles

8. Guna tiles
Mangalore tiles
Pan tiles

9. Terra-Cotta
Strong, Durable, Colors, Cheaper, Easily cleaned, Easily moulded, light in
weight, fire-proof, resistant to weathering.

10. Refractories
Firebricks for furnaces and ovens. Have high Silicon or Aluminium oxide content.
Brick products are used in the manufacturing plant for iron and steel, non-ferrous
metals, glass, cements, ceramics, energy conversion, petroleum, and chemical
industries.
Used to provide thermal protection of other materials in very high temperature
applications, such as steel making (Tm=1500°C), metal foundry operations, etc.
They are usually composed of alumina (Tm=2050°C) and silica along with other oxides:
MgO (Tm=2850°C), Fe2O3, TiO2, etc., and have intrinsic porosity typically greater than
10% by volume.
Specialized refractories, (those already mentioned) and BeO, ZrO2, mullite, SiC, and
graphite with low porosity are also used.