What Are Ceramic Materials?
At their core definition, ceramic materials are any non-metallic, inorganic substances that have been hardened by heat. High temperatures affect the crystalline structure of the underlying ceramic material, causing it to solidify and enhance its strength. Different types of ceramics have different heating and cooling requirements related to their thermal conductivity.
There are several different classifications of ceramic materials depending on their composition. The three types of ceramic are sorted by their raw materials.
Traditional Ceramic Materials
These are what most people think of when they hear the word ceramic. Materials in traditional ceramics are silicates used to make products such as stoneware, earthenware, china, porcelain, etc.
New Ceramics
Non-silicate ceramic materials are made from inorganic compounds that are synthetic and highly pure. This includes ceramic materials made from carbon, silicon and others. New types of ceramic raw materials are more resistant to corrosion, have higher strength and are capable of being used in high-temperature environments.
Glass-Ceramics
Polycrystalline and produced through controlled crystallization, glass-ceramics have a uniform dispersion of crystals throughout. Glass-ceramic materials are produced through a two-step process where the glass is formed and then treated for clarity.
The Most Common Types of Ceramic Materials
While science has grown considerably over the course of human history, many types of ceramic materials remain in use to this very day. Together with synthetic ceramic materials, earthenware and stoneware ceramics remain just as popular. The list of ceramic materials that are most common includes:
- Clay
- Bricks
- Tiles
- Glass
- Cement
- Porcelain
Industrial Ceramic Applications
Each type of ceramic material produces a unique product that makes it ideal for different industrial applications. Abrasive ceramics are widely used to polish and finish items in metal fabrication. As we discussed earlier, new ceramic materials are ideal fittings for high-temperature environments where excessive heat could warp or transform parts. These refractory products are extremely useful in aerospace and mechanical engineering applications.
Combined with modern glazing techniques, traditional ceramic materials are used to produce many of the products we use on a daily basis. Plates, glasses, bowls, mugs, bricks, tiles and cement products are all made from ceramic materials. Pottery remains one of the largest global industries and one of the biggest consumers of clay products.
Contact SentroTech for Ceramic Manufacturing Furnaces
With high-temperature ovens and dry furnaces from SentroTech, ceramics manufacturers produce millions of parts every year. Ceramic raw materials are shaped and then heated using our industrial-grade ceramic manufacturing furnaces. We build our ceramic furnaces to suit the types of ceramic materials used in your factory. Bespoke heating elements, oven sizes and control configurations are just a few of the customization options available when you purchase a sintering oven from SentroTech. Contact us today to get started.
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