Ceramics
Inter-molecular bonds: covalent and/or ionic.
Properties
- Non metallic
- Inorganic
- Produced by: shaping => firing.
- High melting temperatures (some can survive upto
) - Low density
- High strength, stiffness, hardness
- Corrosion-resistant
- Generally good insulators (electrical and thermal)
- Brittle as glass. Behaves glass-like mostly.
Some ceramic materials are:
- magnetic
- piezoelectric
- superconductors (only few, and only at very low temperatures)
Types
2 types:
- Traditional - clay-based items like pottery, porcelain, and tiles
- Advanced - like silicon carbide, boron nitride, zirconia
Examples
- Sand
- Tiles
- Cement
- Concrete