Keraamit

Keraamit is the Finnish term for ceramics or ceramic materials, a broad class of inorganic, non-metallic solids typically produced by shaping powders and firing them at high temperatures. The designation covers traditional ceramics, such as pottery, bricks, and porcelain, as well as advanced ceramics, which are engineered for specific properties and applications (for example alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and zirconia).

Manufacturing of keraamit generally involves powder processing, forming (pressing, casting, or tape casting), and a high-temperature sintering step to create a solid, cohesive body. Some ceramics are glazed or surface-finished to improve appearance or performance. Advances in processing include ceramic matrix composites and additive manufacturing, which aim to enhance toughness and enable complex geometries.

Key properties of keraamit include high melting points, exceptional hardness and wear resistance, and chemical inertness. They typically exhibit low electrical conductivity and good dielectric properties, while being relatively brittle. Toughness can be improved through mechanisms such as transformation toughening (notably in zirconia) or by combining ceramics with other materials.

Applications span many industries. Traditional ceramics are used in pottery, bricks, and sanitaryware. Advanced ceramics serve as bearing and cutting-tool materials, refractory components, electronic substrates and insulators, catalytic supports, and medical implants (such as alumina or zirconia components). In aerospace and automotive sectors, ceramics are used for heat shields, turbine parts, and high-temperature coatings.

Environmental considerations include high-energy production and raw-material demands, prompting ongoing research into reducing processing energy, increasing reuse of waste streams, and developing more damage-tolerant ceramic systems.