Keramiken

Keramiken, or ceramics, are inorganic, non-metallic materials that become hard and relatively brittle after firing. They are typically crystalline or partly crystalline and derived from minerals such as clays and silica, often with fluxes and additives. Ceramics offer high hardness, heat resistance, chemical stability, and electrical insulation, supporting use in art, daily goods, and engineering.

History: The practice began with pottery and brickmaking in prehistory, with porcelain emerging in China and spreading worldwide. Industrial production expanded in the 18th–19th centuries to sanitary ware, tiles, and refractories, while the 20th century introduced advanced ceramics for mechanical, electrical, and biomedical applications.

Materials and processing: Core raw materials include clays (kaolinite, ball clay), silica, and fluxes (feldspar). Shapes are formed by hand-building, wheel throwing, slip casting, pressing, or powder-based methods. After drying, items are fired in kilns at varying temperatures and may be glazed to seal surfaces and add color or texture.

Types and properties: Traditional ceramics include pottery, bricks, tiles, stoneware, and porcelain. Technical or advanced ceramics comprise materials such as alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and zirconia, often used for demanding wear, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature services. Common traits are hardness and brittleness, high temperature stability, and good electrical insulation.

Applications and developments: Ceramics are used in everyday items such as dishes and tiles, and in industry for cutting tools, turbine components, wear parts, electronics insulators, and biomedical implants. Recent advances include ceramic matrix composites and additive manufacturing, enabling complex shapes, lighter parts, and tailored properties.