ceramiki

Ceramics, known in Polish as ceramika, refers to inorganic, non-metallic materials shaped from natural or synthetic raw materials and subjected to high-temperature processing, producing hard, brittle, and often glassy or crystalline products. The field encompasses traditional pottery as well as modern technical ceramics.

Historically, pottery and ceramic wares date to early civilizations. Humans have shaped clay into vessels since the Neolithic, firing them in kilns to improve strength and water resistance. The invention of glazes added color and surface protection. Porcelain, a highly vitrified ceramic, was developed in China and spread to other regions, affecting global trade and technology, with Europe later adopting large-scale production during the 18th century. In the 19th and 20th centuries, industrialization introduced standardized clay bodies, glazes, and machinery, expanding both artistic and functional applications.

Materials and methods: Ceramics are based on clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite, glass-forming silica, and fluxes like feldspar. The shaping can occur by hand, wheel throwing, slip casting, or pressing. Drying removes moisture before firing. Firing, at controlled atmospheres and temperatures, drives chemical changes that consolidate the material and may form glassy phases in the glaze.

Types and applications: Commonly classified by firing temperature into earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Ceramics are used for tableware, tiles, sanitaryware, bricks, refractories, and industrial components. In addition to traditional wares, technical ceramics include advanced materials such as alumina, silicon carbide, and zirconia, used in electronics, medicine, and aerospace.