keraamikas

Keraamikas is the creative and chemical practice of forming objects from clay and other non-metallic minerals and then hardening them by firing at high temperatures. The field encompasses a broad range of activities, from traditional pottery and tile making to sculptural art and modern industrial ceramics. It can be pursued as craft, fine art, or manufacturing, and the resulting objects may be functional, decorative, or technical.

Core materials include various clays, fluxes such as feldspars, silica and alumina, and tempering agents that improve plasticity and strength. The shaping stage uses techniques such as hand-building, wheel throwing, and slip casting, followed by drying to reduce moisture. Firing in kilns transforms the unfired clay into ceramic materials; glazing provides surface color and sealing. Fired ceramics are commonly classified by the firing temperature: earthenware (low-fire), stoneware (high-fire), and porcelain (very high-fire).

Historically, ceramics appear in many ancient cultures and have served daily needs and symbolic purposes. Pottery shards reveal trade routes and cultural exchange, while ceramic art has drawn from religious and aesthetic traditions. In many communities, ceramics remain central to local identity and crafts economies.

Today, keraamikas also includes industrial ceramics made from advanced materials such as alumina, silicon carbide, and zirconia, used in engineering, electronics, medicine, and environmental applications. Studio ceramics and ceramic sculpture continue to explore form, surface, and firing technology, while sustainability concerns drive research into energy-efficient kilns, recycled materials, and responsible mining of clay resources.