Ceramics

If wood is the oldest material used by human beings, ceramics have also been used since ancient times. Traditionally, ceramic objects were used mainly in cooking, especially tableware and pots, and in art. Objects were easy to produce through pottery techniques, and the raw material used was abundant. However, these ceramics had low mechanical strength; they therefore broke easily.

Nowadays, industries use improved raw materials and more complex manufacturing processes. Modern ceramics are much less fragile and can therefore be used in many areas.

The ceramic family is very large and has many properties:

• Ceramics have low electrical conductivity, which explains their use as insulators in electrical and electronic systems.
• They are excellent thermal insulators and they resist heat well, hence their use in the kitchen.
• Their generally high degree of hardness explains why ceramics are sought after as building materials (bricks, tiles, etc.).
• Their corrosion resistance ensures that they are resistant to the action of water or smoke.
• Most ceramics, on the other hand, are relatively brittle. However, the composition and firing can be controlled, resulting in resistant ceramics offering good mechanical resilience.

Ceramics are very durable materials, which explains why they are very often found during archaeological excavations. However, the action of certain strong acids or bases can degrade them.

Few means of protection exist for ceramics, other than not exposing them to strong acids and bases and avoiding significant temperature variations. Furthermore, the choice of raw materials and appropriate manufacturing processes can improve certain properties of ceramics.