Making materials- Ceramics

For science test + revision

 Definition of Conductors and Insulators

Conductor- allows energy (electrical and thermal) to pass through them easily

metals are good conductors

Insulators- Does not allow energy to pass through them easily

wood and rubber are good insulators

What are ceramics?

Hard, durable, nonmetallic materials generally unaffected by heat

Examples include:

• Ceramics

• China 

• Porcelain 

• Glass

Properties of Ceramics

• High melting Point 

• Low density

• Brittle

• Insulators of electricity

• Hard

• Heat resistant

• Very unreactive

• Rigid

Ceramic pots and china are made using….

Clay heated over 1000 degrees Celsius which is then cooled

Glass ceramics are made using….

Sand heated over 1600 degrees Celsius which is then cooled

What does heating clay and sand form?

They form new compounds

As they cool crystals form 

The longer they take, the bigger the crystals will be 

What happens when ceramics cool?

As ceramics cool, their atoms bond together forming a grid-like lattice structure

The longer cooling takes, the larger the structure is.

Why are ceramics hard?

They have a lattice structure in a regular pattern by strong bonds

which makes them stiff and rigid

Why are ceramics heat resistant?

There are many strong bonds

and it takes a lot of energy to break them and melt the material