Ceramics

Ceramics

A range of hard, long-lasting, non-metalic materials which are generally not affected by heat. Durable (you can use it over and over again).

Properties and uses of ceramics

Ceramics are hard, rigid, unreactive, sometimes transparent, strong, electrical insulators (They do not allow energy to pass through easily) and are heat resistant.

They can be used for windows, bottles and jars: (E.g: Glass)

Used to support the electrical cables on pylons and stop electricity flowing through pylons (Porcelain)

Used for the brakes in high-performance cars as well as in hair straignters (ceramics)

Another example is china.

Making ceramics 

Ceramic pots, china, etc. are made using clay which are then heated to over 1000 degrees celcius then cooled. Glass ceramics are made using sand which are then heated to over 1600 degrees celcius then cooled.

Heating clay and sand form new compounds, as they start to cool, crystals form. The longer it takes to cool down, the larger the crystals,the shorter the time, the smaller the crystals. Because if it cools down quickly, the crystals will not have enough time to cool and form the crystals.

As ceramics cool, their atoms bond together forming a lattice structure, the longer the cooling takes, the larger the structures are. Because the atoms will have more time to form a grid like structure (lattice structure).

Why are ceramics hard and heat resistant?

This means that they are hard becaus they have a lattice structure, large number of atoms, regular pattern and strong bonds, that means high amount of energy will be required to break the bonds.