Ceramics are those inorganic and non-metallic materials we found everywhere around us. Bricks, plates, toilets, glass items are usually manufactured of ceramic. They are also used to manufacture engine parts of automobiles as well as some appliances. The applications of ceramic do not end here. Its uses are enormous due to some of its brilliant properties, including high hardness, high melting point, resistance to weather, chemicals, corrosion, and chemical attacks. The quality, however, depends upon the method of formation applied. So, let’s look at this article to discover how ceramics are made.
Initial Preparation
The process of ceramic-making starts with making a blend of clay-based material and water. This clay-based material is obtained from the ground, and the mixture is made to make it flexible and softer. The applications usually vary depending upon the different muds.
The most common clay type is used to make cement, bricks, and aggregates.
Fire clay is another popular clay, especially used for the making of ceramics and bricks.
Ball clay has a bit supreme quality than the other materials and is used for the manufacturing of modern ceramic floor tiles, sanitary ware, etc.
Shaping
After the clay-based material is gathered, it is squashed into different shapes depending upon the application. For example, pipes are made through extrusion in which clay is squeezed through a hole, glass is fabricated through molding and blowing, bricks are also manufactured in molds and obtained in accurate shapes and sizes. Other processes to shape raw ceramics include pressing, which is again the squeezing of powder into the mold, casting, jiggering, which is layering of raw materials into the revolving mold, etc. The more advanced ceramics are manufactured from some newer techniques, such as reaction bonding.
Firing
The last step in ceramic making is firing. Ceramics are fired at high temperatures, which also makes the ceramic heater durable enough to deal with extreme temperatures. This step is generally executed in an industrial oven known as the kiln.
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