ceramics

=ceramics=

A ceramic is made from compounds of materials formed by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure or may be amorphous (non crystalline) in the case of glass

=functional classification=
 * Fired-clay products || Bricks, tiles, earthenware pipes, porcelain ||
 * Refractories || Silica brick, magnesite ||
 * Inorganic glasses || Window glass, lead glass ||

Fired-clay products - effect of drying

 * Drying || up to 100 degrees C ||
 * Dehydration || 100 - 700 ||
 * Oxidation || 550 - 900 ||
 * Vitrification || From 950 upwards ||

Glass fibres
Glass fibre tensile strength is very high, 2.4 to 4.5 GPa. This is because of its structure and lack of surface defects. However fibreglass is used as a composite whose strength is determined by the resins used.

Click on the link to the next topic =composite materials=