Nature of Ceramics
• Complex compounds that contain both
metallic and nonmetallic elements
– Alumina – metallic material
– Oxygen – non metallic material
• Crystalline in structure
• Made of metallic ions
• Bonding is either partial or completely Ionic
• Inorganic
3
FIGURE 7-7 Broad classifications of ceramics. Traditional ceramics are contrasted with the newer advanced ceramics, which are also
referred to as fine ceramics, engineered ceramics, new ceramics, and value-added ceramics. (ORNL)
James A. Jacobs & Thomas F. Kilduff
Engineering Materials Technology, Fourth Edition
Copyright ©2001 by Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.
Traditional Ceramics
• Oldest material available to man
• Derived and processed from clay or nonclay
minerals
– Minerals (Bauxite)
• Processed from ores
– Carbonates (Limestone)
• Compounds made of metal combined with carbon (C) and
Oxygen (O2)
– Silicates
• Compounds made of metal combined with Silicon (Si) and
Oxygen (O2)
– Oxides
• Compounds made of metals combined with Oxygen