6.0 Ceramics

  Chemistry in Everyday Life

    6.0 Ceramics

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6.0 CeramicsCeramics are inorganic non-metallic, covalent network solids that can be made into a paste and shaped at normal temperature which when fired at high temperature gain strength e.g. clays, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide and crystalline and amorphous silicon dioxide. Ceramics are lighter, stiffer and much more resistant to corrosion, most ceramics are electrical insulators. Ceramics tend to have thermal expansion but low thermal conductivity as a result sudden local temperature charge causes cracking. Sialon, a ceramic alloy is almost as hand as diamond, as strong as steels and as light as aluminum such alloys can be used at temperature of up to 1300oC and require no lubrication