Ceramics and Composite Materials

Traditional Ceramics

Traditional ceramics are comprised of three basic components - clay, silica (quartz), and feldspar.Clay is one of the most common ceramic raw materials. It is used widely because it is found in great quantities naturally and it is easily formed. Clay is used in structural clay products (bricks, pipes, tiles) and whitewares (pottery, tableware, china, sanitaryware). Clay makes up the majority of the ceramic body and is primarily composed of hydrated aluminium silicates, Al2O3.SiO2.H2O. Most clay products also contain an inexpensive filler, often quartz, and a feldspar, or flux, that forms a glass to bind ceramic particles during heat treatment.