Ceramic
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcelain, and brick.
The earliest ceramics made by humans were pottery objects (pots or vessels) or figurines made from clay, either by itself or mixed with other materials like silica, hardened and sintered in fire. Later, ceramics were glazed and fired to create smooth, colored surfaces, decreasing porosity through the use of glassy, amorphous ceramic coatings on top of the crystalline ceramic substrates. Ceramics now include domestic, industrial and building products, as well as a wide range of materials developed for use in advanced ceramic engineering, such as in semiconductors.
Materials needed
- Clay, or other ceramic medium
- A kiln
- Optionally: a pottery wheel and ceramic glaze
Crafting instructions
- Work the clay to remove air bubbles and prepare the clay for shaping
- Form the clay into the desired shape. Wetter clay is easier to shape, but drier clay holds its a shape better.
- let the clay dry. This should be done slowly to avoid cracks
- Bisque firing: fire in a kiln of 850–1000°C (1560–1830°F) for about 8 to 14 hours depending on size and shape.
- Optional: Apply glaze once cooled
- Glaze firing: fire in a kiln of 1040–1100°C (1900–2010°F) for earthenware glaze or 1200–1300°C (2190–2370°F) for stoneware glaze for about 6 to 10 hours depending on size and shape.
Uses
Due to the abundance of clay and ceramics ability to hold water, ceramics were widely used across cultures as cases, shingles, plant pots and more
Dependencies
See also
External links
- How Is Information Kept Legible For 1 Million Years? - Memory of Mankind
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