Ceramic is an element that is used for decorative and utilitarian purposes. It is obtained from a material called clay, which is kneaded and molded to give it the desired shape, then is exposed to heat to achieve rigidity. Its origin dates back many years, from the Neolithic era, since at that time, farmers needed containers to store the leftover crops.
These vessels or containers were characterized by the color of their designs, in addition to becoming unique pieces due to their design style and color.
Ceramic is characterized by:
Not being a combustible material, when compared to wood, it proves to be a much more reliable material for construction. It does not rust, water does not modify it at all, so it is extremely stable. Chemicals do not harm it. It is not elastic, as once it hardens, it cannot be shaped further. It is refractory, capable of withstanding high temperatures.
The lathe and the kiln are the main tools used to make ceramics, as well as other utensils such as brushes and paints for decoration. However, other instruments are required such as: shaped cutters, clay cutter, sculptor's compass, metal tools for sculpting, wooden sticks for modeling, metal crescents, turns.
The most outstanding properties of ceramics are: their color and appearance, this will depend on the impurities and all the materials used in the decoration. Mechanical resistance, porosity and absorption.
You can find different types of ceramics, some of them are:
The porous ceramic, is one that is made with thick clay body, rough and permeable to fats and gases. It has the ability to absorb moisture. When breaking it is earthy. An example of this kind of pottery is tiles and bricks.
Compact ceramic: it is one that is waterproof, does not absorb moisture and has a microcrystalline structure. They have good chemical resistance. Within this group are porcelains and fine earthenware.
Semi-compact ceramic: made of fine-grained clay, they are not very permeable and do not absorb moisture.
Tenacious ceramics: are those made with inorganic materials, with fine crystalline grains, produced by the purification of the raw material, whether natural or synthetic, capable of withstanding high levels of mechanical and thermal stress. This kind of ceramic is used in the manufacture of porcelain tiles.
