What is ceramics? Detailed answer

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What is ceramics? Detailed answer

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What is ceramics?

In museums, of course, you have seen various vases, vessels, cups and dishes made by potters. Pottery items are made from special clay while it is soft and then fired in kilns to harden it. The art of making such things is called pottery. The word "ceramics" is sometimes used not only in relation to products made of clay alone, but also to products covered with enamels and glass. But in any case, for the manufacture of these products, firing methods and natural materials are used: clay, sand and crushed rocks.

Ceramics is one of the most ancient arts on earth, as clay is found almost everywhere. Sherds made in prehistoric times were found. A well-fired pottery is very durable. It may break, but it never rots or rusts.

The ancient Chinese were wonderful potters. They invented a process for producing a very strong, translucent ceramic known as porcelain. In the West, this material became known under the name "china", like the country itself, where it was first produced. There are six main types of clay used to make pottery.

The first is ordinary clay, which is not suitable for fine work. What is obtained from it is called earthenware or ceramic dishes.

The purest clay is kaolin, or Chinese clay. It is used to make Chinese porcelain. When fired, it acquires the purest white color. In ancient times, when there were no refrigerators, earthenware jugs were used to store cold water. The water in them remained cold because this type of ceramic is a rough material and allows liquid to seep into its fine pores. Leaking out, the liquid begins to evaporate, and this constant evaporation of moisture from the surface of the vessel helps the jar and its contents to remain cold.

In modern times, earthenware is coated with a special shiny compound to prevent this evaporation, and such dishes are usually called not earthenware, but ceramics.

Author: Likum A.

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