Advanced Ceramics: Stages of Development

Ceramics are inorganicInorganic nonmetallic materials (oxides, carbidesCarbide, nitridesNitride, etc.) processed after sinteringSintering of natural or syntheticSynthetic precursorsPrecursor at high temperatureTemperature. They can also be applied at or resist high firingFiring temperatures. They are highly crystalline (most of the advanced and traditional ceramicsCeramic), semi-crystalline (vitrified ceramics such as earthenwareEarthenware, stoneware, andPorcelain porcelain), or completely amorphousAmorphous (glasses). The composition/structureStructure relationship, method of processing, raw materialsRaw materials, and applicationsApplication determine the propertiesProperties of ceramicsCeramic and whether the ceramics are traditional or advanced ones. The first man-made ceramics were potteryPottery objects and figurines from claysClay after firingFiring. Several stages have been considered in the development of ceramic industryIndustry until reaching the production of advanced ceramicsAdvanced ceramics. The second stage for development of ceramicCeramic includes the production of glazed-colored ceramics, ceramic arts, and building products. Recently, new categories of advanced ceramicsCeramic have been developed for electronicsElectronics, biomedicalBiomedical, semiconductorsSemiconductor, energyEnergy, and optical and structuralStructural applicationsApplication. In the present chapter, we are going to shed lightLight on the stages of development for advanced ceramicsAdvanced ceramics. Types and classifications, advanced processing techniquesProcessing techniques, propertiesProperties, sinteringSintering as well as new forms of applications will be presented in the currentCurrent chapter. Examples of these kinds of advanced ceramicsAdvanced ceramics, e.g., aluminaAlumina, zirconiaZirconia, Mg–Al spinels, silicon carbideSilicon carbide, silicon nitrideSilicon nitride, ceramic compositesCeramic composite, thin filmsThin film, etc., with their specific applicationsApplication will be also presented.