Industrial Ceramic Materials

Industrial ceramic materials are non-metallic, inorganic compounds that include oxides, carbides, or nitrides. They have high melting points, low wear resistance, and a wide range of electrical properties. The minerals used to make industrial ceramics materials are crushed or ground into a fine powder that is purified by adding it to a solution and allowing a chemical precipitate to form. The precipitate is then separated from the solution and heated to form a highly pure powder. After purification, small amounts of wax are added to bind the ceramic powder. Plastics may also be added to provide pliability. The powder can then be shaped into different objects by various molding processes such as slip casting, pressure casting, injection molding, and extrusion. After industrial ceramic materials are molded, they are heated in a process known as densification to strengthen the material.