Ceramics are the oldest groups of materials linked with the evolution of
human civilization. The old and new stone ages are marked by the
developments of innumerable ceramic artifacts and weaponries. The
weaponries are mostly made of volcanic glasses and stones like
obsidian, ignimbrite, flint, chert, quartz etc. The artifacts are on the
other hand made of varieties of clays, naturally occurring ceramics and
straw reinforced clays.
With the discovery of metals and metallic alloys there was a significant
decline in the use of ceramic materials through out the last millennium.
With the advent of ceramic composites and a growing demand of high
temperature ceramics in the applications like re-entry vehicles,
refractorys, high voltage insulators etc. the ceramics are rapidly
becoming a favourite material of the designers again.
The table below shows mechanical properties of some of the engineering ceramics:
