UNDERSTANDING CERAMICS BEYOND CLAY AND THE NEED FOR ELECTROCERAMICS

Abstract

Most opinion sees ceramics as synonymous with clays and nothing more. No doubt, early ceramics originated from clay minerals, hence development of traditional ceramics such as refractories or refractory ceramics and other items like tiles, sewage pipes, porcelain, table and sanitary wares. Traditional ceramics opened the window for ceramic arts, science, engineering and technology. As technology evolves, ceramics develop from traditional ceramics to advanced ceramics. In this opinion paper, the erroneous impression of constraining ceramics to clay is corrected. The impact of electroceramics (a major branch of advanced ceramics) in modern technology is highlighted. Due to the influence of electroceramic materials in telecommunications, electronics, transportation, medicine, space exploration, etc., they are regarded as the hub of modern technology.