These refractories created the necessary conditions for melting metals and glass on an industrial scale, as well as for the manufacture of coke, cement, chemicals, and ceramics. Another major development occurred in the second half of the 19th century, when ceramic materials for electrical insulation were developed. As other inventions came on the scene-including automobiles, radios, televisions, computers-ceramic and glass materials were needed to help these become a reality, as shown in the following timeline. As Ceramics are made of earthen materials, they are the most compatible products with the nature. Ceramics are the only materials which are nature friendly and therefore they are free from decays due to gradual natural impacts like corrosion, erosion, abrasion, thermal shocks, etc. Even though Ceramics are brittle; they are the only materials which subsist to see the races to come. Hence, we may call them a strong-fragile part of human life.
Timeline of Selected Ceramic and Glass Developments.
Year.
Development.
24,000 B.C.
Ceramic figurines used for ceremonial purposes.
14,000 B.C.
First tiles made in Mesopotamia and India.
9000-10,000 B.C.
Pottery making begins.
5000-8000 B.C.
Glazes discovered in Egypt.
1500 B.C.
Glass objects first made.
1550 A.D.
Synthetic refractories (temperature resistant) for furnaces used to make steel, glass, ceramics, cement.
Mid 1800's.
Porcelain electrical insulation.
Incandescent light bulb.
1920's.
High-strength quartz-enriched porcelain for insulators.
Alumina spark plugs.
Glass windows for automobiles.
1940's.
Capacitors and magnetic ferrites.
1960's.
Application of carbides and nitrides.
1970's.
Introduction of high-performance cellular ceramic substrates for catalytic converters and particulate filters for diesel engines.
1980's.
Properties of Ceramics.
The properties of ceramic materials, like all materials, are dictated by the types of atoms present, the types of bonding between the atoms, and the way the atoms are packed together.
