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A ceramic is an inorganic, non-metallic solid prepared
by the action of heat and subsequent cooling.[1] Ceramic materials may
have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be
amorphous (e.g., a glass). Because most common ceramics are
crystalline, the definition of ceramic is often restricted to
inorganic crystalline materials, as opposed to the non-crystalline
glasses.
The earliest ceramics were pottery objects made from clay, either by
itself or mixed with other materials. Ceramics now includes domestic,
industrial and building products and art objects. In the 20th century
new ceramic materials were developed for use in advanced ceramic
engineering, for example, in semiconductors.
The word ceramic comes from the Greek word κεραμικός (keramikos)
meaning pottery, which is said to derive from the Indo-European word
ker, meaning heat.[2][3] Ceramic may be used as an adjective
describing a material, product or process; or as a singular noun, or,
more commonly, as a plural noun, ceramics. |