Products and Properties

Abstract

Oxide ceramics still include traditional potteries and porcelains, cement, and brick which have developed incrementally over the millennia of civilization. Widespread application of traditional ceramic products does not represent widespread understanding of these complex systems’ equilibrium behavior. These established technologies are among the most complex in terms of phase equilibrium studies and their applications in processing. Most phase equilibrium studies are on much simpler and rather idealized systems, having generally two or three components. Modern phase equilibrium studies reflect increasingly demanding applications in many traditional fields, such as in advanced refractories, and late 20th century applications of oxides as unique dielectric, optical, acoustic, and magnetic materials. A small number of “base” materials have emerged as having application in many areas. These are summarized in Table 2.1.