Ceramic Projects

Here are some great ideas for hands-on art projects for students ranging from lower elementary to high school, which introduce students to ceramics design without a great investment in equipment. If there is no kiln at your school, there are many places such as other schools' and universities' art departments, paint-your-own pottery centers, and local pottery supply stores which will be able to fire your ceramics projects for you at low cost.

Clay art dinnerware is easy to make using low-cost molds. Clay is rolled to the desired thickness over a slab mold. Slab molds are flat and textured with various patterns so that the rolled-out clay takes on the relief pattern of the mold in reverse. While the clay is still on the slab mold, the reverse side (which will be the bottom of the plate) can be decorated with wooden or rubber stamps, or even found objects, to produce a unique pattern. The plate is then peeled from the slab mold and placed on a curved drape mold. The plate is gently pressed down on the drape mold, which changes the plate's profile from flat to curved. While on the drape mold, feet can be made for the dish from small balls of clay; or else a base can be made by rolling excess clay into a rope and placing a coil centered on the dish. When removed from the drape mold the dish can be fired and then decorated with paints or glazes.

Bisque ceramic tiles are squares of clay which have been fired one time at a low temperature - i.e. white, unglazed, fired clay tiles. These are inexpensive to buy and can be decorated with underglazes, any type of paint (even watercolors), pencils, inks, crayons, even chalk. After decorating, several coats of a clear glaze can be painted over the design and the tiles fired to cone 04, which makes for a professional, finished appearance. Or, several coats of a white gloss low fire glaze can be used as the base and then designs can be drawn or painted with underglazes or ceramic paint and fired again to cone 04. This technique makes for a majolica (Renaissance-style) effect. The student-created tiles can be the basis of a tile mural. When students work together to create a tile mural for the school building itself or for other spaces in public, it teaches teamwork and collaboration, and instills a great deal of pride in the participants. Mural creation can bring the entire school community, students, their parents, the faculty and school administration together, and be a truly unique experience for the entire school.

Ceramic Materials

Ceramic Materials

The word Ceramics is derived from the Greek word Keramos which means potter's earth or clay. Therefore, ceramics may be considered to be material made from naturally occurring clay or earth. Scientifically, ceramics are compounds of metallic and non-metallic elements. There are also manufactured ceramic materials such as diamond, SiC and Si3N4 and so on. In modern applications, a broader definition applies to the term ceramic, that is everything that is not a metal or organic material. Ceramics are inorganic as well as non-metallic materials which have been processed or used at high temperatures.

The American Ceramic society has defined ceramic products as those manufactured "by the action of heat on raw materials, most of which are of an earthy nature -- while of the constituents of these raw materials, the chemical element silicon, together with its oxide and the compounds thereof, occupies a predominant position." That branch of knowledge which deals with the expertise of manufacturing and treatment of ceramic materials is called ceramic engineering.

There are various types of ceramic products which we have classed under four distinct categories-

1. Structural - it includes roof and floor tiles, pipes and bricks.

2. White wares - they include objects like decorative, sanitary ware, table ware and wall tiles. The examples of white ware ceramics are stone ware, porcelain, bone china and earthen ware.

3. Refractories like glass and steel building crucibles, gas fire radiant and kiln linings.

4. Technical or fine ceramics. such products include tiles applied in the space shuttle program, ballistic fortification, bio-medical implants, missile nose cones, nuclear fuel uranium oxide pellets and jet engine turbine.

The various properties of ceramics are discussed below-

1. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES- they are crystalline or amorphous and are usually covalently bonded or iconic substances. Ceramic materials also show plastic deformations.

2. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES- they are semi conductors and most of them are transitional metal oxides. However under extremely low temperatures some ceramics become superconductors.

Ceramic Materials

CLASSIFICATION OF CERAMICS-

They are classified as non -crystalline and crystalline ceramics. The non-crystalline ceramics are formed from melts and are called glass ceramic. They are produced after a great range of processing whereas the crystalline ceramics do not require much doling out.

Apart from the ones discussed above, ceramics have a wide range of usage

1. It is used in making knives and ceramic knives are sharper than steel knives. Though they are brittle, their blades are more durable.

2. Ceramics like alumina and boron carbide are used as "Small Arms Protective Inserts"

3. Steel can be replaced by ceramic balls in ball bearings. Due to their hardness they have a longer lifetime. Their electrical insulating capacities are also valuable in bearings but a major drawback is their high cost.

4. Ceramic engines can be used in laboratories due to their high fuel efficiency and they do not need any cooling system. However mass production is not possible because cracks can easily develop in ceramics which may result in dangerous equipment failure.

5. Nowadays bio-ceramics are made which include synthetic bones and dental implants.

6. High tech ceramic is also employed in making watch cases.

Ceramic Marmer

Ceramic Marmer

Marble is a coarse crystalline rock derived from limestone or dolomite. Pure white marble and especially prepared by the mineral calcite. Tulungagung is one of the largest marble producer in Indonesia.

Indonesia Ceramic

Indonesia Ceramic

Indonesia Ceramic

Indonesia Ceramic Giftware, Floating Rose Collection

Indonesian artisans have used traditional craft techniques to create this collection of decidedly modern ceramic pieces. Hand-painted rose blossoms connected by vines of white dots float dreamily across a black ceramic base. Available in three versatile sizes and shapes, each Floating Rose piece is a beautiful blend of old and new.

Ceramic Review

A home is the dream translated into concrete. The process of translation consists not only of beautification but basics like painting the wall, decoration with beautiful furnishings and a glamorous floor to step on. With Dura Ceramic tile reviews; enter the world of stunning tile décor.

Ceramic tiles have existed for many years and their popularity hasn't decreased even a bit. They are highly regarded for their toughness and come in a variety of styles and colors. Thus you can obtain ceramic tiles to complement any décor whatsoever, from the rich Victorian style to the plain and simple. The good-looking ceramic tiles make for easy installation and the glazed variety, in particular, are easy to clean and maintain.

However, you need not go through the Dura Ceramic tile reviews to realize that these tiles are above others. The Dura Ceramic tile reviews aren't overstating even a bit when they say that the tiles have brought in the Gen Y of ceramic tile technology. Coming in an array of diverse looks, Congoleum DuraCeramic tiles are long lasting and easy to maintain.

Information on the interesting blend of ceramic with vinyl properties is the specialty of the Dura Ceramic tile reviews. The limestone composite base provides strength and permanence while you could feel the soft texture of vinyl beneath your feet. Dura ceramic tile will suit various domestic spaces. Install them in your bathroom and feel the warmth. With their promise of longevity they are ideal fit for more chaotic and pressurized commercial places and any domestic parts.

You need not panic if you drop a pot or pan on the tiles. Don't get worried about the imminent chipping cracking ritual. Dura Ceramic Tile Reviews assure you of long duration and vigor.

With the Dura Ceramic tiles, you also get a Lifelong Limited Warranty against fade, stain and wear out. So walking on the tiles won't mean that you have to walk on your tiptoes all the time.

The Dura Ceramic tile reviews are easy to wipe so that the occasional spill of the cola can be easily cleaned with soap and water.

Dura Ceramic tiles can be installed with or without grout. If you own a modern home with stylish wrought iron furniture you can have the modern edge-to-edge flooring without grout. If you prefer a traditional look install the tiles with grout.

And the best thing about the tiles is their easy installation procedure. You with your own hands can do it. It also saves you the tension and money as in case a tile breaks, though it is extremely rare, you can fix it on your own without looking for a trained tile setter.

Dura Ceramic tile reviews are tempting and once you use the tiles, they are addictive.

Ceramic Insert

Ceramic insert grades, coated or uncoated, are based on silicon-nitride or aluminum-oxide formulations. Silicon-nitride-based cutting tools often contain toughening agents and are well suited for turning and milling of ductile, malleable and nodular cast iron, other difficult-to-machine irons and high-strength alloys. Silicon-nitride tooling is used to machine cast irons and steels up to Rc 65.

Economical tool life in gray cast irons can be achieved at speeds of up to 5,000 sfpm in single-point and milling operations.

Aluminum-oxide (Al2O3)-based ceramic has high-abrasion-wear resistance and moderate strength. It is best suited for applications in which interruptions, impacts or extreme hardness are not factors.

The high compressive strength of these grades makes them good to use for cast-iron grooving. Coolant should not be used in this application because of the grades’ low resistance to thermal-shock.

Aluminum-oxide ceramics reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) single crystals, or whiskers, have high melting points, high hardness, chemical inertness and wear and thermal-shock resistance. The whiskers enhance the fracture toughness of these grades.

It is unusual for reinforced-ceramic tools to fail catastrophically as conventional ceramic inserts can. Instead, movement or failure of reinforced ceramic inserts can result in edge chipping or delamination of the rake face. Usually, these ceramic tools are consumed gradually in a predictable wear pattern.

Reinforced-ceramic grades are well suited to machining high-temperature alloys. They also can be used to machine hardened steels, hard irons and plasma spray and welded overlays. Reinforced-ceramic tooling works well in interrupted-cut turning, milling and die/mold work.

Whisker-reinforced ceramic tools can be run dry, wet, or intermittently cooled without fear of failure from thermal cracking.

Coated whisker-reinforced ceramics work well in light to medium-duty applications such as semi-finishing and finishing operations in which extended tool life is needed. Coated-ceramic tool life is up to three times that of uncoated ceramics. Coated ceramics are not recommended for abusive milling or interrupted cutting.

Machining of titanium with ceramic tools is not recommended because the high heat necessary for the process, coupled with the flash point of titanium, could create the risk of fire.

Ceramic Pipes

Pipes are manufactured with a number of different types of materials like ceramic, fiberglass, metal, concrete and plastic of which the plastic drainage pipes are the ones which are most commonly used all over the world. There are a number of reasons due to which plastic is the preferred material for drainage pipes and some of the attributes of this material in this regard are light-weight, resistance to chemicals, its non-corrosive properties and its easy malleability due to which it can be connected without putting in much efforts.

Plastic drainage pipes are used in many countries of the world for the purpose of drinking water distribution and waste water mains and some of the commonly used types of plastic for these applications are polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, fiber reinforced plastic, polypropylene and polyethylene.

Installation of these pipes is carried out in a number of steps and there are some precautions as well which should be kept in mind while performing the job. Plastic pipes are prone to expansion and contraction and therefore the worker should either mount the pipes or make use of metal strapping in form of 'plumber's tape' to accommodate the change in size.

It is owing to this reason that the plastic drainage pipes should not be bound rigidly at their ends and should have some gap between them. Plastic pipes also need to be protected from nails by fitting them with pre-punched and nailed-on steel straps along with installing water hammer resistors and air chambers at each and every fixture. While joining these plastic pipes to the existing pipes one should make use of slip couplings and align the two pipes carefully before sealing the merger. When the plastic drainage pipes are buried in the ground, precaution should be taken that there are no rocks and that the pipes are laid firmly on the trench bottom and not on soft-fill.

Ceramic Manufacturing

The Advanced Ceramics Manufacturing facility manufactures ceramics components for military, aerospace and industrial applications. Founded in 2001, ACM, produces a broad range of ceramic preforms and blanks that are used in wear resistant, cutting, and metal forming operations. Furthermore, the low CTE ceramics are molded as water soluble lost core mandrels, used to manaufacturer complex hollow composites, called FASTCORE.

The 15,000 square foot factory, in sunny Tucson, AZ, fabricates complex geometries using patented green
processing technology. State-of-the-art equipment, for ceramic consolidation and finishing operations include
sinter, hot press and HIP operations.

Ceramic Company

When you think of ceramic mugs, you think of coffee. When you think of promotion, you think of newspaper ads and commercials. Do you think of both in the same sentence? How can promotion and ceramic mugs go together in a viable way? Quite easily in fact! All it takes is some promotional ceramic mugs. While this may seem like an 'out-there' concept, it is actually being used by companies all over the world quite successfully.

When you give your customers promotional products like promotional ceramic mugs, you are giving them something they can use for several years. When they want a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, they can use the mug that you gave them. While this may seem like a great way to promote yourself to a customer who already knows about your company, is it worth the price of five to ten dollars? When you realize that the cup not only promotes your company to one customer, but to as many as hundreds of customers, then yes it is worth the price.

How do promotional ceramic mugs reach so many customers? Quite easily in fact. The thing is that when a customer gets a ceramic mug, they are going to be using it time and time again. They will be using it when they have coffee with friends, when they are sitting at a dinner party and more. Every time they use it, they are essentially holding a billboard of your company in front of everyone. They are promoting your company each time they use that ceramic mug in front of someone. If they use that mug for ten to 15 years, then that is hundreds of people who will see the mug and the logo on it. That is an astonishing amount of promotion for such a small price.

Promotional ceramic mugs are cheap and effective, much more so than newspaper ads or commercials. Think of it this way. You can spend $10,000 on a television ad and $1,000 on a newspaper ad, but neither has the staying power of a promotional product. Promotional products last for decades and they advertise your company every time they are used. This is why so many companies are using promotional products as part of their marketing plan and it is why your company should be using promotional products as part of your marketing plan as well.

When you give your customers a promotional ceramic mug, you are thanking them for their business and you are also promoting your company. Whether the customer realizes it or not, they are promoting your company and they are having your logo branded in their head. Each time they take a sip of the coffee, they see your logo. Eventually, when they need something you sell, they won't even think about where to go, they will just go to you because they have been branded with your logo. Brand awareness is the holy grail of business and it is one of the hardest things to achieve. You can make it easier for yourself with promotional products.

Ceramic Capacitor

The last article I mentioned about electrolytic capacitor breakdown when under load. In this article I will talk about the high voltage resin coated ceramic disc capacitor. In computer monitor, it is frequent used in the screen voltage (G2) line at the crt board. When it fails, it can cause erratic or intermittently raster bright and dim and sometimes no display.

Adjusting the flyback transformer screen control will not solve this problem. You can isolate the problem as whether if it cause by a defective fly back or G2 line at crt board. Remove the G2 wire from circuit and measure the screen voltage with a digital multimeter- it should have a constant voltage (will not vary). If the voltage is not stable suspect the fly back. If it ok then trace the screen voltage circuit. Usually this circuit consist of only resistors and capacitors. Sometimes a defective crt socket might cause this type of problem also!

Many times a tech can't solve this intermittent or no display problem is because their digital capacitance and ohmmeter measured ok on the capacitors. The capacitors in the screen voltage line are usually rated of 102,103, and 472 1kv to 2kv. A 'missed' in checking this capacitors will caused the technician can't solve the problem, unless he direct replace the capacitor. An intermittent capacitor can pull down the screen voltage causing the display problem.

As mentioned earlier, an ohmmeter with 12v output and a digital capacitance with 3v output are unable to accurately check the capacitor that have the rating of 1-2 kilovolt!

If you have the analog insulation tester or meter, the panel will show a short circuit when certain voltage are pump in to check the high voltage capacitor. The voltages that you can select is depends on the brand or model you buy. Some have the range of 50v to 1000v and some have the range from 100v to 500v. It is optional whether you should have one. If you have one then it would be an added advantage for you. The other option that you have is to direct replace the suspected capacitor. In my country, you can get a new one in less than US150.00 or you may bid a used unit from eBay.

As for me, checking the small blue resin coated ceramic disc capacitor that have the capacitor code of 104 50v, besides using digital capacitance meter to check for the value, i also use an analog meter set to times 10Kohm that have the output of 12v to check this type of capacitor. Many times it will revealed the bad intermittent capacitor. You will be shocked to see the capacitance meter checked ok but show a shorted reading when check with analog multimeter.

In the market there is certain brand of analog multimeter that have the range of 100kohm. If you open up the cover, you can't see the 9v battery in it, what you see only the 2 pieces of 1.5v battery. This type of meter can't accurately detect the short in the capacitor because the output voltage is only 3volt!

For those of you who involved in repairing monitor, you will agree with me that checking the flyback internal capacitance- quite often you get the right value 2.7nf with digital capacitance meter but when you switch on the monitor, you will hear a 'tick-tick' sound from the flyback. This is because the capacitor is breaking down when under load. If you did not do anything with the flyback, gradually the internal capacitance will become shorted and you will need to refurbish the flyback.

Ceramic Design

Here are some great ideas for hands-on art projects for students ranging from lower elementary to high school, which introduce students to ceramics design without a great investment in equipment. If there is no kiln at your school, there are many places such as other schools' and universities' art departments, paint-your-own pottery centers, and local pottery supply stores which will be able to fire your ceramics projects for you at low cost.

Clay art dinnerware is easy to make using low-cost molds. Clay is rolled to the desired thickness over a slab mold. Slab molds are flat and textured with various patterns so that the rolled-out clay takes on the relief pattern of the mold in reverse. While the clay is still on the slab mold, the reverse side (which will be the bottom of the plate) can be decorated with wooden or rubber stamps, or even found objects, to produce a unique pattern. The plate is then peeled from the slab mold and placed on a curved drape mold. The plate is gently pressed down on the drape mold, which changes the plate's profile from flat to curved. While on the drape mold, feet can be made for the dish from small balls of clay; or else a base can be made by rolling excess clay into a rope and placing a coil centered on the dish. When removed from the drape mold the dish can be fired and then decorated with paints or glazes.

Bisque ceramic tiles are squares of clay which have been fired one time at a low temperature - i.e. white, unglazed, fired clay tiles. These are inexpensive to buy and can be decorated with underglazes, any type of paint (even watercolors), pencils, inks, crayons, even chalk. After decorating, several coats of a clear glaze can be painted over the design and the tiles fired to cone 04, which makes for a professional, finished appearance. Or, several coats of a white gloss low fire glaze can be used as the base and then designs can be drawn or painted with underglazes or ceramic paint and fired again to cone 04. This technique makes for a majolica (Renaissance-style) effect. The student-created tiles can be the basis of a tile mural. When students work together to create a tile mural for the school building itself or for other spaces in public, it teaches teamwork and collaboration, and instills a great deal of pride in the participants. Mural creation can bring the entire school community, students, their parents, the faculty and school administration together, and be a truly unique experience for the entire school.

Ceramic Store

Women, since birth, embrace the potential to knit relationships with one thread and this is a universally accepted attribute. This aspect of her personality is reflected best through the bracelet on her slim wrist formed by the combination of beads of varying denominations. The finely selected beads of ceramic might be inexpensive in the eyes of the world but to her it means a lot. In fact they look awesome and precious the way she carries it. The ceramic bracelets glowing on the wrist of the woman breaks the myth that existed regarding the use of the material. Ceramic is now an essential component in jewelry making where ceramic beads are having the maximum demand. These beads of various shapes and sizes are organized and put into the wires or threads to form ceramic bracelets. These bracelets can be a wonderful gift for the person you love and care for. Building relationships with the ceramic bracelets can be a wonderful idea. May it be the valentines' Day or birthday you can make your loving ones feel your presence through these priceless ceramic bracelets. Finely designed and meticulously structured ceramic bracelets can be a well-chosen gift that she can carry with her wherever she heads for.

The working women of today prefer designer bracelets that are mostly unisex. Bold and beautiful things just like the ceramic bracelets have always enchanted the flock of men surrounding you. At office, party or while hanging out, you can wear some of the best collections of ceramic bracelets brought from the renowned jewelry shops. Designer bracelets in sizzling colors look beautiful on the wrists. Your beauty can better be magnified if the bracelets are matched with the apparels that you wear. Ceramic bracelets can be obtained in various colors and this availability of the various colors can give a glorious appeal to the bracelets. Blue is an effective color that plays vital role in removing the tiredness and keep you healthy. Some of the ceramic bracelets brought by the famous companies can help to keep your muscular problems at bay thus increasing your immunity against all sorts of diseases.

The tender wrists of women deserves something soft yet trendy. To satisfy their demands some companies indeed have come up with the soft and floral ceramic bracelets that beautify her by developing her look with greater effectiveness. The floral fantasy is thus reflected through most of the jewelry including the ceramic bracelets. The usefulness of the ceramic designer bracelets cannot be denied as many are using them for therapeutic purposes. Ceramic designer bracelets are easily available and can also be put on whenever you go anywhere. Like precious objects you do not need to be bothered about them of getting stolen. Designer bracelets of light colors and the less glossy ones can also accompany you at your work place. You can change them with the dresses that you wear everyday. Children can put them on with fancy dresses. The colorful ceramic bracelets with cartoons faces curved on them or with the fine works of flowers can attract them. On your part you can hunt for the exclusively designed ones that will be unique in it self.

The Italian and Indian craftsmen are perpetually experimenting with the ceramic bracelets to present something exclusive for the women. The designers of almost all the jewelry companies including the vivace jewelry are burning midnight's oil to make the designer bracelets more expressive so that they can gel with the gestures of women. Charm when used in any form of designer jewelry reflects a sense of faith and trust. Therefore, when it is used as the charm ceramic bracelet, the hands look radiant and undiscovered depth in the character of the woman gets highlighted. Ceramic can also be given a geometric shape which goes well with the western wears. Geometric ceramic bracelets can be classy and gel well with light clothes. Round braided sting and hand glazed ceramic necklace can best tell the story of the natural color and look of ceramic. There are numerous types of ceramic bracelets that can also speak about the woman's beauty in volumes. Most of these designer bracelets are casual and can be suitable for just any type of occasion. They can go with the casual wear. The designers belonging to the various jewelry companies are leaving no stone unturned to bring out some of the best designs that are incomparable and elegant. Right from the multi-colored chain ceramic bracelets to the plant black and white ones, they are trying to keep in store every type of jewelry along with them. Blue and white colored combination on the designer bracelets can look formal and so they are better at their work places. While the multi-colored ones reveals happiness will look better at informal get-togethers.

Every one of us has the feeling to sense beauty and every object of beauty deserves its due appreciation. Ceramic bracelets are just one such objects of beauty, in order to praise which you will not find enough words. Bone china, porcelain and ceramic are considered to commonly used materials for making decorative items but ceramic has left behind the former two to enter into the world of jewelry. Ceramic bracelet is just a small example of the great innovatory of ceramic jewelry. Candy red ceramic bracelets look better on the teenage girls who can wear them while partying. Ceramic shards are also used artistically to mold them into some extraordinary creations, which women would love to put them on the wrists. The online shops have everything in store; you can select them according to the occasion you are moving on to. Handcrafted ceramic bead jewelry can make use of the expensive stones and pearls to make them presentable for any occasion or party. If you have not yet found your colleagues putting on these ceramic bracelets then immediately go for one and become the trend setter. The appreciation that the ceramic bracelet is going to usher on you will definitely make your counterparts jealous.

Ceramic Glazes

Pottery is usually made of clay, which can be molded into a variety of shapes while wet. Once the form has been established, the piece of pottery is placed in a hot kiln, where the high temperature hardens the clay and gives it permanence. In order to give pottery and ceramics a smooth, shiny finish, one of several glazes must be applied. It can also be used to make some kinds of pottery less porous.

An underglaze is a type of glaze used to describe the decoration applied to pottery, while an overglaze is used to create a shiny surface over the decoration. Not only does the overglaze provide a protective layer, it also leaves colors vibrant. When using this type of glaze, the piece of pottery is first "fired" in a kiln, the overglaze is applied, and the item is then re-fired. The heat helps to blend the color pigments with the glaze and creates a glass-like, shiny surface.

Ceramic glazes usually consist of silica, a component of quartz. Normally, a very high heat is required to melt quartz, so a "flux" is added to the glaze. Flux is a substance that lowers the melting temperature of a particular mineral or compound so it can be fired at a lower heat, the most common of which are lead, potassium, sodium, lime and calcium oxide. Pieces of pottery can be dipped into the glaze, sprayed or the glaze can be applied with a brush. Glaze can also be poured directly over the pottery.

Lead glazes have existed for centuries, although some controversy exists over its use. Many potters maintain that they cannot achieve the proper color shade or brightness without the use of a lead glaze, while others argue that lead is not an appropriate alternative for household use. It is often strongly suggested that, as a safety precaution, consumers refrain from purchasing cookware or dishes that contain a lead coating. Even edible plants are susceptible to acquiring lead residue if grown in a container glazed with lead.

It also helps to know the origin of a piece of pottery, as underdeveloped countries do not yet understand the implications of using lead and sometimes fire their pieces at low enough temperatures that would allow toxic release into food or drink.

Pottery containing alkali glazes, using salt and/or potassium, have also been found throughout history; it is not unusual to find a piece that features a glazed mix of lead and alkali. Regardless of the type of glaze chosen, pottery is normally fired at temperatures between 950 deg C and 1430 deg C. Glazes are found on a variety of household items, including toilets and sinks, tableware, figurines and giftware, and tiles.

Ceramic Companies

When you think of ceramic mugs, you think of coffee. When you think of promotion, you think of newspaper ads and commercials. Do you think of both in the same sentence? How can promotion and ceramic mugs go together in a viable way? Quite easily in fact! All it takes is some promotional ceramic mugs. While this may seem like an 'out-there' concept, it is actually being used by companies all over the world quite successfully.

When you give your customers promotional products like promotional ceramic mugs, you are giving them something they can use for several years. When they want a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, they can use the mug that you gave them. While this may seem like a great way to promote yourself to a customer who already knows about your company, is it worth the price of five to ten dollars? When you realize that the cup not only promotes your company to one customer, but to as many as hundreds of customers, then yes it is worth the price.

How do promotional ceramic mugs reach so many customers? Quite easily in fact. The thing is that when a customer gets a ceramic mug, they are going to be using it time and time again. They will be using it when they have coffee with friends, when they are sitting at a dinner party and more. Every time they use it, they are essentially holding a billboard of your company in front of everyone. They are promoting your company each time they use that ceramic mug in front of someone. If they use that mug for ten to 15 years, then that is hundreds of people who will see the mug and the logo on it. That is an astonishing amount of promotion for such a small price.

Promotional ceramic mugs are cheap and effective, much more so than newspaper ads or commercials. Think of it this way. You can spend $10,000 on a television ad and $1,000 on a newspaper ad, but neither has the staying power of a promotional product. Promotional products last for decades and they advertise your company every time they are used. This is why so many companies are using promotional products as part of their marketing plan and it is why your company should be using promotional products as part of your marketing plan as well.

When you give your customers a promotional ceramic mug, you are thanking them for their business and you are also promoting your company. Whether the customer realizes it or not, they are promoting your company and they are having your logo branded in their head. Each time they take a sip of the coffee, they see your logo. Eventually, when they need something you sell, they won't even think about where to go, they will just go to you because they have been branded with your logo. Brand awareness is the holy grail of business and it is one of the hardest things to achieve. You can make it easier for yourself with promotional products.

Ceramic Figurines

The pottery that we know as porcelain was first transformed by the Chinese approximately one thousand years ago. This pottery or porcelain then took hundreds of years to evolve to where it is today. As the process of washing and purifying the clay, adding different materials that permitted the firing at a very high temperature. (Approximately 1400 degrees centigrade.)

The word porcelain came from the term Porcellana, used by Marco Polo to describe the white ceramic figures, he discovered during his historical travel to the Orient. Porcelain was introduced to Europe in the 1500's.

In the 1700's the secret of the clay mixture used by the Chinese, was discovered by Johann Bottger and the Dresden Meissen Porcelain became known. Porcelain came to be viewed by the European Royalty, as a highly prized luxury product.

In 1953, from a small farming community near the city of Valencia, Spain came three brothers, Juan, Jose & Vicente Lladro. They attended Valencia School of Arts & Craft, While the family depended on farming for livelihood, the brothers followed their dreams and born abilities of the fine arts. Juan and Jose studied drawing, while Vicente studied sculpting. They built a kiln in their backyard , and began experimenting with the new firing and finishing techniques.

Their first Lladro retail shop, opened in Valencia in 1955, in 1958 they moved from their small workshop at their family home, to a larger factory workshop in a nearby town called Tabernas . A major growth period for Lladro occurred in the 1960's where the Tabernas workshop was enlarged 7 times.

In the 1970's, their workshop was as large as the city, now called the city of porcelain. Lladro now employs over 2000 people and maintains retail shops in Europe, New York, Williamsburg, VA, Miami, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong, Sidney to name a few., markets its creations in over 100 countries.

What is the City of Porcelain?

All Lladro figurines are made in the City of Porcelain, a spectacular complex measuring some 100,000 sq. ft. just outside Valencia, Spain. About 2,000 people work there, most of whom are artisans. The complex is comprised of studios, laboratories, warehouses, office buildings,and showroom.

Visit The City of Porcelain

In order to visit the complex where expert artisans make Lladro figurines you must be a Lladro Privilege member. If you are, you can e-mail LLadro providing them with your membership number as stated on your membership card. You must also provide your full name and number of people accompanying you. Also provide the precise date and timeof the planned visit.. LLadro Customer Service will contact you to confirm your visit. They do not accept drop ins.

What is Lladro Privilege?

LLadro have created a unique world of privileges with the access to a growing new collection of exclusive figurines and privileged services. This figurines are only availible to the enrolled members, although some are available in the secondary Market,

How can you Tell If A Figurine Is An Authentic Lladro Porcelain?

Lladro is famous for their porcelain which is of the finest quality, Only those figurines that pass strict quality controls are stamped with an identifier burned onto the base of each figurine to guarantee the authenticity of each piece.

Since each piece is made following manual techniques as indicated by tradition, each piece is unique. Despite coming from the same mould, two pieces are never exactly the same even when made by the same artist.

What are Limited Editions?

Limited Editions are collections that are issued in a limited number of copies. These pieces are accompanied by a certificate signed by a member of the Lladro family, accrediting the series number and providing information on the artists taking part in its creation.

Society Member Pieces ?

Society Member Pieces are special figurines made for Society Members only. These began production in 1985 thru 2000. The 1985 Figurine was name Little Pal which sold for $85.00 for Society Members only, now if you can find it expect to pay as much as $3500.00 for this same piece.

The Lladro Gres Collection

The Lladro Gres Collection draws its inspiration from the colors of the earth, gres uses glaze deposits on the surface of the piece. When subjected to high temperatures, these glazes never crystallize in an identical manner, showing slightly different color effects. This makes each gres piece in the collection a unique and unrepeatable creation.

Ceramic Experience

A potential problem with learning ceramics is that you must have 

some experience with pottery to be able to learn ceramics. But, 

unless you have a pottery expert to teach you, or unless you 

enroll in a pottery class, there is really no easy way to learn 

how to do ceramics. It can be difficult to find the right person 

to help you through the learning process if you don't know where 

to look, but these tips below should help you to get started with 

pottery, and then once you gain some experience, with ceramics.

• You can get help from a local community collage or recreational center. Many offer Saturday classes that are good for people who work 9-5 during the week. Hands on learning with a qualified teacher is the best way to learn pottery.
• The internet is a great source of information about pottery. You can find ceramic designs, tools, and materials that you need to create your own pottery. You will have to purchase some of these, but others are free of cost to help you learn. Also, you can find a network of people online who can help guide you through your learning experience by giving you information and helpful tips.
• Local art schools often offer evening and weekend classes. A large amount of materials are needed for the complete pottery process, so a class at an art school will give you access to important tools, such as the kiln.

Although it is important to learn pottery hands-on with an 

experienced person, through the internet or through local classes 

or schools, it is entirely possible to learn how to create 

beautiful pottery and ceramics.

Once you begin to learn and are 

trained, you can do much of the work at home if you buy the right 

supplies. It may be possible to do most of your work at home, 

and then network with other artists to find a kiln to use. Clay 

is a fun medium to work with, so donít give up just because it 

takes a little more effort to get started than it does with other 

areas of art.

Ceramic Floors

gh

Shopping for a suitable floor covering requires more thought than simply choosing what color you prefer. Floors require to withstand people walking over them, and if you are buying for a kitchen or bathroom, you will need them to be water resistant.

Porcelain Tiles

Made from clay dust, porcelain tiles are then fires in a kiln to higher temperatures than some other types of ceramic tiles. The benefit of this is that porcelain tiles can be laid on floors in high traffic areas and are very well suited to kitchen and bathrooms because they can withstand water. Because porcelain tiles are so popular there is a very wide choice available in terms of sizes, colors and surface finish.

Quarry Tiles

Made from clay, Quarry tiles are ideal of rooms in the home where a lot of people walk over. They as not a good as porcelain tiles in terms of water resistance, so you need to make sure they are well sealed. Colours tend to be natural earth tones of red and orange.

Terracotta and Saltillo

Terracotta has been popular since Ancient Rome and means "dry earth". If you want a rustic farmhouse feel to your home then terracotta tiles are ideal. It is imperative that you properly seal terracotta tiles to protect them from water.

Sealing Terracotta and Saltillo tiles can involve many coats because it can take some time before the tile becomes saturated with the sealant. Avoid wax sealers as they are not as effective and don't soak into the tile, water-based sealants work best. Because the Mexican tiles are so much more porous you may find the need to apply several coats.

Ceramic Media

Ceramic media are materials used in the finishing process to aid in deburring, polishing, separating and cleaning of parts. They can be used for light as well as heavy deburring, fast deburring and rough metal removal. They are best suited for hard metals heavy cutting requirements. When small sized media are needed (around three fourth of an inch size), ceramic media has the best options. They can be used even for very heavy metal parts effectively. They are made out in different shapes like angle cut cylinders and triangles, cones, straight cut triangles, cylindrical wedges and angle cut tristars and ellipses.

Ceramic media are long lasting, cheap and can be put to multiple uses. They are manufactured in a variety of shapes that are precise and which prove very useful in preventing lodging problems and also in separating parts. They are made primarily with silica. Other materials in the manufacture of ceramic media include minerals and abrasives. Silica, minerals and abrasives are combined in different proportions and treated at a high temperature to produce a very hard product that is as strong as a cement product.

Ceramic media of varying density is used for different purposes. Where a rough finishing is needed (fast cutting and rough surfaces), higher density ceramic media is used. For smoother finishing, lesser density ceramic media is ideal. Higher the proportion of the abrasive material used in the manufacture of ceramic media, higher is the density. Higher the density, quicker is the wear and tear. There fore, higher density ceramic media should be considered only for special cases and when there is a need for cycle time reduction. To aid in special finishing requirements, the ceramic media can be tailored by changing the type and amount of abrasive grain used.

The fastest available option for mass finishing of parts is the centrifugal barrel machines. Their cycle times are 20 times faster compared to vibratory finishing machines. The centrifugal barrel machines have large barrels for loading parts, media and finishing compounds. They are high energy machines. In a typical centrifugal machine, there is a turret at the center. A set of barrels are placed around the turret. When the turret starts rotating in one direction, they set the barrels rotating in the other direction. Thus a high energy sliding action is produced inside the barrels, imparting a uniform finish to the parts. Barrels are normally made of steel; sometimes they are made from composite materials too. They have polyurethane lining and can be removed during the loading and unloading process. Steel barrels are meant for cycle times exceeding one hour; for cycle times less than an hour, composite barrels are ideal.

Centrifugal barrel machines come with process timers that can be set for specific finishing jobs. There is an emergency stop switch that can be used in crisis scenario. Indicator lights and safety locks are generally provided to ensure control and safety. Wiring can be done for different electrical voltage settings.

Ceramic Professional

So what's the difference between professional flat irons and crappy flat irons? It's a given that professional ones work better than crappy flat irons. That's the whole point of asking the question in the first place: high-quality, professional irons are durable, dependable and produce the best results. Crappy flat irons aren't.

High-quality flat irons are called professional for a reason: they work wonders straightening your hair without killing it in the process. And here's what differentiates professional flat irons from the rest of the bunch:

Smooth Plate Surface - the number one determinant for professional hair irons. The smoother the surface of the plate is, the straighter your hair is and the less risk for your hair to be pulled out and damaged. Tourmaline-infused ceramic plates and titanium-metal plates are the cutting edge technologies in making sure that the surface of your flat iron is the smoothest there is.

Plate Durability - it's easy to get fooled by bogus flat irons because of the durability of the plate smoothness. True professional irons have plates that are either sprayed heavily with multiple layers of ceramic or titanium coatings or have plates made purely of tourmaline-infused ceramics or titanium. Bogus flat irons only have a light coating of the materials. Sometimes, even this thin coating is a fake. It's just paint that makes a bogus flat iron look high-quality.

Variable Temperature - different people have different hair. Your own hair has a certain temperature level needed to manage it. Go below it, and you won't be styling any hair. Go beyond it, and you're going to irreversibly damage your hair. Professional flat irons have adjustable temperatures to suit your hair's needs.

Infra-Red Heat - Professional irons don't rely on heated plates alone. Older models which rely on heat alone tend to damage hair with frequent use. Dried -out hair is prone to breakage and hair-fall, not to mention that it looks absolutely horrendous and is a pain to re-moisturize. Flat irons that use infra-red heat have no such problems. That's because unlike plain heat from untreated materials, infra-red heat locks in moisture and oils found naturally in your hair. This keeps your hair healthy and strong while managing it with a flat iron

Ion-producing Plates - Static electricity builds up when your hair passes through the heated plates of a flat iron. This build-up has the potential to ruin your hairstyle the moment you get up and walk out of the room. Flat iron models made of top-quality plates and combined with cutting-edge technology produce ions that serve to prevent static electricity from building up. Combined with the moisture-locking properties of infra-red heat, your hair will not go wild on you and will be sure to sit still and obey.

And here's the last tip for your professional flat iron to work professionally for you: know the brand. All flat irons don't want to be called bogus, but not all of them are actually professional. Stick with trusted brands, like Karmin, FHI, Corioliss and HAI. By getting a high-quality branded flat iron, you're making sure you get access to a dependable item that won't let you down. Plus, you've got customer care to help you work any kinks you'll come across -- A definite advantage over non-branded flat irons.

So there you have it: smooth plate surfaces, plate durability, infra-red heat and ions. Toss in brand names for good measure, and you know you've got a professional flat iron in your hands!

Technical Ceramics

Introduction

Have you ever wondered about the myriad materials from which stuff is made that we come across in our daily life? The numerous materials which have unique characteristics and which are used for making various articles used in everyday life- these materials attract the attention of the young inquisitive minds in engineering classrooms all over the world.

Today, let me introduce you to the world of "CERAMICS".

"Ceramics" are the materials which are often misunderstood as materials used merely for pottery and decorative objects. Even though the word ceramic is derived from the Greek word "Keramos", meaning potter's clay or pottery, what many people don't realize is that ceramics play an important role almost everywhere you see and many times in places that you can't.

Besides the everyday objects of glassware and floor tiles, the ceramics of today are critical in helping computers and other electronic devices operate, in medical devices for improving people's health in various ways, in providing global telecommunications, and in protecting soldiers and vehicles during combat.

Ceramics are generally defined as inorganic, non-metallic materials that are made from powdered chemicals. They are typically crystalline in nature (their atoms are arranged in a systematic manner) and are compounds formed between metallic and non-metallic elements such as aluminum and oxygen (alumina, Al2O3), calcium and oxygen (calcia, CaO), silicon and nitrogen (silicon nitride, Si3N4), and so on.

Various "advanced ceramic" products are manufactured by combining high-purity chemicals into desired shapes and then heating them to very high temperatures. The shaped ceramic products thus made can have many desirable properties such as heat resistance, hardness, strength, low electrical conductivity, and unique electro-mechanical characteristics. Thus advanced ceramics are ceramics which are made by tightly controlled methods and therefore they exemplify an "advancement" over the general definition. As a consequence of these refined methods, a new class of ceramics called "advanced ceramics" is born.

Long lasting and harder than steel, advanced ceramics may be found in aircraft engines, automotive engines, cutting tools used for making metal products, the skin of space shuttles, knives, bullet proof armor, artificial hip-joints, computers and microelectronics.

History

One of the first uses of advanced ceramics was for corrosion-resistant stoneware vessels in the chemical industry as early as the 1750s.Then came porcelain, which was first used in dentistry in the 1850s. With the invention of electric light in the 19th century, ceramic materials based on porcelain for electrical insulation were developed.

This was followed by the blooming of the radio and television broadcasting industry in the 20th century, which needed special heat resistant materials that could withstand the high-frequency electromagnetic fields. As a result, electro-ceramics such as steatite were developed. Subsequently, other electro-ceramics such as magnetic ceramics (ferrites) were developed, followed by capacitor ceramics (titanates) and electro-mechanical ceramics (piezoelectric ceramics). In the later part of the 20th century, the need for protecting tiny transistors and ICs from ambient conditions led to the development of ceramic packaging materials which facilitated further miniaturization.

Concurrent with the development of electro-ceramics, another sub-class of advanced ceramics which came to be called structural ceramics progressed, which had high structural and chemical integrity characterized by properties such as extremely high hardness, stiffness, and heat and chemical resistance. These structural ceramics found applications in various industries, for example in the space industry as heat and wear resistant tiles and nose cones on space shuttles, in the aerospace industry as bearings and turbine rotors, in the chemical industry as chemical resistant seals and conduits, in the defence industry as bullet-proof vests and armor plates for vehicles, in the biomedical industry as hip-joints, knee-joints and orbital implants, and so on.

Further Developments

As ceramic technology has rapidly progressed over time, the definition of advanced ceramics has expanded to include a much wider range of compositions used in a large variety of applications. In broader terms advanced ceramics also include glass (which has a non-crystalline or amorphous random atomic structure), enamel (a type of glassy coating), glass-ceramics (a glass which is partly crystallized), and inorganic cement-type materials (cement, concrete, plaster and lime).

Advanced ceramics include yet another sub-class of ceramics called refractories. Refractories are critical materials which reduce heat losses from industrial ovens, also called kilns, and at the same time they resist very aggressive conditions including chemical and acid attack, very high temperatures (up to 3200°F), abrasion, mechanical impact, and more. These refractory ceramics enable manufacturers of commodities such as metals, alloys, cement, glass, etc to operate efficiently and profitably. Thus they play a very important role in growing the global economy.

Advanced ceramics continue to be developed even further; new ceramics and their combinations are constantly being improved and newer products are continually being introduced in various industries.

The progress in advanced ceramics is so rapid that the advanced ceramics of today are strikingly different from those made even a few years ago. Ceramic engineers eagerly anticipate further rapid developments of newer ceramic materials and their combinations that will find even more exciting applications in the future.

Ceramic Mosaic Tile

Ceramic Mosaic Tile - Anyone can use it to practically redecorate almost any room or surface setting. When it comes to contemporary surface coverings, it's the natural look and feel of these tiles that makes them so special and popular. Read the following article in order to learn more about how you can easily remodel any room setting.

Quick introduction

Ceramic Mosaic Tile is about collecting the same natural stones that are glued onto a 12" x 12" mesh back. There are numerous sources for these special polished stones; however it seems like the Indonesian islands provide the largest selection, what explains their growing popularity. You can practically tile anywhere and for any purpose:

1) Kitchens
2) Bathrooms
3) Floors and Walls
4) Patio flooring
5) Countertops etc.

Benefits

Finally, when looking at the bottom line, there are several important advantages:

+ Feels comfortable to walk on.

+ Durable to most common home detergents.

+ Impervious to water and other liquids.

Tips to go!

+ To appreciate the beauty of these nature-made panels, it is recommended on removing the excess grout with a wet sponge. After all, you want to expose as much of the stones as possible.

+ In order to ensure an even color layout of the tiles, sort them before installation.

+ Epoxy based grouts are considered stronger than conventional grout, however take in mind that they are less forgiving to the ignorant installer.

Quick summary

Ceramic Mosaic Tile remodeling can easily turn any plain area whether in the inside or in the outside into a beautiful living space. There are probably many other advantages provided by this stylish home redecoration option, simply because any average and unprofessional home-maker can do it easily by him/herself. For a successful installation it is advised to bear in mind the above tips just as you are ready to begin with installation.