Preface

Scientific and technological development has led to the formulation of tailor-made materials, which have given rise to materials with new structural and industrial applications. This book aims to analyze the synthesis, characterization, and applications of ceramic materials. First, an introduction to traditional and advanced ceramics is made, followed by an overview of material preparation techniques and various applications in recent years. Then, traditional ceramic materials as ideal candidates for absorbing wastes are studied, offering the possibility of obtaining new eco-efficient ceramic materials, such as concrete, while competitively approaching the concept of the circular economy. The following chapters focus on the study of different advanced ceramics. During the last decade, nanoceramics have received significant attention as candidate materials due to their ability to demonstrate improved and unique properties compared to conventional ceramics. The obtaining of ceramic nanopowders is studied by a new obtaining method called the dissolution method with advantages with respect to solvothermal, sol-gel, and coprecipitation methods. Also analyzed are plasma resistance and the characteristics of yttria ceramics in terms of calcination and three-step sintering compared to alumina and zirconia ceramics as well as the characteristics of hot-pressed pure yttria ceramics that are annealed in an oxidation atmosphere. Finally, a study of some equivalent circuit models most useful for impedance spectroscopic studies of electronic ceramics and their simulated immittance behavior is made.

### **Dolores Eliche-Quesada**

Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Jaén, University of Jaen, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain

#### **Luis Pérez-Villarejo**

Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Linares, University of Jaen, Campus Científico-Tecnológico Cinturón Sur s/n, 23700 Jaén, Linares, Spain

#### **Pedro J. Sánchez-Soto**

Materials Science Institute of Sevilla (ICMS), Joint Center Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)-University of Sevilla, c/Américo Vespucio, 49, 41092 Sevilla, Spain

Chapter 1

Introductory Chapter: Ceramic

Characterization, Applications

Ceramic materials can be defined as inorganic materials constituted by the combination of metallic and nonmetallic elements whose properties depend on the way in which these elements are linked [1, 2]. Ceramic materials are the most versatile branch of materials. The origin of this versatility lies in the chemical nature of its bonds, since they are mainly constituted by strong ionic and covalent bonds in different proportions. The bonds determine a series of particular properties of ceramic materials among which are relatively high fusion temperatures, high modulus, high wear strength, poor thermal properties, high hardness and fragilities combined with tenacities, and low ductility. In addition to the lack of conduction electrons since they are combined forming chemical bonds, they are good electrical

Ceramic materials can be divided into two large groups: traditional ceramics and technical or advanced ceramics. Traditional ceramics can be defined as those that are based on silicates, among which are cement, clay products, and refractories. Traditional ceramics are produced in large volumes and constitute an important market. Traditional ceramic materials are made with raw materials from natural deposits such as clay materials. The second group, technical or advanced ceramics, is manufactured with artificial raw materials that have undergone an important chemical processing to achieve a high purity and an improvement of their physical characteristics. Therefore, they are manufactured with more advanced and sophisticated methods. Among them are carbides, nitrides, borides, pure oxides, and a

great variety of ceramics with magnetic, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and superconducting applications, among others. These ceramics possess excellent mechanical properties under extreme conditions of tension, high wear strength or excellent electrical, magnetic, or optical properties, or exceptional strength to high temperatures and corrosive environments, showing high strength to chemical attack [3]. There is a third group that is glasses that, although considered ceramic, are studied separately because they differ from the first group in the order reached

The versatility mentioned above also allows ceramics to be used for a large number of end user and applications for the construction and building industry such as clay bricks and blocks, sanitary ware, and wall and floor tiles; in household

by their crystalline structures as glass-ceramics.

Dolores Eliche-Quesada, Luis Pérez-Villarejo and

Materials - Synthesis,

and Recycling

Pedro José Sánchez-Soto

1. Introduction

insulators.

1
