Linked to synthetic metals and plastics in their versatility and durability, ceramics comprise a broad category of such specially shaped and heated products as pottery, porcelain, china, and ceramic tile; ceramics may also be found in cement, plumbing and construction materials, and spacecraft components.

The basic ingredient in all forms of ceramics are silicates, minerals which are so common and widespread that it is virtually impossible to completely trace their history. When silicates (feldspar and silica, for example) are combined with a liquid such as water, they form a mixture that can be kneaded and shaped into any form. After shaping, the object is dried and fired in a high-temperature oven called a kiln. A glaze (a glass-like substance that makes the surface glossy and nonporous) may be added between drying and firing.

From ancient days to the present, this process has survived almost unchanged, save for the...