| Ceramic plates and cups - that's what most people | | | | - alongside of the more humble ceramic dish or cup. |
| think of when they hear the word 'ceramics.' But in | | | | Let's leave the indoors for a moment, and take a trip |
| fact ceramic products are all around us - they literally | | | | outside. Let's go over to the garden, and what do |
| fill our world. Come on a little tour with me - I | | | | we find there? Delightful objects like ceramic bird |
| promise that it will open your eyes. | | | | baths, ceramic garden stools, garden pixies and |
| The first stop on our tour: the garage. Let's take a | | | | gnomes, all made out of ceramic materials. |
| good look at the family car, truck or SUV that's | | | | While we are outside, let's go to the front of the |
| parked there. You may not realize it, but every time | | | | house. What's there? Ceramic house numbers, |
| you hit the brakes you may be using ceramics - as | | | | sometimes incorporating even the street name and |
| many vehicles use ceramic brake pads instead of the | | | | family last name, proudly displayed. And there's spot |
| older asbestos- based types. They give reliable | | | | in his doghouse. What's that I see beside him? Well, |
| stopping power in all types of braking situations, | | | | I'll be doggoned - it's a ceramic dog bowl! |
| keeping you and your family safe. | | | | Now let's go to work. Business and industry has |
| Want some other examples? Well, let's go back into | | | | always been a user of ceramics. Piezo ceramic |
| the house. Go to your kitchen or bathroom, and | | | | elements - you will find these in many high-tech |
| what do you see - perhaps some beautiful | | | | devices, like medical equipment, computers, furnaces |
| (sometimes hand-painted) ceramic tile in your shower | | | | - even your backyard BBQ. Ceramic ball bearings are |
| area, or on a kitchen countertop or hallway floor. It is | | | | used in many devices - from your family car to a |
| both beautiful and functional, and it can increase the | | | | child's skateboard. |
| value of your home. | | | | Well, our tour is complete. As you see, ceramics do |
| Speaking of your home, if you go back into the | | | | TRULY fill our world. And our world would be poorer |
| kitchen for a moment, you will notice perhaps a | | | | without them. |
| coffee carafe, or a teapot, or a ceramic tea strainer | | | | |