When the word ceramic is mentioned, most people would easily associate this material with pottery and porcelain. Today ceramic can be found in many advanced applications, not just as water vessels.

Advanced engineering ceramics are used in industries such as automotive. Ceramic is able to withstand extreme temperatures and abrasive conditions. These ceramics are coated onto metal surfaces to further enhance the physical properties of the part in use. For example, engine pistons are lined with ceramic materials to increase resistance to wear.

With more powerful motors, the friction generated could easily destroy any other material, for example metal. Disc brakes made of ceramic materials are currently used, replacing traditional braking systems that would easily wear out in a short period of time.

In the aerospace industry, ceramic materials are obvious choices as coatings for turbine blades. These turbine blades spin at very high speeds to produce enough thrust to propel an entire aircraft. Without a ceramic coating, these blades have to be replaced frequently, which is not very cost effective.

Piezoceramics are a type of ceramic material that could produce electrical potential when voltages are applied. These ceramics can be used as sensors that can pick up applied force or pressure. Since World War I, these ceramics have been used to produce sonars, which are underwater radars.

With the advancement in the field of engineering, the common materials that surround us can be harnessed in the most sophisticated devices that we would operate.