Research Paper on:
Ceramics and Computer Technology

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
in the form of animal and human figurines, slabs, and balls as well ("About," 2003). Ceramics are defined as inorganic, nonmetallic materials and are typically crystalline in nature and  are compounds formed between metallic and nonmetallic elements like aluminum and oxygen, calcium and oxygen, and silicon and nitrogen (2003). They were created from animal fat and bone mixed  with bone ash and a fine claylike material and then fired at temperatures between 500-800?C in domed and horseshoe shaped kilns (2003). Fast forward to the twenty first centuries  and not only have the materials in ceramics changed but the way in which ceramics are designed and organized has as well. Computers are increasingly used to monitor kilns and  create designs as well as to store information. It seems that today, the computer is an essential tool in most industries and this includes ceramics as well. II.  An Overview of Ceramics The broad categories or segments that comprise the ceramic industry may be classified as structural clay products, whitewares, refractories, glasses, abrasives,  cements, and advanced ceramics ("About Ceramics," 2003). A large part of the above segments may further be broken down into more specific product classifications and in 1974, the U.S. market  for the ceramic industry was estimated at $20 million (2003, p.PG). Today, the U.S. market is estimated to be more than $35 billion (2003, p.PG). There are many types  of ceramics and they are broken down into categories. For example, there are structural clay products, whitewards, refractories, glasses, abrasives and cements ("About Ceramics," 2003). Structural clay products include  brick, sewer pipe, roofing tile, clay floor tile, wall tile and flue linings (2003). Whitewares are thought to be equated with dinnerware, floor tile, wall tile, sanitaryware, electrical porcelain, and