This new edition updates the book that introduced readers to the many exciting applications of ceramics. By using simplified technical explanations, it answers the question of how ceramics improve your everyday life, and is written for non-technical readers interested in learning more about the subject, as well as trained material scientists. It describes how the ceramic material functions, and why it is superior to other materials, while teaching key scientific concepts like atomic structure, color, and the electromagnetic spectrum. This new edition also includes new chapters dedicated to hot topics in the world of ceramics, such as nanotechnology. Many people may not realize that everything from the space shuttle and cosmetics to color TVs, concrete, and kayaks are made of or include ceramics. Ceramics is the most common and diverse of all materials, yet most people would be surprised at its variety of uses, such as helping to create cellular phones, radio, television, and lasers, as well medicine for cancer treatments and restoring hearing.
