Advanced Ceramic Materials

The history of ceramics is intertwined with human history. From the first use of flint and obsidian in the Stone Age, the formation of vessels from clay, the use of refractories in iron and steel industry, to the fabrication of optical fibers for high-speed communication, ceramics have revolutionized human civilization in many ways. Novel ceramic materials are full of surprises where the preparation of advanced ceramics is the key. In this chapter, we explore the topic of chemical preparation of advanced ceramic materials. We will mention some of the most recent developments in the field of advanced ceramics. The chapter has been divided into four sections: Section I: fabrication of nanoceramics; Section II: making of ceramic matrix composites; Section III: integration of structures and functions of ceramics; and Section IV: fabrication of some transparent ceramics such as laser ceramics, ceramic scintillators, and optical ceramics for windows.