Difference Between Ceramic and Porcelain

Ceramic vs Porcelain

Ceramic and porcelain are widely used in pottery and construction work. One of the reasons for their popularity is their aesthetic beauty.

Ceramic is an inorganic material that is made from clay by the process of heating and solidifying. Porcelain is also made from clay but at a higher temperature than ceramics. Normally a higher temperature of 2600 degree Fahrenheit is applied when making Porcelain.

Ceramic is opaque whereas porcelain is translucent. Porcelain has a fine and smooth surface, which is said to resemble the smoothness of an eggshell, and the material is thinner than ceramics. Porcelain also has a slightly whiter and delicate appearance than ceramics.

Porcelain is more dense and less prone to moisture and frost than ceramics. It is also superior in resisting staining. In cold weather, there is less chance that porcelain tiles may crack. Ceramic tiles are more porous than porcelain tiles.

The term ‘Porcelain’ is derived from the old Italian word Porcelland, which means translucent surface. ‘Ceramics’ is a term that has been derived from the Greek Keramikos, which means of or for pottery.

Porcelain is divided into three types: hard-paste porcelain, soft-paste porcelain and bone porcelain. There are four main types of ceramics: structural, refractories, white wares and technical.

Summary

1. Ceramic is an inorganic material that is made from clay by the process of heating and solidifying. Porcelain is also made from clay but at a higher temperature than ceramics.
2. Ceramic is opaque whereas porcelain is translucent.
3. Porcelain has a delicate appearance when compared to ceramics.
4. When compared to ceramics, porcelain has a fine and smooth surface.
5. Porcelain materials are thinner than ceramics, they also have a slightly whiter appearance.
6. Porcelain is superior to ceramics in resisting staining. In cold weather, there is very little possibility that the porcelain tiles may crack.
7. Ceramic tiles are more porous than porcelain ones.
8. The term ‘Porcelain’ is derived from the old Italian word Porcelland, which means translucent surface. Ceramics is a term that has been derived from the Greek Keramikos, which means of or for pottery.