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Ceramics are extremely hard and tolerant of great heat (the latter not being particularly relevant). They can also be lightweight for their strength, at least i

Ceramics are extremely hard and tolerant of great heat (the latter not being particularly relevant). They can also be lightweight for their strength, at least in compression. They can also have a nice, smooth, cool feel in the hand (partially as a result of their temperature insulation properties). They're also a huge variety of materials, it's like asking why plastic is a good material - do you mean silicone rubber, ABS, or Teflon?

noir_lord 10y ago
> Ceramics are extremely hard and tolerant of great heat (the latter not being particularly relevant). Tell that to samsung, joking aside a ceramic case might be useful if a battery cooks off.
- ygra 10y ago
  The heat still has to go somewhere. Ceramic just won't melt or fail in the heat, but it will conduct it well enough to your skin.
DannyBee 10y ago
"Ceramics are extremely hard and tolerant of great heat (the latter not being particularly relevant)" But very rarely are they not brittle upon impact. This is why you don't see ceramic saw blades - carbide, even though brittle, is much less brittle than ceramics. (this is also why they don't use diamond saw blades except for abrasive cutting - the diamonds we make are too brittle to be used to cut wood).
- mrob 10y ago
  >carbide, even though brittle, is much less brittle than ceramics To clarify, "carbide" here is short for "cemented carbide", i.e. ceramic carbide particles sintered together in a metal binder. It's tougher than the pure ceramic although still somewhat brittle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemented_carbide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemented_carbide
  - DannyBee 10y ago
    Yes. They rely on the metal binder to provide some help here. But ceramic still wouldn't work. (at least what we are talking about here. In theory, cemented carbide can be a ceramic, depending on the exact terminology used).

noir_lord 10y ago

> Ceramics are extremely hard and tolerant of great heat (the latter not being particularly relevant). Tell that to samsung, joking aside a ceramic case might be useful if a battery cooks off.

ygra 10y ago
The heat still has to go somewhere. Ceramic just won't melt or fail in the heat, but it will conduct it well enough to your skin.

DannyBee 10y ago

"Ceramics are extremely hard and tolerant of great heat (the latter not being particularly relevant)" But very rarely are they not brittle upon impact. This is why you don't see ceramic saw blades - carbide, even though brittle, is much less brittle than ceramics. (this is also why they don't use diamond saw blades except for abrasive cutting - the diamonds we make are too brittle to be used to cut wood).

mrob 10y ago
>carbide, even though brittle, is much less brittle than ceramics To clarify, "carbide" here is short for "cemented carbide", i.e. ceramic carbide particles sintered together in a metal binder. It's tougher than the pure ceramic although still somewhat brittle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemented_carbide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemented_carbide
- DannyBee 10y ago
  Yes. They rely on the metal binder to provide some help here. But ceramic still wouldn't work. (at least what we are talking about here. In theory, cemented carbide can be a ceramic, depending on the exact terminology used).