What is ceramic, porcelain, stoneware, bone china and earthenware?
Mugs has been around for thousands of years. They have evolved from wooden buckets which later on with better metal tools the size were reduce to hold water for drinking. When human discovered that clay can be hardened by fire, clay was then used to shape cooking utensils that includes bowls and mugs. Ceramic mugs made from clay are easily available everywhere. They are glazed with a coating of silica and fired at a very high temperature to harden. Therefore, ceramic is known as a class of material which is semi-crystalline, amorphous and inorganic in nature. While there are different composition of clay fired at different temperature, the end products are also differently categorized namely, Bone China, Porcelain, Stoneware and Earthenware with each having its own characteristic and usefulness.
Ceramic mugs are the most popular drinkware on earth today. Not only its eco-friendly, it is also economical and safe. Compare to its alternatives, ceramic mugs have a low conductivity, making the drinks warmer or colder for a longer period. Some mugs are specially designed with thick walls and with the small pores in the material, heat can be stored within the mug itself, rather than being released into the area surrounding the mug. While the heat stays within the mug wall, preventing the liquid from cooling off too quickly.. Furthermore, it does not impart or absorbs the flavour of your drinks. Ceramic mugs that are glazed are easy to clean even if it is stained by tea or coffee.
Porcelain is a white body clay that is primarily made up of kaolin which is know for its whiteness and translucency. Porcelain are fired at 1,280°C when the clay will fully vitrify forming a very dense body that absorbs less than 0.05% of water making porcelain a very durable with high tensile strength.
The surface is very smooth and glossy that is translucent. If you lightly strike a porcelain ware with a metal rod or another piece of porcelain, it will generate a high pitch bell like sound that differentiate it from the rest of ceramic