Which of the following is not a type of ceramic product?

• A. Structural
• B. Refractories
• C. Whitewares
• D. Polymers

Answer: (D)

Ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic materials that are formed into solid products and fired. They are categorized by use into structural ceramics (designed for strength and stiffness in load-bearing applications), refractories (stable at high temperatures, used to line furnaces and kilns), and whitewares (glazed, ceramic dishes and sanitaryware). Polymers, however, are organic macromolecules—think plastics, resins, and fibers—that come from carbon-based chemistry and are not ceramics. While there are advanced concepts like polymer-derived ceramics, the general product category “polymers” is not a ceramic product. So polymers are the material type that doesn’t fit among typical ceramic product classes.