ABSTRACT
The first step in the design of a ceramic component or any other component is to define clearly and prioritize the requirements of the application. Usually, one or two characteristics will be most critical and allow an initial selection of candidate materials. For instance, a primary characteristic of a wear-resistant material is hardness. However, if wear resistance is required in a severe chemical environment or at high temperature, other characteristics become critical and must be considered on an equal or nearly equal basis to hardness. Table 17.1 lists some of the design characteristics that an engineer must consider for an application.
