Career in Ceramic Engineering

Ceramic Engineering is the science and technology of manufacturing and usage of ceramic materials from inorganic, non-metallic materials. Many engineering applications benefit from ceramics characteristics as a material. The characteristics of ceramics have garnered attention from engineers across the world, including those in the fields: Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and many others.

Ceramics, in addition to being a fine art, also requires a thorough working knowledge of certain materials. Whether we need to design a new office building, or a vase for our bedroom, we need a ceramic engineer. Someone has to figure out our creative designs into a reality and here walks in the engineer. A ceramicist joins ceramics and engineering and helps us to create new and more interesting works with new materials, which we cant, even dream of.

Course Overview:

Ceramic Engineering students study of  Ceramic materials, their behavior, application, and use. They develop methods for processing nonmetallic inorganic materials into many ceramic products ranging from glassware, fiber optics products, cement, and bricks, to coatings for space vehicles, materials for microelectronics, components of nuclear fuel, and pollution control devices. Recent advances in physics and chemistry have expanded the applications of ceramic engineering.

Diploma courses:

For a diploma in engineering, one must clear the 10th Std. board exam successfully with at least 50% marks. Various polytechnic colleges offer diploma in various disciplines of engineering.

BE/B.Tech:

To be eligible for bachelor's degree course i.e. B.E or B.BTech, one must clear the 12th std. board exam with at least 50% marks(60% for IITs) in the science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as compulsory subjects.

Aspirant also have to appear for the state level entrance examination (EAMCET –Engineering Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test ) conducted by APSCHE

National Level Entraces:

·         IITJEE: For admission to the Institutes of Technology’s (IITs)

·         AIEEE: For admission to the National Institutes of Technology ‘s

·         Institutes such as the Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, Rajasthan, and at Ranchi; Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal; the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Annamalai University, among others, also conduct separate entrance examinations

Higher education

Masters course:

For a master's level course, one must complete the bachelor's degree program successfully. After graduating students can do postgraduate studies ie M.E or M.Tech.

Students also need to appear for various entrance exams like GATE, BIT Higher Education test etc, Candidates are allowed to pursue further studies only in the stream where they specialized in the qualifying exam

Specialization

·         Ceramic Engineers often specialize in one or more products:

·         White wares these are porcelain and china dinnerware or high voltage electrical insulators

·         Structural materials these are brick, tile, and turbine blades,

·         Electronic ceramics are magnetics, memory systems, and microwave devices), protective

·         Refractory coatings for metals, glass products, abrasives, and fuel elements for nuclear energy.

·         One of the top priority projects of Ceramic Engineers is the development of a ceramic engine which would replace the present diesel, gasoline and turbo engines.

What They Learn?

·         Ceramic Engineers experienced in both scientific and production aspects of the profession may also work as administrators, project supervisors, sales engineers or technical consultants to firms using ceramic materials.

·         Many Ceramic Engineers work in the nuclear field, as ceramic fuel materials make nuclear power generation possible.

·         The electronics industry is a growth area for this technology, as ceramics are used as insulators for transistors and integrated circuits.

·         Refractory ceramics are required in the refining of iron and aluminum, and this industry is especially in need of this type of worker.

Skills required:

·         Good communication skills

·         Keen analytical ability

·         Problem solving skills

Pay Scale:

Salaries vary depending on the education and experience of the ceramic engineer, the location, and the type of job. Fresher's can get a starting salary of Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month excluding other allowances.

Colleges, Institutions  offering Ceramic engineering:

·         College of Ceramic Technology, Kolkata

·         National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

·         Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University (BHU-IT)

·         West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata

·         Banaras Hindu University,  Varanasi

·         Anna University , Chennai

·         AU college of engg. Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam