Inorganic Materials

Glass has been manufactured in New Zealand for over one hundred years, and is a common part of our daily lives. It is used commonly in windows, bottles, jars and domestic glassware, as well as as a material for artwork, such as stained glass. It is manufactured from cheap and abundant raw materials, and is readily recycled. READ MORE...

Cement is the substance which holds concrete together, which means that it is extremely widely used in our society. It has been manufactured in New Zealand for more than 100 years, and during this century production has increased one hundred-fold.

Portland cement (the only type of cement in common use today) is manufactured in a four step process. READ MORE...

The term "ceramics" refers to any pottery made from fired high-quality clay, silica and feldspar. The ceramics produced are used for a wide variety of applications, ranging from electronic components to sewer-pipes to fine china. All of these products are made in the same basic four-step process. READ MORE...

Gypsum plaster has been used as building material for at least 4000 years. Currently it is used to make plaster boards, fibrous plaster, building decorations and moulds for many applications. READ MORE...