When automotive enthusiasts think of ceramic, the first thing that comes to mind is the ceramic coating on a car's paintwork. But it has other uses as well, including in the manufacture of bearings.

Approximately 27,000 ceramic tiles cover the exterior of the NASA Space Shuttle—a reusable spacecraft that carries astronauts in a low orbit around Earth. Acting as a thermal barrier to the 1,650°C ...

• Ceramic bearings do not undergo cold welding or corrode, so they don’t need oil or grease to extend operating life. • Ceramics have lower density, thermal expansion, and friction than steels, so ...