Ceramics -- the cradle of materials (raw materials, stock)

Small clay pots (vessels, receptacles) prove (substantiate, give evidence, are a proof) that a little less (almost, barely, nearly) 13 000 years ago the development of materials (raw materials, stock) began with (originated from, evolved from) ceramics. Even then (at that time, as early as that time) men formed (shaped, modeled, mo(u)lded) storage receptacles (bin, tank) of clay which they dried in the sun or in the fire. Up to now (to these days) material researchers have been fascinated by this material. Ceramics withstand (resist, bare, endure, stand) extreme (sizzling) heat and even etching (acid) chemicals cannot do any harm to them (can't harm them, are unable to harm them) because of (on account to, due to) the strong binding (bonding) between the atoms.

But (however) the high bonding strength in the ceramic structure also provides (causes, is responsible for) the weak point (point of weekness/feebleness/frailty/faintness) of this material. Ceramics are extremely brittle (friable, unyielding, unflexible), they easily brake. On the other hand metals give way if they get bent (are bent) or when a metal part is hit (beaten). This is due to the fact that crystal layers in a metal can glide (slide, slip) past each other like playing cards. In contrast to that, in the rigid (stiff) ceramic molecule structure ([texture?], framework) widening (broadening) cracks (crevices, fissures, splits) develop (emerge, appear) immediately (instantaneously) leading to rapid material failure. Thus (that's why, hence, therefore) ceramics specialists try to reduce (decrease, cut down, diminish, lessen) the brittleness (shortness, unyieldingness) of modern high endurance (performance, capacity, efficiency) ceramics with various methods.

Yet (however, indeed, [..., though]), today's ceramics offer many advantages. They are processed as powder which is sintered in mo(u)lds (forms) at high temperatures and pressures. Ceramic cutting tools or spools (bobbins) for thread guidance (to lead threads) have long since replaced (thrust aside, push away, oust, supersede, displace) metal as material (raw material, stock) because they are substantially more durable (lasting, hard-wearing, wear-resistant) (due to their significantly higher durability). And if water taps nowadays drip (trickle) much less frequently (far less often, by far more rarely/scarcely) than before, then this is due to ceramic sealing disks (washers).

Additional vocabulary:

to design/develop/devise - konstruieren

specifically, concertedly, purposefully, selectively - gezielt

to spare - verschonen

in the course/frame of - im Rahmen von

mutations/deviations/aberrations - Abweichungen

to lend oneself as - dienen als

to profit/benefit from - profitieren

fluid dynamic behavio(u)r - Strömungsverhalten

material(-)consuming - materialverschleißend