The Use of Zeolite as Fluxing Agent for Whitewares

Abstract

The possibility of natural zeolite utilization as a fluxing agent for sintered ceramic bodies will be determined compared with traditional ceramic flux - feldspar and quartz sand as a grog without fluxing effect. Sintering behaviour as dependence of water absorption of dry pressed test samples made from different fluxes (zeolite, sodium-potassium feldspar) and binder (kaolin) on the firing temperature (1150 - 1300 °C) were analysed. Zeolite is very intensive fluxing agent compared with sodium-potassium feldspar. Zeolite with kaolin creates body (after firing) with lower coefficient of linear thermal expansion. Thanks to higher content of ferric oxides is not suitable for whiteware, because the colour of the sintered body is dark (brown).The possibility of natural zeolite utilization as a fluxing agent for sintered ceramic bodies will be determined compared with traditional ceramic flux - feldspar and quartz sand as a grog without fluxing effect. Sintering behaviour as dependence of water absorption of dry pressed test samples made from different fluxes (zeolite, sodium-potassium feldspar) and binder (kaolin) on the firing temperature (1150 - 1300 °C) were analysed. Zeolite is very intensive fluxing agent compared with sodium-potassium feldspar. Zeolite with kaolin creates body (after firing) with lower coefficient of linear thermal expansion. Thanks to higher content of ferric oxides is not suitable for whiteware, because the colour of the sintered body is dark (brown).