Effect of sintering temperature on physical properties of Trong clay and prefired material in low clay whiteware ceramic fabrication

Abstract

The effect of sintering temperature on physical properties of low clay white with newly fabricated with Trong clay (local clay) and prefired material was studied. The powders of local clay and prefired material were milled for 1 h and dried in the oven at 100 °C for 24 h. Then, the samples were palletized and sintered for 1 h at five different temperatures (1050 °C, 1100 °C, 1150 °C, 1200 °C, and 1250 °C). Phase analysis and physical properties of the fired samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), bulk density, water absorption, porosity, and firing shrinkage. XRD result showed that the sample consist of mullite and anorthite phases. Densification of the sample was slightly increased at the highest sintering temperature, but vice versa with porosity where the highest sintering temperature shows the lowest value of porosity. The results revealed that the optimum result was obtained at 1250 °C with the highest density (2.02 g/cm3) and lowest porosity (27.23%).