Sericite clay as a raw material for the fabrication of whiteware bodies

Abstract

The possibility was investigated of abtaining porcelain bodies using a sericitic clay, whose fundamental characteristics are to form a very reactive glassy phase, to have an exceptional firing range and a very fine grain size, and a tendency to produce bodies with a very high mullite content at low temperature. The second aim was to obtain porcelain bodies at low firing temperatures with a high flexural strength and large mullite content using only the above-mentioned clay, alumina and a small and constant amount of feldspar. To cover different porcelain types, both silicious and aluminous, eight compositions were formulated and fired between 1200°C and 1320°C and the technological properties, microstructures, phases, etc., were studied. For comparison with the results obtained with the new compositions, two industrial porcelain bodies were formulated and studied at the same time under the same conditions. The paper shows the possibility of obtaining porcelain bodies with much better properties than present industrial ones, and at the same time with a significant saving in the cost of raw materials.