Talc, Spodumene and Calcium Carbonate Effect as Secondary Fluxes in Triaxial Ceramic Properties

Triaxial ceramics (clay-quartz-feldspar) represents a significant proportion of traditional ceramic production; art, craft and/or industrial. The use of flux is widely used in order to modify the range of maturation of ceramic pastes. The objective of the present study is to establish the influence of the addition of different secondary fluxes in the plasticity, sinterability, porosity, contraction, and mechanical properties of triaxial ceramics produced in a wide range of temperatures (800 degrees-1200 degrees C). The samples were elaborated with national raw materials with industrial quality and availability. A traditional clay-quartz-feldspar mixture was employed as a standard; In the present study Talc, Spodumene, and Calcium carbonate were chosen as secondary fluxes and partially replace the feldspar. All the fluxes enhanced the sinterization, Furthermore the use of talc permitted to obtain a complete dense ceramic at 1200 degrees C. On the other hand the use of spodumene resulted in materials with high elastic modulus. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of SAM/CONAMET 2011, Rosario, Argentina.