TALC IN CERAMICS INDUSTRY

   


Talc is widely used in the ceramics industry in both bodies and glazes. It is increasingly being used in the manufacture of art wares, jars, wall and floor tiles. It serves as a non-plastic ceramic material. The proportion of Talc in the ceramic body may go up to 80%

·         Talc is highly white as well as bright and thus imparts appropriate visual properties to the ceramic product.

·         It has good refractoriness. Talc converts into enstatite at 1300º C. Between 800ºC to 840ºC, the water molecules start being driven off and Talc dissociates into enstatite and amorphous silica without undergoing any change in shape, the shrinkage being 0.0005 inch only.

·         In stonewares, small percentages of Talc are used to flux the body and therefore improve strength and vitrification.

·         It is a source of MgO flux in high-temperature glazes to control melting temperature. It is also employed as a matting agent in earthenware glazes and can be used to produce magnesia mattes at high temperatures.

·         The addition of Talc in suitable proportions in the body of mixtures for porcelain, jars prevents the crazing (cracking) effect on the glazes. In addition, Talc imparts smooth buttery surfaces to the glaze.