Water absorption capacity and visual qualities of pulverised glass as a component for glass ceramic glazes

Abstract

Defects of glass-ceramic-glazes have hindered their production and use in ceramic art practice. It was assumed that the defects are low water absorption induced. This paper consequently studied different types of glass for glaze production with the aim of examining their water absorption capacity, resistance to flow, dispersion behavior, and visual qualities to determine suitable glass types for glaze derivation. Eight different types of glass, usually available as cullet in refuse dumps, were used. The samples were carefully cleaned, hammer-milled, pulverized, sieved using 350 nm fine mesh, subjected to a dry-based water absorption test, elementally analysed through the Particle Induce X-ray Emission technique, and milled into four glaze batches. The batches were applied on two groups of 32 ceramic tiles with one group fired at 950oC and the other fired at 1100℃. Findings showed that the glass types are characteristically similar but with varying water absorption capacities from 22.5 to 32.5% and that the higher the water absorption capacity the better the melting and visual qualities of the glazes. Since the usage of a cullet will result in a cleaner and safer environment, and glass-derived glazes comparatively melt at a low temperature with better visual qualities than other glaze types, its production should be developed using glass with high water absorption capacity.