Use of sodium carbonate as a binder in ceramic tile compositions

作者：Quereda F^*; Sanchez E; Garcia Ten J; Gozalbo A; Beltran V; Sanchez J; Sales J

来源：Boletin de la Sociedad Espanola de Ceramica y Vidrio, 2010, 49(4): 327-334.

• sodium carbonate
• binder
• unfired ceramic tiles

This study analyses, first, the influence of sodium carbonate content on the behaviour of the ceramic tile body composition during the different manufacturing process stages (preparation of the suspension, pressing, and firing), as well as on unfired tile mechanical strength. It has been verified that sodium carbonate can be used as a binder in ceramic tile compositions, since small percentages considerably enhance dry tile mechanical strength. It has furthermore been determined that for each composition there is an optimum addition content, with high increased mechanical strength (up to 70%), without this noticeably affecting the rheological behaviour of the suspension to be spray dried. These results are currently being patented (patent application(o) P200930148).
Once the binding effect of sodium carbonate had been verified, it was sought to establish its action mechanism. For this purpose, drops of mixtures of a standard ceramic composition and increasing quantities of sodium carbonate were prepared. The drops were rapidly dried and the granules were characterised by scanning electron microscopy. It was thus verified that the most likely sodium carbonate action mechanism was formation of solid bridges by crystallisation.

• 出版日期2010-8