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PODCAST

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics.

Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco

Aware of how complex the problems related to the world of chemistry applied to ceramic production processes can be, we want to share our knowledge with those who want to orient themselves or train for passion or profession.Through a simple and direct language, the podcast aims to be an educational space with a focus on products, applications and processes.The journey unfolds along the ceramic production lines.At each stage a topic.At each topic a critical issue.At each critical issue, when possible,

science chemistry

All Episodes

9:46

Sodium silicate & deflocculation of ceramic mixtures

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/06/24

Sodium silicate is an inorganic substance that at room temperature it is in solid state.It is a chemical compound used in several areas of industrial production. In ceramics, sodium silicate is very effective within ceramic mixtures.Among the several effects it produces, it plays a very important role in terms of fluidization.The episode is about the function that this substance performs, highlighting its several properties and the benefits it promotes.With a focus on deflocculation of ceramic

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10:23

Ceramic firing cycle, emissions and chemism of...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/06/10

Polluting and odor emissions are two important critical issues that producers have been looking for some time with considerable attention.This is a problem that appears in the final stage of the ceramic production cycle, inside the kilns, but whose origin can be found in the previous application processes that mostly take place along the glazing line.Scenarios can be different but emissions are mostly produces by the use of digital glues and digital inks that, due to their particular chemism, can be

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10:27

Foam formation within ceramic glazes: how to deal...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/04/29

Among the several issues that may arise along the glazing line, the excessive foaming within glaze suspensions is one of the most frequent and problematic.The phenomenon is already visible on the surface of the glaze inside the stirring systems but consequences can persist even after the end of the production, that is after the firing cycle.Chemistry speaking, what is foam? What are the causes of its presence and what do we need to know to prevent its formation or to remove it in case of unexpected

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12:36

Ceramic glaze application & technical defects: the tv...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/04/15

Speaking of ceramic glaze applications and technical defects, one of the strangest and most interesting is the "TV effect".It consists of a preferential migration of the glaze towards the perimeters of the tile that produces in those areas a thickening of the glaze.The unaesthetic result is a quite regular surface swelling along the edge of the ceramic material. A result that recalls the old cathode-ray television sets and that may be visible even after the firing cycle.What is exactly the TV

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12:39

Excessive viscosity of the slip: causes & remedies

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/04/01

Viscosity (or viscous friction coefficient) measures a substance attitude on generating friction between its layers. In other words, it defines the resistance of the fluid to its proper flow.The barbottina's viscosity values - that is the suspension of inorganic raw materials, water and dispersants that after the atomization process will form under the weight of the presses the raw ceramic body - can sometimes rapidly and suddenly change, and grow.In the event of an excessive or out of standard

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9:48

Glazes/engobes bacterial degradations: technical &...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/03/18

All process water involved in ceramic production, both tap and well waters, usually contains bacteria.And the same applies to inorganic raw materials used in the grinding process to produce the semi-finished products that will later be applied along the glazing line: frits, clays, feldspar, nepheline, etc. Because of the huge amount of water use, glazes and engobes grinding departments can sometimes be under the attack of significant bacterial proliferations.Microorganisms' activity (especially that

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10:37

Digital inks & ceramic production: what do we need to...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/03/04

Thanks to the digitalization of some of its processes, the ceramic industry has evolved pretty significantly over the last few years, and in this perspective the digital printing system plays one of the most important roles.In fact, the use of digital inks has made it possible to almost totally replace the old decoration systems.Their formulation and therefore their production is very delicate and complex, since it must strictly comply with specific parameters. What are digital inks? What are their

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10:42

Ceramic glazes, surface tension & chemicals

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/02/19

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13:05

Ceramic slips & rheological behavior

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/02/12

In general, wet grinding systems offer best performances and best production results only when the chemical and physical features of slips are constant over the duration of the entire process.More precisely, this happens when the main parameters of the atomized product (such as grain size, density, viscosity, and thixotropy) remain within a very short range.However, slurries may suddenly change their rheological features during production. Sometimes drastically.What are the main elements that may

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11:46

Formaldehyde, ceramic production & environmental impact

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2024/02/12

Formaldehyde, despite its wide use in many fields of the industrial production, in high percentage may be a serious problem.In Ceramics, it must be carefully checked since it can seriously and negatively affect the environment.What do we need to know about this topic?

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13:58

Ceramic suspensions & rheological behavior

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/12/29

Rheology is the science that deals with the flow and the strain rate of matter.It’s a branch of Physics that studies the origin, the nature and the deformation’s characteristics of a matter under the influence of external forces, with particular regard to non-Newtonian liquids. Its main goal is to define the correlations between causes (forces) and effects (deformations and flows), identifying all mechanisms that are the basis of the different rheological behavior on a microscopic and molecular

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12:41

Deflocculation of ceramic mixtures

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/12/11

The episode focuses on the flocculation phenomena of ceramic mixtures.The problem is marked by a progressive aggregation of solid particles and it often takes place due to phenomena of electrostatic attraction between the clay micelles in suspension.This process leads to a significant increase in viscosity within the system, negatively affecting the proper development of the production process.The episode offers a general overview about ceramic mixtures, focusing on the corrective action of some

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11:29

Ceramic glazes, dusting phenomena & digital printing...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/11/27

The lack of cohesion that occurs not only between the glaze’s particles but also between the glaze and the raw ceramic support can lead to a problem commonly called "dusting phenomenon". This kind of glaze, that we could define as fragile, is easily removable from the ceramic surface, especially when it undergoes to the mechanical solicitations that take place along the production line. What happens inside the glaze and what can we do to prevent and to properly manage the problem?

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16:12

Surface protection treatments, emissions & regulations

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/10/30

The episode focuses on a subject that may seem unimportant but that, instead, is quite relevant if we consider the recent and new intended use of ceramic surfaces (tables, countertops, etc).Since tiles now are used not only for floors and walls (but also for furniture: tables, top, countertops, ect) the contact with the food we eat is frequent and it must be considered.Given that ceramics are, by their very nature, one of the most hygienic and antiseptic material in the world, it is also true that

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14:22

Ceramic production, chemicals & reduction of the...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/10/16

This episode is the second part of a general overview about the most important categories of chemicals for ceramic prodution and their positive role in terms of environmental impact.The perspective wants to scratch - with a deliberately provocatory approach - the idea that chemistry cannot provide, by nature, any environmental benefit.Actually, if we addressed the subject by using a "magnifiying glass", we would notice that the use of chemicals often allows you to avoid making choices that could be

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16:00

Ceramic production, chemicals & reduction of the...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/10/02

The episode aims to refocus, from a special and provocative perspective, the role of chemicals used in ceramics: from the beginning to the end of the process, that is from the grinding of the clays that form the basis of the ceramic mixture up to the firing cycle.The reading filter is "chemicals and environmental impact" and the goal is to break the preconception about the word "chemistry", often related to the pollution, contamination, infections.We do not want to belittle or deny the wrong use of

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14:27

Ceramic glazes: application system, rheology &...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/09/18

Ceramic glazes can be applied by means of several technologies but the most common and popular is the airless spray system.However, sometimes glazes can still be discharged on the raw tile by means of bell or vela systems.Each application system required different evaluations about the glaze's rheology.The glaze must be marked by specific properties according to the system with which is applied along the production line. The episode focuses on these differences and on the chemicals that can - or

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16:35

Digital glues to water and ceramic production: what...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/09/03

In ceramics, the water-based digital system represents a topic of great interest.The R&D departments of all the players have been doing research for some time, trying to improve the sector with a technology that is already widely used in many other fields of industrial production.The #technical #problems of both the application machines and the products (such as inks and glues) seem to have been overcome, and the time is ripe for a definitive diffusion of this technology which certainly offers

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14:57

Digital glues & ceramic production: what are they and...

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/07/24

In ceramic production, the use of digital glues for glaze and grit applications has almost completely replaced the spray/airless application system.Even if each glue differently acts on glass powders and grits, there are two main categories that must be considered: solvent-based digital glues (based on non polar solvents) and water-based digital glues (based polar solvents and water).This episode opens with a general introduction on the chemical nature of these products, then offering two important

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15:44

Black core: origin of the problem and resolutive actions

Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics. ·

2023/06/26

The black core is a localized area marked by a brown/black (or even white) color, clearly visible in the thickness of the ceramic tile.Its presence is usually sign of inadequate oxidation and it has not to be considered as a defect that compromises the product functionality.However it's a very serious aesthetic problem, especially if we consider the increasingly different intended use of ceramics.The origins of this particular defect are many and, according to the specific production conditions,

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77 results

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