1984 Volume 92 Issue 1061 Pages 52-59
A large amount of thermal energy is required for the firing of porcelain wares which is generally carried out at a temperature as high as 1300°C. In order to minimize energy required in the firing of porcelain, we developed a new composition which could be fired at a lower temperature of 1100°C without losing its porcelain properties, and its characteristics such as the vitrification behavior were investigated. The composition of the body was expressed as 0.40KNaO⋅0.16CaO⋅0.21MgO⋅1.00Al2O3⋅6.99SiO2⋅0.10B2O3 by the Seger formula. Although the body contained B2O3-frit, alkali and alkaline earth metals as additives, a stable vitrification process of the body was maintained, and no difference could be observed in the mineral composition and physical characteristics of the porcelain prepared from the body and the typical vitrified porcelains prepared by the conventional method. This green body is based upon pottery stone (Toseki) which possesses plasticity, therefore, no modification of the conventional process is necessary in molding the body. An experiment carried out using an experimental kiln (internal volume of about 0.5m3) showed that reductions in the firing time of about 30% and in the fuel consumption of 30-40% are obtained as compared with the firing of a body containing no additive.
