Measurement of Translucency of Porcelain Bodies

Abstract

Two methods for evaluating absorption coefficients of porcelain bodies in the visible wavelength range were proposed and applied to Japanese porcelain. The comparative merits of the methods were discussed. Apparent absorption coefficients could be obtained more precisely than conventional ones by measuring the transmittances for different sample thicknesses. Variations in translucency due to compositional change of the porcelain bodies could be explained quantitatively using these coefficients. The scattering and absorption coefficients of bodies were calculated from their reflectances and transmittances using the Kubelka-Munk equations. The accuracy of these coefficients was lower than that of the apparent absorption coefficient because of difficulties in the transmittance measurements. Nevertheless these coefficients were very useful for understanding the optical properties of porcelain bodies. The relationship between the reflectance and scattering coefficient of bodies was also discussed.