Abstract

Ceramic whiteware represents one of the most complex ceramics, formulated from a mix of china clay, ball clay and quartz are sintered to conform a ceramic composite. Ceramic whiteware has excellent technical characteristics. Nowadays, research of new materials, for example non-hazardous wastes, that are able to replace the traditional fluxing agent without changing the process or quality of the final products has been realized. The aim of this work is to study the possibility of the use of quartz, in ceramic whiteware mixtures, for manufacturing of electrical ceramic whiteware bodies. It was prepared by mixtures containing different amount of china clay, ball clay, and quartz. The samples were fired reaching different maximum temperatures in the range 950-1250 ºC, with a soaking time of 1 hour. The fired samples were characterized and the use of small amounts of quartz in addition with whiteware samples showed good results of mechanical technological properties. The optimum quartz percentage (25%) S1 samples at 1250 ˚C gives the maximum bending strength.