Manufacturing ceramics requires precision and expertise at every stage, including forming, firing, and glazing. Quality control is essential to ensure the final product's quality and durability.
Ceramics have been integral to human culture and technology. Ceramics have been used in nearly every aspect of life, from ancient pottery and sculpture to electronics and aerospace materials.
Ceramics offer versatility and durability, making them an excellent choice for kitchenware, building materials, and biomedical implants. This guide provides an overview of how ceramics are manufactured on a large scale.
Did you know?
Ceramic tiles are produced mainly in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh in India, one of the leading producers worldwide.
Understanding the Ceramic Manufacturing Process
Ceramic manufacturing is a complex process that involves using advanced materials and techniques to create a wide range of products.
Some typical applications of ceramics include
- Construction products such as tiles and bricks,
- Refractory materials for high-temperature environments, such as crucibles and moulds,
- Whiteware products such as pottery, stoneware, fine china, porcelain, and other tableware.
Ceramics are also used in the aerospace industry due to their low weight and high strength. They are used as cutting tools and thermal and electrical insulators. Advanced ceramic materials such as heat engines, ceramic armour, and electronic packaging have been developed for specific applications.
The fundamental procedures are purchasing raw materials, beneficiating them, mixing, forming, green machining, drying, thermal processing, glazing, firing, and final processing.
Also Read- Learn about Process Manufacturing & Types of Manufacturing Processes with Examples
1. Raw Material Procurement
The procurement of raw materials is the first step in ceramic manufacturing. Raw materials are transported and stored at the manufacturing facility.
Ceramics are made from moderately impure clay materials extracted from natural sources to extremely pure powders created through chemical synthesis. They are produced from silica, sand, quartz, feldspar, and aluminosilicate. These raw materials enhance ceramic properties, such as abrasion resistance and electrical resistance.
2. Beneficiation
After raw material procurement, beneficiation is the next step in ceramic manufacturing. Chemically synthesised ceramic powders also require beneficiation. This step focuses on the techniques used to refine naturally available raw materials.
Some fundamental beneficiation processes are:
- Comminution,
- Purification,
- Sizing,
- Classification,
- Calcining,
- Liquid dispersion and
- Granulation.
Before being transferred to a ceramic manufacturing facility, naturally occurring raw materials are frequently subjected to some beneficiation at the mining site or an intermediate processing facility. These processes help to eliminate undesirable impurities and ensure a steady supply of raw materials of the required purity.
3. Mixing
Mixing is used to blend ceramic powder components to create a more uniform material for chemical and physical shaping. Ceramic materials are frequently mixed in pug mills.
During the mixing stage, the ceramic mixture may have several processing aids added. Binders and plasticisers make dry powder and plastics; deflocculants, surfactants, and antifoaming agents are added to slurry processing to facilitate processing. Processing of plastics and slurry also uses liquids.
Also Read- Step-by-Step Guide to the Plywood Manufacturing Process
4. Forming
There are many forms of ceramics, but one example is slip casting. Here, a plaster mould is filled with slip or liquid clay. The water is drawn out of the plaster mould's walls, leaving a layer of solid clay inside. Firm clay can be removed once dried.
There are many other forming techniques used in the ceramic manufacturing process.
These techniques include
- Dry pressing,
- Isostatic pressing,
- Tape casting,
- Slip casting,
- Gel casting,
- Extrusion, and
- Injection moulding.
These techniques rely on organic additions to the ceramic mix to shape the material into the desired form. The specific forming technique depends on the ceramic product's manufacturing type and application.
5. Green Machining Ceramics
Green machining refers to the process of shaping a ceramic part while it is still in its “green” or unsintered state. The green machining process covers clamping and handling techniques suitable for ceramics and applying ultra-hard, high-performance cutting materials.
Green machining allows for the creation of complex shapes and features that may not be possible using traditional forming techniques. It also allows for tighter tolerances and higher precision in the final product.
After green machining, the ceramic part is dried and fired to achieve its final properties.
6. Drying
Drying is used to remove the water added to the clay during the forming step. This water must be removed before firing or sintering the ceramic part. The drying process must be carefully controlled to ensure that the ceramic part dries evenly and at a rate that prevents cracks and other defects.
The drying rate depends on material characteristics, processing variables, and other factors that influence water and vapour migration rates from the internal areas of the formed part to the drying atmosphere.
Many types of dryers are used in the ceramic manufacturing process, including.
- Spray dryers,
- Airless dryers, and
- Laboratory devices.
7. Thermal Process
Ceramics' thermal process generally involves high temperatures and results in heat-resistant materials. One necessary thermal process is firing, which involves placing formed and glazed greenware in a sintering oven for heat treatment.
As a result of sintering, the material becomes dense and hardened to the final state. After firing, the ceramic part has achieved its final properties and is ready for final processing and packaging.
8. Glazing
Glazing involves applying a liquid glaze coating to the ceramic part's surface. The glaze can be applied by brushing, pouring, or spraying.
In ceramic manufacturing, glazing is usually done with spray.
The glaze serves several purposes in the ceramic manufacturing process.
- It can enhance the appearance of the ceramic part by adding colour or texture.
- It can also improve the durability of the ceramic part by making it more resistant to wear and tear.
- In addition, the glaze can make the ceramic part more resistant to water and other liquids by creating a non-porous surface.
9. Glaze Firing
During this step, the glazed ceramic part is loaded into a kiln and fired at a high temperature. The kiln is slowly brought to the appropriate temperature for the silica in the glaze to melt, then slowly cooled again.
This process causes the glaze to fuse to the surface of the ceramic part, creating a hard, glass-like coating.
10. Final Processing and Packing
After the glaze firing step, the ceramic part undergoes final processing and packaging. Final processing includes additional machining or finishing operations to achieve the desired shape and surface finish. It may also involve additional steps to finish the product, such as polishing or painting. After final processing, the ceramic part is ready for packaging. Packaging includes wrapping the ceramic part in protective materials and placing it in a box or container for shipping.
Conclusion
The ceramic manufacturing process begins with procuring raw materials, refined and mixed to create the desired composition. The materials are then formed into their desired shape and undergo various thermal processing stages, such as drying, firing, and glazing.
The final product is then packaged and ready for use. This complex process allows the creation of high-quality ceramic products that are heat-resistant, durable, and have multiple applications. From household items to high-tech components for aerospace and defence applications, ceramics play an important role in our daily lives. Their unique properties make them an essential material in many industries.
Follow Khatabook for the latest updates, news blogs, and articles related to micro, small and medium businesses (MSMEs), business tips, income tax, GST, salary, and accounting.
