The influence of polymer addition on flexural strength, fracture mode and porosity of traditional ceramics

The usage of an air-swept milling of raw materials is the most efficient method for preventing the negative lime-blowing process of ceramic roofing tiles. However, after air-swept milling the clay minerals lose water which has to be returned back before the shaping procedure. Addition of surface active materials could increase hidrophilicity of the raw material and reduce needed time for re-wetting trough the control of meso, micro and nano porosity of the clay material. In view of that, the object of this research was to study the influence of polyethylene glycol (PEG600) on porosity, mechanical properties and fracture surface characteristics of traditional ceramic materials. It was founded that with the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG600) to traditional clay materials it is possible to achieve desired porosity, from meso, trough micro and up to nano, without degrading the mechanical properties of the final products.