Effect of Wollastonite on the Physico-Mechanical and Optical Properties of Bone-China Ceramics

In this present work, investigation has been done to identify the effect on physical, mechanical and optical properties of bone china body on the addition of wollastonite by partial replacement of potash feldspar. Various characterizations like Bulk density, Whiteness and M.O.R were performed. The use of wollastonite in bone china body was found favorable in increasing optical properties in terms of whiteness and translucency, as well as mechanical properties as flexural strength. A reduction was also noted in firing temperature due to the fluxing nature of wollastonite. It was found that bodies prepared by partially replacing the potash feldspar by wollastonite, fired at 1080 °C have better properties than the conventional bone china bodies having potash feldspar sintered at 1160 °C. Thus, lowering of sintering temperature would reduce the cost of production by low fuel consumption and increase life of furnace.