Lab Testing in the Glazing Department for Ceramics

Lab Testing in the Glazing Department for Ceramics

Same as the casting department, the Lab also conducts tests in the glazing department to ensure that the sanitaryware is processed with quality. Lab helps to provide data of the Moisture content of dried wares and glaze properties to the glazing department.

Moisture Content Testing

The Lab tests the moisture content of the wares coming out of the dryer. Once the Lab approves the moisture levels, the glazing department will proceed with unloading the dried greenwares.

If an issue is detected with the moisture content, the root cause is investigated, which may involve examining the drying cycle, checking for leaks, or identifying mechanical failures in the dryers. This allows for immediate correction of the moisture issue, which is important because high moisture levels can cause crack, blasting, crawling, and finishing defects.

Glaze Flow and Drying Testing

In the glazing department, drying time and glaze fluidity are tested to understand the drying and flow behaviour in the spraying environment.

Flow testing is performed using a Ford cup or viscometer. Consistent flow or fluidity is essential for ensuring a uniform volume output from the spray gun during the spraying process, given the other parameters. Typically, a B5 Ford cup is used for testing the flow.