Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics.
Aware of how complex the problems related to the world of chemistry applied to ceramic production processes can be, we want to share our knowledge with those who want to orient themselves or train for passion or profession. Through a simple and direct language, the podcast aims to be an educational space with a focus on products, applications and processes. The journey unfolds along the ceramic production lines. At each stage a topic. At each topic a critical issue. At each critical issue, when possible, a solution.
Episodes
September 28, 2025 • 15 mins
Wettability is, in general terms, the property that describes a liquid's ability to adhere to a solid surface.
It can also be understood as the process through which effective contact is established between a liquid and a solid.
In some cases, solid surfaces exhibit low wettability—a characteristic that, while not inherently problematic, can lead to significant issues in the ceramic industry.
When raw ceramic bodies or suspended parti...
It can also be understood as the process through which effective contact is established between a liquid and a solid.
In some cases, solid surfaces exhibit low wettability—a characteristic that, while not inherently problematic, can lead to significant issues in the ceramic industry.
When raw ceramic bodies or suspended parti...
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September 14, 2025 • 10 mins
The electrical conductivity of water is a key parameter in industrial production processes, as it reflects the amount of dissolved ions that can directly impact the stability and efficiency of operations.
When conductivity levels go unchecked, they can compromise the quality of the final product, cause corrosion in equipment, or alter the reactivity of the materials used.
In this episode, we explore why continuous monitoring is essen...
When conductivity levels go unchecked, they can compromise the quality of the final product, cause corrosion in equipment, or alter the reactivity of the materials used.
In this episode, we explore why continuous monitoring is essen...
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August 31, 2025 • 9 mins
In this episode, we dive into the essential role of chemical additives used during the grinding phase of ceramic glazes—a crucial step that sets the stage for successful application on the glazing line.
We focus on dispersants and binders, compounds that give the glaze the right balance of cohesion, stability, and flow. But there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here: the type of additive must be tailored to the specific application...
We focus on dispersants and binders, compounds that give the glaze the right balance of cohesion, stability, and flow. But there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here: the type of additive must be tailored to the specific application...
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August 25, 2025 • 17 mins
Digital printing has transformed the ceramic industry, opening the door to highly sophisticated, versatile, and customizable designs.
At the core of this shift are ceramic digital printers—advanced machines that use inkjet technology to precisely apply both functional and decorative materials.
While the focus is often on inks and printing performance, there’s another category of fluids working quietly behind the scenes: maintenance f...
At the core of this shift are ceramic digital printers—advanced machines that use inkjet technology to precisely apply both functional and decorative materials.
While the focus is often on inks and printing performance, there’s another category of fluids working quietly behind the scenes: maintenance f...
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August 3, 2025 • 17 mins
In the world of ceramics, temporary binders play a crucial role in improving the cohesion and workability of slips.
These substances, often polymer-based, act on a chemical level by creating bonds between particles, increasing the mechanical strength of the mixture.
In this episode, we explore what they are, how they work, and why they are essential in modern ceramic processes.
These substances, often polymer-based, act on a chemical level by creating bonds between particles, increasing the mechanical strength of the mixture.
In this episode, we explore what they are, how they work, and why they are essential in modern ceramic processes.
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This episode takes inspiration from the thesis work of the Head of Research at Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco. The goal is not to focus on the specific topic explored in that study (in this case, the well-known issue of the "black core"), but rather to highlight the research methodology and the meticulous, in-depth work that takes place every day in the laboratories of chemical companies serving the ceramic manufacturing industry.
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July 6, 2025 • 17 mins
In the ceramic field, a “top glaze” refers to the glaze applied as the final layer onto the unfired ceramic substrate.
This glaze can serve multiple functions, but it primarily protects the underlying decoration and imparts specific technical and aesthetic properties to the surface.
This episode focuses on this particular class of glazes, taking a closer look at the key functions and rheological characteristics (among others) that t...
This glaze can serve multiple functions, but it primarily protects the underlying decoration and imparts specific technical and aesthetic properties to the surface.
This episode focuses on this particular class of glazes, taking a closer look at the key functions and rheological characteristics (among others) that t...
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June 22, 2025 • 15 mins
After more than fifty episodes exploring topics of general interest—always through the lens of chemistry and ceramic production—we’ve decided to have some fun.
We posed a few simple questions to artificial intelligence, asking it to write a short text about chemistry with complete freedom to choose the themes and highlights.
The result? Amusing, sometimes absurd—mostly accurate, but not always.
As we know, Large Language Models (the t...
We posed a few simple questions to artificial intelligence, asking it to write a short text about chemistry with complete freedom to choose the themes and highlights.
The result? Amusing, sometimes absurd—mostly accurate, but not always.
As we know, Large Language Models (the t...
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June 8, 2025 • 18 mins
Melting materials used in ceramics, often in glazes and digital glues, are capable of lowering the melting point of a material or compound, thus accelerating the sintering process.
This action, which occurs through the breaking of the molecular structure of the compound (in our case, silica) by certain ions, affects several factors and must be carefully calibrated each time to achieve the desired result.
Some of the areas influenced ...
This action, which occurs through the breaking of the molecular structure of the compound (in our case, silica) by certain ions, affects several factors and must be carefully calibrated each time to achieve the desired result.
Some of the areas influenced ...
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Industrial productivity is a top priority for any manufacturing enterprise, regardless of its field of operation.
The ceramic industry, too, must adhere to rules and parameters that enhance productivity while avoiding any form of waste.
However, process interruptions—representing the most extreme scenarios—can be triggered by numerous factors and can occur at various stages along the production line.
Even the digital printing process,...
The ceramic industry, too, must adhere to rules and parameters that enhance productivity while avoiding any form of waste.
However, process interruptions—representing the most extreme scenarios—can be triggered by numerous factors and can occur at various stages along the production line.
Even the digital printing process,...
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May 11, 2025 • 15 mins
Water is one of the most widely used natural resources in numerous applications and across various sectors of industrial production.
For example, process water forms the basis of different production phases and ensures their proper development.
However, not all waters are the same.
Depending on its source, water can have very different properties, which may make it suitable or unsuitable for a specific process.
In general, water qualit...
For example, process water forms the basis of different production phases and ensures their proper development.
However, not all waters are the same.
Depending on its source, water can have very different properties, which may make it suitable or unsuitable for a specific process.
In general, water qualit...
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April 27, 2025 • 20 mins
Suspending agents belong to a broad category of additives whose primary purpose is to provide ceramic suspensions (slips, glazes, engobes, or frits) with good internal stability, counteracting potential sedimentation phenomena.
Available in both liquid and solid forms, these products act within the suspension to ensure the right balance.
There are various mechanisms that can be employed to properly maintain the solid phase of the mix...
Available in both liquid and solid forms, these products act within the suspension to ensure the right balance.
There are various mechanisms that can be employed to properly maintain the solid phase of the mix...
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April 13, 2025 • 14 mins
Complexing agents are capable of catching multivalent cations present in suspension to prevent them from negatively affecting the ceramic process.
They are responsible for one of the main mechanisms underlying the deflocculation process: complexation.
Complexing agents (or chelating agents) are chemicals that bind to specific ions (such as calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.), forming stable complexes.
This property allows them to "seques...
They are responsible for one of the main mechanisms underlying the deflocculation process: complexation.
Complexing agents (or chelating agents) are chemicals that bind to specific ions (such as calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.), forming stable complexes.
This property allows them to "seques...
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March 30, 2025 • 18 mins
The topic of non-planar surfaces, which develop on multiple micro-levels and are sometimes improperly identified as 3D surfaces, plays a crucial role in giving ceramic surfaces not only a more natural appearance but also a broader and more extensive expressive potential.
This is not a new requirement: it took its first steps with the help of traditional technologies, but it has found new momentum with the arrival of the latest digit...
This is not a new requirement: it took its first steps with the help of traditional technologies, but it has found new momentum with the arrival of the latest digit...
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March 16, 2025 • 19 mins
In the previous episode (#45) we discussed the technical aspects of digital printing systems in relation to ceramic bricks.
This second part looks at the necessary preparatory work for the printing phase, going through the various steps involved in preparing a print file.
Regardless of the media on which you will work.
Some key words: standardized lighting, colorimeter, spectrophotometer, linearization, chart...
This second part looks at the necessary preparatory work for the printing phase, going through the various steps involved in preparing a print file.
Regardless of the media on which you will work.
Some key words: standardized lighting, colorimeter, spectrophotometer, linearization, chart...
Mark as Played
March 2, 2025 • 19 mins
At present, in the heavy clay industry, products are decorated mainly by applying engobe with the aid of scattered granules or by means of reduction effects created by the firing process.
These techniques are suitable to produce traditional products for the existing market.
What added value does digital printing offer in this field?
These techniques are suitable to produce traditional products for the existing market.
What added value does digital printing offer in this field?
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February 16, 2025 • 19 mins
The operating temperature is an important parameter that ceramic producers must take into account in order to avoid application problems that can also negatively affect the quality of the finished product.
However, this parameter is not always easy to manage, especially if we consider the fluctuations promoted by seasonability.
The episode addresses the topic with the help of specific examples, highlighting the main scenarios and the...
However, this parameter is not always easy to manage, especially if we consider the fluctuations promoted by seasonability.
The episode addresses the topic with the help of specific examples, highlighting the main scenarios and the...
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February 2, 2025 • 11 mins
Most ceramic production processes involve the dispersion of ceramic powders in a liquid medium - mostly water - to obtain a suspension or, more generally, a dispersed system.
To provde the suspensions with the desired stability and workability, depending on the different applications, we use the addition of small quantities of suitable chemicals that, interacting with the solid particles, change the rheological behaviour of the whol...
To provde the suspensions with the desired stability and workability, depending on the different applications, we use the addition of small quantities of suitable chemicals that, interacting with the solid particles, change the rheological behaviour of the whol...
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January 19, 2025 • 22 mins
All analysis of ceramic suspensions carried out by those companies that supply chemicals for ceramic production are fundamental to properly develop the processes that take place along the production line.
The episode provides an overview about the role of these important investigations, with a focus on the data and on the operations of the involved tools.
We will talk about jars, pycnometers, laser granulometers, sieves, rheometers, ...
The episode provides an overview about the role of these important investigations, with a focus on the data and on the operations of the involved tools.
We will talk about jars, pycnometers, laser granulometers, sieves, rheometers, ...
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December 22, 2024 • 13 mins
After addresing the impact that seasonality can have on the the fluidization of ceramic mixtures and on bacterial proliferation within semi-finished products, this second part of the episode 41 tries to show and explain the consequences that temperature changes may produce on the drying time of ceramic suspension, leading to alterations that often force producers to revise the parameters of the glazing line.
After offering the usual...
After offering the usual...
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