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
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...
Mark as Played
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 ...
Mark as Played
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,...
Mark as Played
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...
Mark as Played
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...
Mark as Played
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...
Mark as Played
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...
Mark as Played
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?
Mark as Played
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...
Mark as Played
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...
Mark as Played
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, ...
Mark as Played
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...
Mark as Played
December 9, 2024 • 20 mins
In ceramics, the use of chemicals plays a fundamental role in providing the final product with high technical and aesthetic results and in promoting a proper application process.
However, their actions can be sometimes less effective or compromised.
There are several reasons for this performance change and seasonality is surely one of the most interesting.
Through a series of examples, the episode addresses the actions that should be...
However, their actions can be sometimes less effective or compromised.
There are several reasons for this performance change and seasonality is surely one of the most interesting.
Through a series of examples, the episode addresses the actions that should be...
Mark as Played
November 24, 2024 • 24 mins
Glaze and grit suspensions are made up of a liquid part (usually made-up of water and one or more rheological chemicals) and a dispersed solid part.
However, these two different suspensions show a lot of differences that may lead to very contrasting results, also implying a different approach about chemicals, both during the grinding phase and along the glazing line.
From this point of view, all chemicals involved must be marked by s...
However, these two different suspensions show a lot of differences that may lead to very contrasting results, also implying a different approach about chemicals, both during the grinding phase and along the glazing line.
From this point of view, all chemicals involved must be marked by s...
Mark as Played
November 12, 2024 • 22 mins
Cratering phenomena are defects that appear as microscopic craters on the surface of ceramic bodies on which an aqueous (and still drying) suspension has been discharged.
It is an application problem that leads to a misalignment of the suspension due to the presence of one or more dips.
The problem, that is already visible along the glazing line and not only after the firing process, may arise for several reasons: for example due to ...
It is an application problem that leads to a misalignment of the suspension due to the presence of one or more dips.
The problem, that is already visible along the glazing line and not only after the firing process, may arise for several reasons: for example due to ...
Mark as Played
October 27, 2024 • 12 mins
CMC are organic compounds, water-soluble polymers derived from cellulose, widely used in several fields of industrial production. In ceramics, sodium CMCs perform multiple functions within suspensions and solutions and can be marked by very different properties depending on the situation.
What is the main role of this substance in the ceramic production process, and what needs to be done to properly manage it?
What is the main role of this substance in the ceramic production process, and what needs to be done to properly manage it?
Mark as Played
October 13, 2024 • 13 mins
The plasticity values of ceramic mixtures is a very important issue, since it affects the values and features of the mix and therefore the proper development of the ceramic production process.
In general, the use of clays marked by high plasticity values is usually synonymous with easier process management.
However, high-performing clays are not always available and it is therefore important to keep in mind other production parameter...
In general, the use of clays marked by high plasticity values is usually synonymous with easier process management.
However, high-performing clays are not always available and it is therefore important to keep in mind other production parameter...
Mark as Played
October 3, 2024 • 13 mins
In ceramics, digital technology (use of digital glues and digital inks) has definitely riform the sector, making the production process much more flexible and expanding creative and aesthetic possibilities.
The extraordinary precision with which the ink is discharged on the ceramic support, in fact, has opend to new extraordinary results.
However, the topic "printing definition" must be addressed with great attention, being subjected...
The extraordinary precision with which the ink is discharged on the ceramic support, in fact, has opend to new extraordinary results.
However, the topic "printing definition" must be addressed with great attention, being subjected...
Mark as Played
September 15, 2024 • 19 mins
Scanning Electron Microscope is a sophisticated tool used in many fields of scientific research, even in ceramics.
The use of an electron beam instead of light allows to get not only outstanding high resolution images but also detailed information on the composition of the sample.
Insights are so accurate and exhaustive that offer manufacturers clear solutions or, at least, suggestions about the actions that should be taken to proper...
The use of an electron beam instead of light allows to get not only outstanding high resolution images but also detailed information on the composition of the sample.
Insights are so accurate and exhaustive that offer manufacturers clear solutions or, at least, suggestions about the actions that should be taken to proper...
Mark as Played
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