There are many ceramic applications for talc. Because talc reacts during firing, its role in the ceramic process depends on its interaction with the other raw materials in the formulation and its chemical reaction at different temperatures. Luzenac talc brings its properties to all three basic families of applications: traditional, refractory and technical ceramics. Luzenac provides the ceramic industry with twenty ceramic-specific talc grades offering the diversity in terms of mineralogical composition, morphology, fired color and chemical composition to cover all requirements. For more information, or to discuss the appropriate talc product for your requirement, please contact our ceramics team. |
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Glazed floor tiles
- Combined with feldspar to form a eutectic-flux, Luzenac talcs reduce firing temperatures and cycles. They also stabilize firing shrinkage.
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Porcellanato floor tiles
- By improving vitrification, very low iron content, Luzenac talcs increase mechanical and stain resistance.
- Combined with zirconium silicate and alumina, Luzenac talcs enhance the brightness of super-white porcelain tiles.
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White body earthenware wall tiles
- Luzenac talcs control thermal and moisture expansion, thereby improving glaze-body fit and reducing delayed crazing.
- Talc usage facilitates the production of large format tiles.
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Sanitaryware: fire clay and vitreous china
- Luzenac talcs improve crazing resistance and strengthen large fire clay components such as shower trays.
- In vitreous sanitaryware, Luzenac talcs facilitate vitrification, resulting in fewer cracks during second firing.
- Luzenac talcs are effective dusting agents for demoulding.
- In sanitaryware glazes, Luzenac talcs improve gloss and whiteness, and reduce pinholes.
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Tableware
- In low-temperature earthenware, Luzenac talcs improve plasticity in the ram process. They contribute to a good glaze-body fit and, for very fast firing cycles, they reduce cool-down cracks.
- For low-temperature porcelain, low iron content Luzenac grades improve vitrification, allowing shorter firing cycles and improved mechanical resistance.
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Glazes
- In frits, very low iron content Luzenac talcs provide magnesium, improve thermal expansion and fusion, and confer good melting behaviour.
- In sanitaryware glazes, Luzenac talcs improve gloss and whiteness, and reduce pinholes.
- In floor tile glazes, Luzenac talcs enhance matting.
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Engobes
- In wall tile engobes, very low iron content Luzenac talcs improve opacity, resulting in zirconium silicate cost savings.
- Combined with magnesite and kaolin, Luzenac talcs improve the efficiency of refractory engobes used to protect ceramic kiln rollers.
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Automotive cordierite ceramics for catalyst supports and diesel particulate filters
- Talc is the key raw material for automotive cordierite products where it is used to produce the ceramic honeycomb component in catalyst supports and diesel particulate filters.
- Talc:
- confers a relic pore structure for catalyst supports and diesel particulate filters;
- provides critical lubrication to the thin walls during extrusion;
- contributes to critical rheology during mixing, extrusion and green body drying.
- Highly pure, low CaO-content talcs with a specific particle size distribution and surface area are required for these applications.
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See the film
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Cordierite/mullite refractories for kiln furniture
- Combined with kaolin, Luzenac's chlorite-rich talcs and pure chlorites are transformed into cordierite to improve thermal shock resistance and reduce thermal expansion.
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Electroceramics - steatites
- Microcrystalline talc is the main constituent in steatite production. Once transformed into enstatite, it possesses electro-insulating properties for high density, high frequency applications.
- Steatite also has excellent mechanical resistance and good shock and abrasion resistance, making it suitable as grinding media.
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Other applications
- Luzenac talcs are also used:
- as sintering agents in alumina ceramics,
- in terra cotta, e.g. facing bricks and yellow engobes.
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If you have a query or would like to receive technical documentation on Luzenac talcs in ceramics, please click here
Automotive cordierite ceramics
