Silicate Ceramics

In the production of silicate ceramics, heat treatment contributes significantly to product quality and manufacturing costs. It is therefore worthwhile to optimise the process parameters during heat treatment.

For drying, binder burnout, quartz conversion and dewatering, processes have to be identified that allow the highest possible throughput on the one hand, but on the other hand ensure that the components are damage-free. During firing, the aim is to achieve near-net-shape production with narrow manufacturing tolerances and good material properties. For example, new designs can be realised with suitable firing conditions. For cost reasons, the throughput through the firing furnace should be maximised and its energy consumption and maintenance requirements minimised. The reject rate is to be minimised. Specific methods for process optimisation have been developed at Fraunhofer-Center HTL for this purpose.