The Microstructure and Translucency Investigation of Cellulose Containing Low Temperature Fritted Soft-paste Porcelain

Translucent porcelain with appropriate workability has been considered beneficial for light and shadow to be used in the production of ceramic artworks. In addition, using low firing temperature encourages more artists to use this body. The soft-paste cellulose composite porcelain is composed of similar amount of high Borax/Calcia leadless frit and Kaolin with 3% Vee gum T as a plasticizer. In order to increase workability and green strength, five units of soft-paste porcelain (SP) slip was mixed by one unit bleached bagasse pulp of sugar cane slip in volume and then cellulose containing soft-paste porcelain (CSP) slip was made. The samples were formed by hand, dried and then fired at the optimum temperature of 1120  for 5 hours. Results showed that the SP sample became self-glazed after firing while cellulose increased porosity in CSP. Microstructure analysis showed a large amount of glass phase, which improved translucency of the bodies. Moreover, mullite needle-shaped crystals were derived from the flux-penetrated clay because of less viscous molten body matrix. XRD results clearly showed that the fritted soft-paste porcelain consists of quartz, mullite, anorthite and albite in the fired state. Spectrophotometry showed that adding cellulose to the porcelain body slightly increased translucency in the wavelength ranges 400 to 500 nm.