Characterisation of biscuit fired bone china body microstructure. Part II: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of glassy matrix

In this second part of the study, electron transparent specimens of the biscuit fired bone china body were prepared for a conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study. The crystalline phases present in the fired material were noted and particular consideration was given to determination of the nature and composition of the glassy phase. Compositional information on the phases was obtained using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) which was available in conjunction with TEM. Additionally, a simulated glass with a composition typical of that present in the bone china body was prepared and examined by TEM in order to compare its structure and chemistry with that of the glassy phase originally present in the bone china body.