Phase changes of ceramic whiteware slip-casting bodies studied by XRD and FTIR

The phases of white ceramic test bodies conformed by wet processing route, that are formed during firing were studied and characterized by X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy. The materials were prepared by slip-casting, then conveniently dried, and submitted to a programmed firing process. The phases developed in each stage of the thermal treatment were controlled by X-ray data. The IR vibrational spectra of the samples were recorded and discussed based on the crystal chemistry of the phases present. The sequence of phase transformation was also analyzed using both techniques. These methods allow to record the modal (true) compositions of the materials with adequate accuracy and also to correlate them with the chemical composition.