Morphology of Calcium Oxide Added Willemite Crystals

Abstract

Crystalline glazes give amazing and spectacular results in ceramic. Their actual chemical makeup is remarkably simple. Two parts frit, one part zinc and one part silica are the constituents needed to make it to workable base glaze. Variations in proportions or addition of other oxides affect the crystal size, shape, colour and number. In this paper we have added 1, 3 and 5 wt % of calcium oxide to basic willemite crystal forming glaze. The samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy for morphological changes and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDAX-link ISIS 300) attached to SEM was used for chemical analysis.