Deflocculation of ceramic mixtures

The episode focuses on the flocculation phenomena of ceramic mixtures.The problem is marked by a progressive aggregation of solid particles and it often takes place due to phenomena of electrostatic attraction between the clay micelles in suspension.This process leads to a significant increase in viscosity within the system, negatively affecting the proper development of the production process.The episode offers a general overview about ceramic mixtures, focusing on the corrective action of some specific chemicals, able to develop and trigger an opposite process that provides the ceramic mixture with the proper features, restoring the parameters required for a good development of the process.With particular reference to the three major mechanisms underlying the deflocculation process:Electrostatic repulsion by cationic exchange2. Steric repulsion3. Complexation