Ceramic Materials Commons^™

A Preliminary Study Of The Effect Of Heat Treatment On The Strength And Microstructure Of A Glass-Ceramic Material, P. D. Ownby

Masters Theses

"The strength and microstructure of a glass-ceramic material of the composition 53 percent SiO₂, 19 percent Al₂O₃, 15 percent MgO, and 13 percent Li₂O were studied. Cylindrical specimens of glass were formed and heat-treated to six different temperature levels for various time periods. The method of strength testing used was a diametral compression loading technique. It was found that the strength of this material increased initially with heat-treatment but then decreased. The strength characteristics of the completely crystallized glass ceramic material were found to be dependent on the initial nucleation period. Some factors which influenced anomalous crystal growth are described. …

Preliminary Investigation Of The Effects Of Seeding Fusion Cast Refractories, Thomas Spencer Montgomery

Masters Theses

"The crystallization process in a zirconia-alumina- silica melt of high viscosity was studied, A system was used of the same composition found in commercial electrocast glass tank refractories. Artificial nucleation was tried in an attempt to control the process of crystallization; the method involved the addition of suitable "seeding" material.

It was found that introduction of nucleation agents consisting of the major component oxides of the system had noted effect upon the course of crystallization. Preferred orientation normally found in unseeded electrocast refractories was diminished with the addition of zirconia grains and amplified with particles of tabular alumina.

Results obtained …

A Vacuum Induction Furnace For Pyrometric Cone Equivalent Determinations, Robert E. Farris

Masters Theses

"Various furnaces which are commonly used for P.C.E. determinations were compared from a literature review. The inadequacies of these furnaces were noted and a furnace was designed, constructed, and evaluated in an effort to minimize or eliminate some of the indicated problems. For this furnace heat is developed in opposed cones (susceptors), which are fabricated from 0.005” molybdenum sheet, by induced (induction) currents from a 10 KW vacuum tube generator. The furnace components are enveloped by a pyrex cylinder in which a vacuum (approximately 1 to 5 micron pressure absolute) is maintained during operation"--Abstract, page ii.

Some Properties Of Chrome-Magnesite Mixtures And Calcium Aluminate Cement-Magnesite Mixtures, Edward Charles Duderstadt

Masters Theses

"The knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of refractories is of great importance in determining their usefulness and application. The thermal expansion of refractories is of particular importance in that it affects the thermal stability of the product. A high coefficient of thermal expansion leads to greater spalling and destruction of the bricks in use. It is, therefore, desirable to develop compositions having low coefficients of thermal expansion. This investigation was undertaken (1) to determine some of the properties of chromite-magnesite refractory mixtures in an attempt to determine the optimum composition of these mixtures, the specific properties including thermal …

A Fundamental Study Of Clay Drying Using Ware Of Large Cross Section, Robert F. Grady Iii

Masters Theses

"The drying of clay has been studied extensively in the past by many investigators, some of whom attempted to relate this information to the structure of clay and thereby develop a more vivid picture, while others studied the mechanism of drying in its own right in order to present a useable theory that would allow improvements in the drying operation.

At present the literature is unable to present a theory of the mechanism of drying that is sufficiently general to cover the observed aspects of clay drying. Many and varied mechanisms are presented, but correlation is seldom completely evident between …

Testing Of Missouri Shales For Light Weight Aggregate Production, Jerry D. Plunkett

Masters Theses

"The original objective of this investigation was to determine by testing those clays, shales, and loesses occuring in Missouri in large deposits (over 15 feet in thickness with little overburden), which would be suitable for the production of light weight aggregate. The second objective was to investigate the mechanism of bloating as related to the physical and chemical properties of the above materials, and by using these relationships cause clays which do not naturally bloat, to bloat using some addition. The use of additives would permit the economical use of material closer to the market in many instances.

After the …

The Bloating Of Missouri's Shales, Peter Kurtz Jr.

Masters Theses

"The first objective of this investigation was to determine which deposits of clays, shales, and loesses in Missouri are suitable for use in the production of lightweight aggregate by virtue of their expanding characteristics upon heating. The second objective was to determine, if possible, commercially feasible additions that will produce the bloating property in shales that do not naturally bloat.

There are two conditions which must be met in firing in order to bloat a clay or shale. First, a gas must be formed and evolved during firing. Second, enough glass of the proper viscosity must be formed to trap …

Autographic Determination Of Thermally-Induced Linear Changes In Ceramic Bodies, William Dean Mckee Jr.

Masters Theses

"The determination of changes in length of ceramic compositions as a function of temperature is frequently required in ceramic research and testing. With the use of an observer, excellent means are available for determination of changes in length over moderate ranges of temperature. However, the extended period required for some tests makes desirable the automatic recording of length change as a function of temperature.

There has been in use in the Ceramic Engineering Department a furnace arranged for determination of length changes; this furnace, shown in Figure 1, is so arranged that change in sample length causes linear displacement of …

An Investigation Of Ruthenium As A Possible Ceramic Colorant, John Charles Williams

Masters Theses

"Some portion of almost every writing dealing with the historical development of ceramic products is devoted to describing the application of colors as found on even the most ancient specimens known to exist. A vase bearing the name of an Egyptian king living 5000 B. C. was glazed in green and inlaid with purple. There are many such examples of the utilization of color in ceramics which illustrate to a certain extent the aesthetic tastes of the very earliest and primitive civilizations.

In those early times, only a few elements were known and available that could be used for such …

A Study Of Some Raw Materials For The Manufacture Of Silica Brick, Charles E. Shulze

Masters Theses

"The ability of silica to carry a load to within a few degrees of its melting point and its tolerance for comparatively high concentrations of iron oxide and lime, have enabled it to maintain its position as the number one steelplant refractory. It is estimated that at least half of the volume of refractories used in the steel plant are silica bricks. Consequently the manufacture of silica refractories forms an industry of considerable importance.

Raw materials suitable for the manufacture of silica brick are widely distributed, but only a small number of deposits are used commercially for one reason or …

Bauxite Versus Diaspore Clay In High Alumina (70%) Refractory Brick, Bhikhubhai Mahadeo Sedalia

Masters Theses

"The last twenty five years have seen a remarkable change in the character and types of refractories for furnace construction. Not much more than a few years ago, the production of refractories consisted almost solely of fireclay and silica shapes. A few high alumina bricks were made from Missouri diaspore clays or from bauxite and fire clays. At a later date, although little used, high alumina refractories were available which were made from alumina of a higher degree of purity, by the fusion process. Today refractories covering the entire range of composition from about 98% SiO₂ to 99 1/2% …

An Experimental Study Of Crystallization In Opal Glass, William C. Rous

Masters Theses

"Opal glasses are well known from use in such forms as ointment jars, lighting globes, wall panelling [sic], and decorative effects in glass vases. Cryolite, fluorspar, and sodium fluosilicate are used in varying proportions in most glasses of this type. Since little is known of the mechanism of crystallization in opal glass, there is a definite need of gathering further information on this subject. This information is of particular interest to the manufacturers whose products consist of this type of glass. Further information would aid in control of the characteristics desired and perhaps would allow a more economical control"--Introduction, page …

A Study Of Missouri Flint Clay, Edmond Preston Hyatt

Masters Theses

"The problem is one of attempting to explain the peculiar nature of Missouri Flint Clay and to expand the knowledge concerning it. Among the questions for which answers are sought are: What makes Missouri Flint Clay so hard? What happens to Missouri Flint Clay when it is ground? What is the mineralogical constitution of Missouri Flint clay?"--Introduction, The Problem, page 1.

Wetting Properties Of Enamel Glasses And Relation To Adherence, Chandrakant Chhotalal Shah

Masters Theses

"Various investigators have tried to find the cause of adherence of enamel glasses to iron metal and they have put forward different theories to explain this phenomena of adherence. In spite of much work done on adherence, no theory has generally been accepted to explain the function of adhering oxides like cobalt, nickel or manganese, etc., in sheet iron ground coats. In this investigation it was thought to find out whether adherence promoting oxides have any effect on the wetting abilities of enamel glasses at elevated temperatures or not, and further, whether this different wettability caused by the different adherence …

Effect Of Titanium Dioxide As A Mineralizer In Silica Brick, Henry Clay Brassfield

Masters Theses

"The magnitude of the thermal expansion of silica brick and its inability to withstand rapid temperature changes gives rise to problems of considerable importance in the manufacture of silica brick. In firing the silica brick, mineralogical changes occur in the quartzite from which the brick is made, in which minerals of lower specific gravity are formed. This results in a permanent expansion of the brick. These mineralogical changes have been thoroughly studied and considerable information is known on the different forms of silica produced at the higher temperatures. If the conditions of firing are such that these changes have progressed …

The Investigation Of Color Modification As A Result Of Solid Solution, Bobby Lee Mornin

Masters Theses

"To the ceramic industry, color has long been one of its chief problems, not only in reproducing colors in the many complex silicate structures but in the development of stains that are stable at high temperatures and that are economically feasible for mass production. At the present time a stable high temperature red or yellow would be very desirable. Solid solution has been employed in ceramics to modify and thereby provide ceramic materials of different physical characteristics. The limited data available with respect to such solid solution serves to indicate that perhaps this state may serve as an important means …

Effect Of Transition Elements On The Transmittance Of B₂O₃ Glasses, Chandubhai Gordhanbhai Amin

Masters Theses

"For many years, boric oxide has been used extensively as a minor constituents in silicate glasses, because of its beneficial influence on their physical properties as well as on glass melting processes; but when used without silica or in too large proportion, the resulting glasses lack chemical durability...Because of its detrimental effect as a major constituent in silicate glasses or in borate glasses, very little work has been done on borate glasses, especially on colored borate glasses...The purpose of this investigation is to find out the effect of the transition elements on the transmission curves of the colored borate glasses"--Introduction, …

The Effects Of Moisture In Grog Upon Dry Pressed Mixes Containing Grog, Charles L. Mckinnis

Masters Theses

"It has been found that the aging of clay-grog-water mixes before pressing proves to be quite beneficial. The purpose of the aging period is to allow the added water to disseminate throughout the mixture of clay (plastic) and grog (non-plastic) in an effort to bring about the best bonding action possible. The clay-grog-water mixture, if not aged, is of a sticky consistency; while, if the same mixture is aged for twenty-four (24) hours, it is readily workable. This process of aging has long been recognized as a "must" in the Ceramic Industry in obtaining mixtures of ideal workability"--Introduction, page 2.

A Test Method For Measuring The Flow In Refractory Materials At High Temperatures, Christen Knudsen

Masters Theses

"One of the most important properties of refractory materials is the ability to resist stress which may either be directly applied or originate in the material. The factors which govern the resistance to stress include the modulus of elasticity, the ultimate strength under different types of stress, and the "flow" characteristics which become of importance when the material is stressed at the temperature at which plasticity is developed. Systematic determinations of the mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity and ultimate or breaking stress is rather difficult or more or less impossible to carry out at the temperature at which …

The Use Of Carbides In Refractories, James Adamson Crookston

Masters Theses

"With the new demands being made on the ceramic industry in mind, it was thought that an investigation of the ceramic possibilities of certain high melting refractory materials might prove of interest and value. The high melting materials are the oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, and hydrides. Since a great deal of work has been done on the oxides, and relatively little on the others, the oxides were dismissed. Of the other groups, the carbides seemed interesting. Of the carbides, the following materials were chosen for investigation: Boron Carbide (B₄C), Zirconium carbide (ZrC), and Titanium carbide (TiC). These materials were chosen …

The Use Of Wetting Agents In Clay Bodies, Nathan Russell Sewell

Masters Theses

"It has been observed that one of the weak points in the present method of commercially preparing stiff mud bodies is the de-airing process, which involves passing them thru a vacuum chamber. Difficulties in maintaining a good vacuum, power costs, and work stoppages due to clogged vacuum chambers, are some of the problems. It was thought that perhaps a very definite contribution could be made in the field of ceramic engineering if some method could be devised for preparing a workable ceramic body of good dry and fired properties without the use of a vacuum chamber. In attacking the problem, …

Ceramic Possibilities Of Some Missouri Clays And Shales, Leonard Nathanael Larson

Masters Theses

"Although many of the shales and clays of Missouri have in the past been, or are presently being used for the manufacture of heavy clay products such as face brick, common brick, sewer pipe, and tile, there is in these post-war years a significant shortage of these products within the state and country. Especially in the northwestern part of Missouri is there a distinct shortage, as only one structural clay plant is known to be operating in that area. The St. Louis and Southeastern Missouri districts are better prepared to meet construction demands, with several structural clay plants operating at …

Rapid Determination Of Alumina In Diaspore Clays, Matthew Julius Kerper

Masters Theses

"The alumina content of the diaspore clay is the index to its refractoriness, so it is important to know the alumina content of the diaspore clay. Diaspore is mined in comparatively small pits and naturally the alumina content will vary from pit to pit and will vary to a considerable extent in the same pit. Since a uniform finished product is desired, the alumina content of each pit must be known and frequent checks run on the output of the pits. Chemical analysis is the standard method of determining the amount of alumina in clays. The main objections to chemical …

Some Preliminary Work On Metaphosphates In Ceramics, John Frederick Burst

Masters Theses

"For a good many years the accepted method of cementing ceramic joints was with a mixture of fire clay grog and a plastic clay binder. This did not prove too satisfactory for several reasons. Usually when enough plastic clay was added to give good workability the vitrification was lowered to such an extent that either excessive shrinkage or excessive bloating occurred, depending upon the extent to which the vitrification point was exceeded...In order to obtain a cement with high strength throughout a long firing range the manufacturers have turned to the addition of various organic binders and inorganic fluxes. Most …

Action Of Diatoms On Clay, Joseph Harvey Renfrew

Masters Theses

"With the recent trend toward the use of higher temperatures and more severe service conditions in the metallurgical and refractories industries there has developed a constantly greater demand for high-alumina clays, that is, clays in which the alumina content is considerably above that of pure kaolinite, Alâ‚‚O₃2SiO₂·Hâ‚‚O. However, the known reserves of good diaspors are so small that ceramic engineers are already turning to basic refractories in order to have sufficient materials for work at high temperatures. Even the slightest reflection on the needs of the refractories industry will show that such substitutions are strictly limited, and possible only where …

Ceramic Properties Of The Clays Of The Polo Gas Field, Clarence Arthur Lambelet

Masters Theses

"In Western and Northwestern Missouri there exist many natural gas fields of such limited size and of such great dispersion that it is not economical to utilize their products by the construction of pipe lines to consuming centers. Thus a large source of natural wealth is lying idle. This wealth could be utilized, however, if some manufacturing process requiring large amounts of fuel were located in the vicinity...The availability of fuel is the reason for interest in the area, though an investigation should be made to assure the quality and quantity of the fuel in any selected area. the adequacy …

A Study Of The Separation Of Feldspar From Missouri Granite, Vernon Louis Kasten

Masters Theses

"The greatest use of feldspar is as a flux in the Ceramic Industry where it is used in the manufacture of abrasives, floor tile, terra cotta, china, and earthenware of all types. It is also used in the manufacture of glass and enamels, and much is used as grinding medium in powdered form because it is softer than the common abrasive, quartz...Missouri Granites are composed of feldspar, quartz, mica, and other materials, which may or may not occur in all the samples. It is the purpose of this investigation to attempt a separation of the feldspar from these other components …

A High Alumina Concentrate From Low-Grade Burley Clay, Leonard Stearns

Masters Theses

"The principal source of raw material for the production of high-alumina refractories are the diaspore clays of Missouri. These highly refractory clays contain a large percentage of the mineral, diaspore, a monohydrate of alumina whose theoretical chemical formula is Al₂O₃ʺH₂O. The clays as mined contain from 85 to 65 per cent alumina...Diaspore clays as now found fill sandstone-lined "sink holes" or depressions in the parts of the district underlain by rocks of the Pennsylvanian Age. They are rough open-textured clays, grey or buff in color usually, containing the mineral diaspore in the form of shot-like particles or "oolites." There are …

Determination Of Alkalies In Portland Cement By The Dropping Mercury Electrode Method, William Joseph Smothers

Masters Theses

"In many industries whose product or products contain alkalies, the determination of the amount present is very essential from a control standpoint. This present investigation is concerned with a method for quantitative determination of sodium and potassium as accurately as by customary chemical methods and which will require less time in its operation. Portland cement is a product in which the amount of sodium and potassium present is of prime importance. This importance of the alkalies upon the behavior of concrete was first noticed in California where, after numerous tests, it was definitely shown that with certain aggregates there was …

The Properties Of The Fire Clays Used For The Manufacture Of Zinc Retorts, Adolph Harmon Kuechler

Masters Theses

"The ultimate object of this refractories investigation is to develop a body for zinc retorts, or changes in the method of their manufacture, that will result in better retorts than the ones now in use. In doing this, the question of permissible cost must, at all times, be kept in mind. The immediate object of the present phase of this investigation, of which this thesis covers only a part, is to determine the physical and chemical properties of the refractories (fire clays, grogs, bodies, etc.) now used for the manufacture of zinc retorts. This will be a basis for later …