Characterizing Glaze-Melting Behaviour Via Hsm (Hot Stage Microscopy)

The melting behaviour of glazes and glass coatings affects surface smoothness and homogeneity, bubble evolution, crystallization, dissolution of colorants and refractory oxides, reactions between the body and underglazes, and formation of the body-glaze interface. To improve industrial glazes, it is important to understand the melting behaviour under industrial firing conditions. Hot-stage microscopy techniques can be applied for direct characterisation of glazes, glasses and ceramic bodies during firing.