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Ceramic Dinnerware

Ceramic dinnerware ranges from the old fashioned dinnerware to the most latest china dinnerware. This provides a brief knowledge about the popular materials and terminology used. The chemical properties of the raw material used determines its strength, porosity and glassiness of the finished dinnerware.

Physical Aspects.

Absorption. One of the most important aspect with the help of which classification of ceramic dinnerware is done. Fine china, porcelain, bone china, restaurant china, stoneware and ironstoneware have an absorption rate of 0.5 percent, while Semivitreous dinnerware has 4-9 percent and earthenware has 10-15 percent.

Vitrification. All unfired clay wares are baked at the high temperature, which results in hardness and glossiness of the ware. Full vitrification is done at temperatures of 2000 ° F or above and causes very low porosity

Raw Materials.

Flint. Has a low iron content. The flint generally used is ground quartz sand.

Clay. Provides plasticity and strength. Varieties of white clays are  used, such as including kaolins, china clays and ball clays.

Feldspar and fluxes. This is a group of rock-forming minerals found inside earth’s crust. It is the primary flux used. The fluxes develop the glassy phase and provide vitrification and translucency. Some other fluxes are potash-albite spars and talc.

Alumina. Adds strength, thermal shock resistance, whiteness and  reduction of flaws to the ceramic ware. It occurs in clays, kaolins, feldspars and talcs.

Ceramic Ware Varieties. Pottery is a generic term meaning all clay pieces baked in a kiln.

Greenware is a generic term meaning all unfired clay pieces.

Earthenware is made by baking at low temperatures, which makes an opaque piece that is not as strong as stoneware or china. It can be  either glazed or unglazed.

Stoneware is a nonporous ceramic made up of unprocessed clays and  flux additives. It is usually colored and includes iron in the clay.

Ironstone China is similar to porcelain, but is not translucent and is off-white.

Fine China is thin, translucent, vitrified dinnerware composed of flint, clay and flux materials. It is thin, translucent, vitrified, highest quality and baked twice.

Porcelain  is a hard, nonporous, strong white dinnerware that is slightly translucent.

Bone China is a type of china made with bone ash for greater translucency, whiteness and strength.

Restaurant China is American china that is made by combination of fine china and porcelain and is designed for commercial restaurant use.

Glass dinnerware is strengthened, colored, formed and looks like  china. This has low porosity, chip and break resistant.