A Review of Crystalline Glazes

Crystal glazes are used as functional coatings with applications such as decorating ceramic bodies or improving mechanical, opacity and other properties. Depending on the glaze conditions, ceramic body and heat program, various crystals are created in the liquid phase of the glaze that sometimes create or improve the properties and sometimes create special luster and unique effects in the glaze. These glazes can be classified based on size (macro, micro, nano), type of crystal and composition (hematite, anorthite, pyroxin, etc. /zircon, silver, gold, etc.). Silica, fluxes and crystallizers are the main components of the crystalline glaze base composition and the crystalline formation mechanism in the glaze is the same as the nucleation and growth mechanism.Factors affecting the formation and growth of crystals: the composition, thickness, type and amount of nucleates and coloring agents in the glaze, design and duration of heat firing curve (heating and cooling), temperature and time of absorption in the growth process, furnace atmosphere and also the composition and geometric form of the ceramic body. In this study, some of these factors will be briefly explained.