Extruded Ceramic Glaze Additive Pellets for Dust-Free Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional ceramic glaze slips face issues with powdery additives that cause environmental and health hazards, are difficult to dissolve, and lead to handling problems, dust generation, and defects in final products due to uneven dissolution and dosing.

Innovation Solution

The use of extruded pellets comprising carboxymethyl cellulose and other ceramic glaze additives, which are compact, dust-free, and have controlled composition and dimensions, simplifying handling and dosing, and reducing lump formation and dust generation during processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If powdery additives are used in ceramic glaze slips, then the glaze can be formulated with necessary components, but dust generation and environmental/health problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadditive compositionVSAvoiddust generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the physical state of additives from powder to extruded pellet form. This parameter change in morphology eliminates dust generation while maintaining the chemical composition and functionality of the additives in ceramic glaze slips.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite extruded pellets that combine multiple ceramic glaze additives (such as carboxymethyl cellulose, suspending agents, thickening agents) into a single integrated carrier. This composite structure delivers multiple functional components without the dust problems associated with separate powdery additives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If powdery additives are used in ceramic glaze slips, then the glaze can achieve required properties, but dissolution difficulties and lump formation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglaze slip qualityVSAvoidadditive dissolution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical form of additives from fine powder to extruded pellets with controlled size and porosity. This parameter change improves dissolution characteristics by providing a balanced surface area-to-volume ratio that allows complete dissolution without lump formation, while maintaining the reliability of glaze slip quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The extruded pellets are pre-formed with optimal physical characteristics (size, porosity, density) before being added to the glaze slip. This preliminary preparation ensures that the additives will dissolve uniformly and completely during the mixing process, eliminating the need for extensive stirring and preventing manufacturing difficulties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If powdery additives are used in ceramic glaze slips, then the glaze can be formulated, but dosing precision and handling difficulties occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadditive dosingVSAvoidhandling
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms additives from powdery form to extruded pellets with standardized size, shape, and density parameters. This parameter change enables precise dosing through simple weight or volume measurements and improves handling characteristics by eliminating dust generation and static electricity problems associated with fine powders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2739579B1Use of additives for ceramic glazes
Publication Date: 2015.11.04 LAMBERTI SPA

AI summary

Use of extruded pellets comprising carboxymethyl cellulose and at least another ceramic glaze additive for the preparation of ceramic glaze slips.