Effects of cooling interval and MnO2, TiO2, CdO, NiO additions on spheluritic willemite crystals

Macro crystal production in crystal glaze systems is a very important topic in ceramic art and science. In this study, crystal growth was obtained in two different firing regimes. Recipes were prepared by adding MnO, TiO, NiO and CdO into the frit. The first firing regime, which is used in artistic ceramics, has a 100 °C cooling temperature interval. The second regime that has a 580 °C cooling temperature interval, was determined by DTA analysis. Then, the development of crystals was compared between these two firing regimes. According to the results, spheluritic willemite crystals up to three cm in the glazes doped MnO2 have been obtained by cooling it in a wide cooling interval. Larger willemite crystals were not formed in the narrow cooling temperature interval. It was determined that larger crystals can be produced by cooling at wide cooling temperature intervals and holding at lower temperature which involves nucleating the temperature of the crystal.