Tecnodieci Sodium Feldspar;
It is widely used in ceramic, enamel, frit and glass production. It is used as a melting agent in the ceramic sector due to its alkaline feature.
Sodium Feldspar,
-It provides heat savings by reducing the melting point
-It increases the resistance of the tile by reducing water absorption (%H2O3) due to its melting feature.
-It is more economical than other alkalis
-It changes the structure of silica by forming a bond with silica after a certain temperature
Sodium Feldspar in Ceramic Glaze;
- Reduces the Melting of Glaze
- Increases the Expansion Coefficient
- Increases the Surface Shine
- Causes Corrugation on the Surface if Used Too Much
- Increases the Fluidity of Glaze
Sodum Feldspar, also known as Albit; It is the raw material with the highest commercial reserve in the world and more than half of the Na feldspar used in the ceramic sector is obtained from the feldspar deposits in Aydın Çine and Milas regions. Sodium feldspar is in rock form and is obtained by blasting method. Sodium feldspar is preferred in the ceramic sector due to its melting feature. Feldspar with a hardness of 7 is translucent. Since it is a hard material, it is added to the glaze recipe in powder form commercially. The total alkali of Sodium Feldspar in our country varies between 9-10.5%. However, due to intensive use, feldspar reverves are decreasing rapidly. and after a short while, with the decrease in accessible reverves, feldspar production costs will cause an increase in world prices. This increase will cause world ceramic producers to search for alternative products.
Feldspars are the most abundant rock-forming minerals and constitute 60% of the earth's crust. Their general formula is XAl(1-2)Si(3-2)O(8) and X can be sodium, potassium or calcium depending on the situation. Those with a K2O value greater than 10% are defined as K-feldspar or potash feldspar, and those with a Na2O ratio greater than 7% are defined as Na-feldspar or soda feldspar. Feldspars are included in the silicates group and are also defined as alumino-silicates. In other words, feldspar is the general name of a mineral group.
Feldspars are divided into 2 groups as alkali feldspars and calco-sodic feldspars (plagioclases) in terms of their isomorphous mixtures and formation characteristics.
Sodium is perhaps one of the most important alkali metals used in glazes.
As the sodium content in the glaze increases, the tensile strength and elasticity decrease, while the expansion coefficient increases and the softening point decreases.
Sodium minerals; soda (Na2CO3), Trona (Na2CO3.N.HCO3.2H2O), salt (NaCl) used only in the glazing of bricks, bricks and red-fired products, sodium silica fluoride is used in frit production if the necessary precautions are taken to prevent environmental pollution in the process.
In addition; for the production of quality frit and glaze, concentrated sodium feldspar is produced by performing a flotation process in Tecnodieci facilities in order to remove iron and titanium minerals that give color as a result of firing.