Project Description

Technological tests

Contact person: Pietro Bruzzi – bruzzi@centroceramico.it – Mobile+39 340 6885491

  • Glaze hardness (Mohs)
  • Impact resistance of the bottom
  • Thermal shock EN 1183/99 Met. B
  • Translucency of thin thicknesses EN 1184/99
  • Crazing resistance UNI EN 13258 – Met. A/2004
  • Crazing resistance UNI EN 13258 – Met. B/2004
  • Water absorption EN 1217/99
  • Surface quality
  • Resistance to abrasion (weight loss of glaze)
  • Dimensions
  • Resistance to microwave heating – UNI EN 15284
  • Mechanical dishwashing resistance of utensils Rapid test for domestic ceramic articles – EN 12875-4
  • Mechanical dishwashing resistance of utensils. Rapid test for ceramic catering articles – EN 12875-5
  • Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs. Non-metallic articles for catering and industrial use. Method of test for the determination of impact resistance EN 12980

Resistance to chemicals

  • HCl hot / cold
  • NaOH hot / cold
  • Sodium polyphosphate
  • Resistance to stains hot / cold

Chemical analysis and heavy metals release

Contact person: Andrea Bernasconi – bernasconi@centroceramico.it – Mobile: +39 345 8410333

Chemical analysis by ICP-OES UNI EN ISO 21587-1 and UNI EN ISO 21587-3

  • Glazes and equivalent (8 determinations)

Heavy metals release

  • Pb and/or Cd release / ASTM C738-94 (reapproved 2016)
  • Pb and/or Cd release / ISO 6486-1
  • Pb and/or Cd release / EC Regulation – M.D. Italy (FCM “food contact materials” regulatory framework)

Surface texture characterisation; colour measurements, gloss

Contact person: Barbara Mazzanti – mazzanti@centroceramico.it – Mobile: +39 340 9631182

Colour and reflectance measurements

  • Colour coordinates
  • Brilliance measurement (GLOSS)

Surface roughness and texture

  • Surface roughness measurement; determination of the parameters EN ISO 4287
  • 3D surface profile and/or imaging
  • Surface mapping
  • Data processing and 3D images of the surface

Mineralogical and microstructural characterisation, functional performance (photocatalysis, antibacterial, …)

Contact persons:

XRD analysis

  • XRD analysis (with or without interpretation)
  • Quantitative XRD

Microscopic analysis

  • SEM observation
  • EDS Microanalysis
  • Stereomicroscope observation
  • Optical microscope observation
  • Images
  • Quantitative microscopic analysis (porosity and pore/grain size distribution, etc.

Thermal conductivity

  • Direct or indirect measurement from thermal diffusivity and specific heat
  • Pyroplastic deformation

Photocatalysis and resistance to mould, bacteria; cleanability and durability

  • Photocatalysis tests (internal protocol, ISO 10678, ISO 22197, …)
  • Antibacterial tests for photocatalytic surfaces (internal protocol, ISO 27447, …) and non-photocatalytic surfaces (internal protocol, ISO 22196, …)
  • Determination of the resistance to mould colonisation for photocatalytic and non-catalytic surfaces (internal protocol, BS 5980)
  • Durability tests for surface treatments/finishes/functionalisation
  • Cleanability tests for photocatalitic or non-photocatalytic surfaces for internal or external environments (internal protocol, ISO 27448)

Thermal analysis, wettability, density

Contact person: Giovanni Ridolfi – ridolfi@centroceramico.it – Mobile: +39 345 9317030

Thermal analysis

  • Heating microscope

Determination of contact angle

Density

  • Determination of the density by helium pycnometer

Dilatometry

  • Thermo dilatometric analysis (green), heating up to 1000 °C and cooling
  • Thermo dilatometric analysis (green), heating up to 1200 °C and cooling
  • Thermo dilatometric analysis (green), heating up to 1500 °C
  • Thermo dilatometric analysis (green), heating up to 1200 °C and cooling
  • Thermo dilatometric analysis on glaze
  • Thermo dilatometric analysis (fired) and coefficient of linear thermal expansion, heating up to 1000 °C, max
  • Coefficient of linear thermal expansion ASTM E 831

Mercury porosimetry

Mechanical characterisation

Contact person: Barbara Mazzanti – mazzanti@centroceramico.it – Mobile: +39 340 9631182

Fractographic analysis

Hardness

  • Vickers indentation
  • Hardness curve applying different loads

Bending strength

  • Bending strength and elastic modulus (fired specimens)
  • Bending strength and elastic modulus (green specimens)
  • Bending strength of 30 specimens with Weibull statistics