Optical Dilatometer

The effect of cooling rate on the specific volume of glassy phases

The specific volume of glasses and ceramics depends on the cooling rate applied during the transition from a viscous liquid to a solid glass. A slow cooling rate allows molecules to reorganize from the disordered liquid structure to the partially ordered glassy phase, with a dramatic reduction in the coefficient of thermal expansion and a smaller specific volume.

Determination of the coupling temperature

The study of deformation after firing of glazed ceramic materials detect the state of tension between the ceramic bodies and its decoration (engobe, glaze) This study takes advatge of both the Optical Dilatometer and the Optical Fleximeter.

Determination of the optimal firing cycle for ceramic products

Sintering is a densification process occurring during a heat treatment in powders systems, which involves a reduction in porosity and volume (shrinkage). The sintering tests are run using the Optical Dilatometer.

Sintering curves for quality control

Sintering is a densification process occurring during a heat treatment in powders systems, which involves a reduction in porosity and volume (shrinkage). Traditional sintered ceramic bodies, like stone-ware or porcelain-ware, achieve densification through mass transfer by means of a mechanism known as glassy phase viscous flow.

The measurement of thermal expansion of incoerent materials with the optical dilatometer

The thermal expansion analysis measures the dimensional variations of a material subjected to a heat treatment as a function of the temperature. The thermal expansion of incoherent materials (like sands), plastic materials (like glasses or polymers above their glass transition temperature), extremely thin samples (having thickness of tens microns) or soft materials (like felt or wax) cannot be studied by means of traditional dilatometry.

New development in the non contact optical measurement of thermomechanical properties of materials

The optical measurement of thermo-mechanical properties allows the sample to be completely free from constraints. This enables the possibility to measure the true change in size or volume of a material during a sintering process. Thanks to the fact …