DSC characterization of induced stresses during traditional ceramics forming process

The recovery of metals is the process of softening without crystallization in the mechanical stressed pieces and is well characterized by DSC measurements at temperatures < 600°C. The present investigation was undertaken to detect similar effects also in traditional ceramics. Several ceramic samples, coming from different productions, were thermally analyzed by DSC and the presence, in the most stressed samples, of an exothermic peak at about 350°C, was detected, confirming the presence of recovery in the ceramics too. However, owing to the complex structures of these materials, at present no mathematical model could be introduced. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.