Effect of Rutile on Modulus of Rupture in Ceramic Glaze

The study was focused on the performance of rutile addition in glaze composition for antibacterial application. Rutile powder in micro size (ξηзm) were added in the glaze composition at different weight percentage (5 wt%, 7 wt%, 9 wt%, 10 wt% and 15 wt%). Glazing was performed by dipping technique for 10 seconds. Glazed tile was then sintered at 1200 °C for 1 hour. Characterizations used to observe the properties of produced tiles were physical observation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and modulus of rupture. Results show that cracking occurred in glazed tile which could be related to the viscosity of the glaze mixture during dipping. The relation between viscosity and the occurrence of crack depend on the amount of rutile The amount of crack appearance increases with increasing glaze viscosity. However, modulus of rupture increased when the tile was glazed.