Effect of crystalline phases on the strength of (quartz-feldspar-kaolin ) porcelain

Abstract

The effect of mullite and quartz phases on the strength of Kenyan tri-axial porcelain in the system Quartz-feldspar-kaolin has been investigated. It was found that both the compressive and tensile strengths of porcelain decreased with excess quartz content as a result of circumferential cracks around quartz grains that may constitute fracture initiating flaws. The interlocking effect of mullite was found to be more beneficial to the tensile strength than to the compressive strength of porcelain