Effect of coating on cleanability of glazed surfaces

The aim of this study was to establish the effects of different coatings on the cleanability of glazed ceramics. The surface properties were examined with a contact angle meter, a contact profilometer and a confocal microscope. The surfaces were soiled with three radiochemical model soils: inorganic particle soil, organic particle soil and oil soil. Soil adhesion on surfaces was measured with a quantitative radiochemical procedure. Generally, cleanability of the particles present in the model soil was found to be affected by the roughness of the surfaces; however, the cleanability of the oil in the model soils correlated with the contact angle of water on the surfaces. Coating of glazes, especially with fluoropolymer film, generally increased the contact angle values. The coatings affected the cleanability of ceramics somewhat: particle soils were removed most efficiently from glazes coated with TiO₂ and Zr. By contrast the oil soil residues of the fluoropolymer surfaces were the lowest. The cleanability results of the three model soils based on inorganic or organic particles or oil were different indicating differences between the cleanabilities of these main components of the soils.