EFFECTS OF AUTOCLAVE TREATMENTS ON CERAMIC BODIES AND CLAYS1

It has been found that porous ceramic bodies increase in volume and weight due to an autoclave treatment in which the ware is subjected to steam at a pressure of 150 pounds per square inch. The change is rapid at first but decreases as the time of treatment is increased. Typical American and English china clays also increase in volume but ball clays when fired to the same temperature as the china clays do not increase in volume. The effect of prolonged drying treatments after the autoclave treatment is also studied. Data given indicate that the changes in volume are not necessarily caused by rehydration of the clay within the body. Bodies containing clay, feldspar, and flint show a greater increase in volume than do the pure clay constituents. It is shown that the composition is a more important factor than absorption in determining the reaction of ceramic products to the autoclave treatments.