Characterization of diopside-based glass-ceramic porcelain tile glazes containing borax solid wastes

In recent years glass-ceramic systems became industrially important for their high softening point, good coating capability for relevant substrates and high chemical and abrasion resistance. The ZrO2-CaO-MgO-SiO2 (ZrCMS) glass-ceramic system exhibits a high resistance to abrasion and surface scratches thanks to the diopside crystals formed during firing. In this current study, certain amounts of wastes of the Eti Maden Kirka Boron Company of Turkey possessing the world biggest borax deposit were evaluated in the production of ZrCMS system frits as being suitable for porcelain tile glazes. Newly-produced frit based glass-ceramic glazes were applied on porcelain tile bodies then, fast fired under both laboratory and industrial working conditions. The final products were characterized in terms of microstructural changes and phase formation, hardness, colour parameters and glossiness of glazed surfaces.