DRYING OF CERAMIC MATERIALS SHAPED BY UNIDIRECTIONAL PRESSING .1. KINETIC-MODEL

A study was undertaken of the drying of ceramic materials obtained fro m a blend of white clay and quartz, shaped by unidirectional pressing at 25 MPa. Initial average moisture content was always less than 7% (d ry basis). Two different dynamic models were tested in an attempt to i nterpret the findings. The model which best fitted the experimental re sults was one based on the assumption that water diffusion through the porous structure of the piece, in an unsteady state, is the rate limi ting step in drying.