Influence of heat treatment on the plasticity of Georgia kaolin

Plasticity of clay dough is strongly influenced by the formation of buffer domain consisted of clay aggregates. Change in plasticity of Georgia kaolin along with heat treatment was analyzed by examining the variation of the p article packing structure of the dough. The plastic behavior did not change by the heat treatment up to 350 degrees C. However, above 350 degrees C, p lasticity was reduced together with micron sized pores existing among aggre gates. The lower plasticity arose from destruction of buffer domains, cause d by the increase of particle size upon sintering.