Kiln car deck slab generally used in tunnel kiln are presently made from silicon carbide material. Due to the prohibitive price of SiC and their unsuitability in oxidizing atmosphere, cordierite having low thermal expansion co-efficient has found application in making kiln car deck slab of long service life. Working on this particular problem, CGCRI has developed cordierite-mullite based high performance kiln car deck slab. Machinery and raw materials required for the process are available in the country. Kiln car slab made according to the CGCRI process have been evaluated in three well known sanitary ware plants in the factory process and the evaluation reports were quite satisfactory. One noteworthy feature of the process developed in the institute lies in the fact that the process when utilized by any pottery factory, the costing shown will not apply because most of the machinery will be available for deployment. 

Product and its application:

            The product of the process is cordiertie-mullite based high performance kiln car deck slab, which would be used in tunnel kiln car.

Demand potential: 

Kiln car deck slabs normally being used are made of SIC. Due to its prohibitive price, ceramic industries of our country are now looking for cordierite deck slabs. Substantial quantity is still being imported. Cordierite based kiln car deck slabs developed by CGCRI having service life comparable to the imported ones are rather cheaper also. The demand potential for such products appears to be considerable. Market survey of existing insulator, sanitary ware and will tile industry reveals the demand to exceed 5,000 tonnes per annum.

Process: 

The important steps in the process are : 

a.       Processing of raw materials

b.      Preparation of batch compositions

c.       Preparation of granules

d.      Shaping by hydraulic pressing

e.       Drying

f.        Firing

g.       Inspection

(Entrepreneurs shall get training after the license is granted on a 500 kg. Batch).