Compactness is the ratio between the dry and real density of the ceramic artifact. This is an important property in the ceramic process, since the greater the compactness, the less need for pore closure in the sinter stage. The main factors that influence compactness are: particle size distribution, granule size and shape, mold filling method, humidity, and compacting pressure. The compacting pressure was modified in order to vary the compactness of the samples, which consisted primarily of red clay from the Rio Claro (SP-Brazil) region in the sedimentary deposit of the Corumbataí Formation. To understand the initial compacting influence, the physical properties of water absorption, linear shrinkage, open porosity, closed porosity, total porosity, bulk density and bending strength of the fired bodies were determined. The results indicated that, for artifacts composed of illitic clays with a relatively high content of hematite (± 4.5%), there was greater compactness at a lower firing temperature to obtain tiles with the same patterns of water absorption. However, a compactness between 0.66 and 0.69 decreased the risk of over firing occurrence, while the higher compactness tested (0.71-0.72) was excessive, increasing over firing susceptibility.
Compactness; properties of raw support; properties of ceramic tiles; over firing
