Starting from clays of industrial use, the mineralogical, microestrutural and dimensional alterations for increasing temperatures were studied by Differential Thermal Analysis, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction. Vitrification diagrams were obtained from water absorption and linear shrinkage data, a methodology of selection of raw materials for application to new ceramic bodies being proposed.
raw materials; ceramic tiles; clay minerals; mullite; porosity