A ceramic body slip is composed of kaolin, ball clay, quartz, and feldspar/ nepheline syenite, the relative proportions of which change depending on the required specification and the process by which it is manufactured. As many producers use different techniques it is often the case that suppliers of raw materials will have to provide individually tailored products on demand. Fortunately, Egypt has large reserves of such ceramic raw materials (e.g. kaolin, ball clay, feldspar and nepheline syenite) in many localities among the country. Such natural ores can satisfy not only the local demand for ceramic industries but also for exportation. However, these ores are of low grade so that they need beneficiation before their application in ceramic industries, which import significant amounts of their needs at the present time. Beneficiation of such raw ores, from different localities both on bench and pilot plant scale at CMRDI, indicated their technical and economical viability especially in the current climate of investment. This paper evaluates the situation of Egyptian ceramic raw materials (such as kaolin, ball clay, feldspar and nepheline syenite), their localities, and their methods of beneficiation as well as the Egyptian ceramic market.
展开▼
