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Superhydrophilic Ceramic Glazes for Sanitaryware

F. Knies, F. Knies, K. Schrantz, K. Schrantz, C. Aneziris, L. Gauckler, T. Graule, T. Graule

Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, Vol. 7, No. 1 (2016), pp. 53-64

DOI: 10.4416/JCST2015-00024

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Abstract

Based on industrial ZrSiO4 glazes for sanitaryware, a new glaze with photoactive oxides was developed. The development aimed to produce a glaze that is smooth in order to decrease contamination of the ware and increase superhydrophilic wetting behaviour for easier cleanability. The glazes were characterized with profilometry, atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. For reactivity under UV light, the wetting angles in the dark and after irradiation, as well as the degradation of methylene blue were measured. Samples with TiO2 showed no improvement in wetting, neither in the dark, nor under UV irradiation. However, compared with the industrial ZrSiO4 tile, the cleaning properties were improved in the case of bulk contaminants like mustard. Even more promising results were achieved by replacing ZrSiO4 with ZnO. The glazes developed in this work showed surface roughness of less than 20 nm and superhydrophilic wetting under UV illumination.

Keywords

Glaze, superhydrophilicity, photoactivity, UV irradiation, ZnO, TiO2

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