Methods of testing materials

1. Introduction
2. Density criteria. Methods for determining density, bulk density, absorption, apparent and actual porosity, methods of automated density determination
3. Description of the granulometric composition of the raw material mixture. Sieve analysis, particle counters, classifiers. Principles of the use of different methods for describing granulometric composition.
4. Specific surface area of powders. Permeable and sorptive methods of specific surface area determination.
5. Mechanical properties of inorganic non-metallic materials. Relationships between material structure and theoretical strength. Compressive, tensile and flexural strength.
6. Young's modulus of elasticity – static and dynamic methods of determining modulus of elasticity. Hardness and microhardness. Abrasion resistance.
7. Rheology of ceramic doughs. Determination of optimum moisture content of dough, determination of length changes of ceramic raw materials by drying and firing.
8. Thermal properties. Heat capacity. Effective coefficient of thermal conductivity. Methods of determining the thermal conductivity and thermal conductivity coefficient.
9. Thermal expansion. Methods of determining thermal expansion.
10. Thermomechanical properties. Flexural strength at high temperatures. Heat resistance. Compressive yield strength. Resistance to sudden changes in temperature. Heat resistance. Volumetric stability at high temperatures.
11. Chemical and phase composition of ceramic materials. Overview of basic methods for describing chemical and phase composition.
12. Thermal analysis methods, basic overview.
13. Applications of refractory materials in terms of their functional properties.