Oxygenating agents are a category of products formulated to enhance the aesthetic and structural quality of ceramic bodies by effectively counteracting defects that may arise during firing.

Their effectiveness comes from the presence of oxygen-rich compounds which, at the decomposition temperatures of organic molecules, release oxygen and generate volatile intermediates. These intermediates can escape as gases from the ceramic body before the onset of sintering, thereby reducing the risk of entrapment and internal defects.
In this way, oxygenating agents are particularly effective in preventing the phenomenon commonly referred to as black core.