Actions:

#01. Filling the spray gun tank with binder
#02. Weighing the coated and printed support
#03. Applying the binder
#04. Weighing the substrate after binder application
#05. Manual application of grit (followed by weighing)
#06. Removal of unbound grit (and weighing)

In industrial settings, dry application of grit typically takes place after the binder has been sprayed onto the ceramic substrate. This substrate is usually pre-treated with an engobe or glaze layer, and—if required—decorated using digital inkjet printing technology.

In research laboratories, this production sequence is replicated through preliminary testing, designed to evaluate the binder’s performance based on predetermined criteria, such as bonding strength, applied weight, and dosage consistency. Each ceramic sample is processed manually, with successive applications carried out using an airbrush system. After the binder is applied, the grit is deposited by gravity, partially simulating the actual production conditions.

To establish a reference standard, the substrate is weighed in four key stages: before and after binder application, and again before and after grit deposition—after the excess, non-adhering grit has been removed. This comparative framework serves as the baseline for further test iterations, allowing for the evaluation of key process variables and the fine-tuning of the binder’s rheological and adhesive properties to meet targeted performance requirements.