In ceramics, calcination is a high-temperature heat treatment applied to a solid material in order to modify its chemical composition or internal structure without melting it. The process is usually carried out in a furnace, often in the presence of air, and is intended to remove volatile substances and stabilise the material.

Within the ceramics field, calcination is mainly used to eliminate water, organic matter and unstable compounds contained in raw materials. As the temperature rises, these components decompose or evaporate, leaving behind a solid that is more stable and better suited for the subsequent stages of processing.

The treatment can also lead to mineralogical and structural transformations, which may improve certain properties of the ceramic powder, such as its reactivity, purity and behaviour during sintering.

For this reason, calcination is an important step in the preparation of many ceramic powders, as it helps produce materials that are purer, more stable and ready for later shaping and firing processes.