{"id":17358,"date":"2025-12-09T10:45:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T10:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zschimmer-schwarz-ceramco.it\/lo-sapevi-che\/10-digital-glazing-by-means-of-non-piezoelectric-systems-2\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T11:08:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T11:08:33","slug":"10-digital-glazing-by-means-of-non-piezoelectric-systems-2","status":"publish","type":"lo-sapevi-che","link":"https:\/\/www.zschimmer-schwarz-ceramco.it\/en\/did-you-know-that\/10-digital-glazing-by-means-of-non-piezoelectric-systems-2\/","title":{"rendered":"#10 Digital glazing by means of non-piezoelectric systems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
    \n
  1. Glazes & applications technologies<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A common denominator: the glaze\u2019s particles size<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Full field applications :\n
      \n
    1. Viscosity & flow limit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Superficial tension<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Relief applications:\n
        \n
      1. Flow limit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Thixotropy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Viscosity & cohesion<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        1. Glaze and application technologies <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The ceramic glaze application \u2013 both before and after the digital printing process \u2013 takes usually place by means of \u201canalogical\u201d systems: by spray \/ airless application systems.
        Nevertheless, some new application machines have been recently appeared on the market. They cannot be defined as completely digital, but they cannot even be comparable to traditional analogue techniques. In some way we could talk about digital glazing by means of non-piezoelectric systems, even if the use of the word DIGITAL is probably incorrect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        These machines, even if they are still under implementation and under evaluation by ceramic tiles producers, they have been developed to reach – in the future – some important goals: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The first is about the possibility to decrease the supervision of the operator thanks to the greater automaton of the machine.
        The second is about the possibility to reduce the amount of glaze thanks to its pinpoint application that do not need traditional suction systems as well as the frequent and repeated washing of the spray cabin required by the airless application systems.
        And finally, the third goal is the glaze application with tridimensional relieves. This third option will be probably not immediate but soon the new technology may support the creation of textures currently made by means of the presses at the beginning of the ceramic production process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        2. A common denominator: the glaze’s particle size <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        At present, there are on the market several non-piezoelectric machines such as those we are talking about. Each of them is marked by its own features but, however, they all have a common denominator. They can work with same kind of glazes that are used with airless applications: with glazes that have the same particle size. Very similar, if not identical. This is very important, because it allows ceramic producers to be very flexible in terms of purchasing and logistic, since they do not need to buy specific glazes to be only used with these machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        From a chemical point of view, this also means that each producer can work – or act – on the rheology of the glazes already in use, providing them with the proper parameters according to the different machine set-up. We are implying that the glazes\u2019 rheology<\/b> must be carefully studied<\/b> to reach a good performance during the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And regardless the specific features of each machine, they all can work in two different directions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n \n\n
        1. full field applications
          <\/li>\n\n \n\n
        2. relief applications. <\/li>\n\n <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          3. Full field applications <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          In this first case it is very important to reach a uniform leveling of the glaze on the ceramic support<\/b> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          VISCOSITY & FLOW LIMIT<\/strong>
          To make this happen, the glaze should have a low viscosity value <\/b>(slightly higher than a glaze usually used for spray applications) and at the same time it should be marked by a not too high flow limit<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          (Reminder: the flow limit is the VALUE of the MINIMUM EFFORT required to run a fluid).
          The low viscosity together with a not very high flow limit allow you to reduce (or even avoid) possible sedimentation phenomena or separation<\/b> between the liquid and solid phases of the system, that in turn may lead to localized sedimentation problems<\/b> within the unit circuits of the application machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          SUPERFICIAL TENSION<\/strong>
          At the same time, it is important to carefully check the surface tension of the glaze<\/b> to reach a good homogeneity<\/b> without compromising the cohesion<\/b>. This is very important to provide the glaze with a \u201ccompact effect\u201d after application<\/b>: a compactness both in the middle and at the edges of the tile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Of course, these are general indications because, as we know, all rheology values (and so the features of the glaze) must be regulated according to the machine and the kind of application. This means, for example, that if we replace a glaze during a process (or even we change its density value), we should proceed with a new rheological study to restore the balance (that is very delicate) between all parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          4. Relief applications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          A. FLOW LIMIT<\/strong>
          To get high level of printing resolution, in this different scenario, the drop of the glaze must remain in its place, where it has been discharged, without collapsing and without expanding on the ceramic support.
          To make this happen, the glaze should be marked by a high flow limit<\/b> and it should be able – at the same time – to rapidly restore its structure after its deposition on the raw ceramic surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          B. THIXOTROPY<\/strong>
          Thixotropy: property of pseudo-plastic fluids to change their viscosity over time when subjected to a shear stress (moving for example from a pasty state (we could say almost solid) to a fluid state).
          The thixotropic effect should not be very high<\/b>, so that the fluid can keep its original features of viscosity and cohesion,<\/b> preventing the drops to collapse on the ceramic body and therefore without compromising the definition of the application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          To better and more easily explain what thixotropy is (that by chance is a very common feature of a great number of fluids) let\u2019s take an example from the cooking world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          In this area, ketchup is the most popular example of a thixotropic fluid.
          The ketchup, when resting in the bottle it appears as compact, thick, and almost solid but when shaken, instead, it loses or even better it changes its structure, becoming more fluid, able to easily get out of the bottle. The topic of course is very complex, and it would deserve deeper explanations but this example even if it\u2019s very simple is at the same time very effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          C. VISCOSITY & COHESION<\/strong>
          Given that the glaze should not be marked by a high thixotropic behavior, the system\u2019s viscosity value<\/b>, unlike full field applications, shouldn\u2019t be too much low<\/b> so that the drops of the glaze (that of course undergo to the stress of the application machine) do not lose their viscosity and therefore do not collapse on the ceramic body surface. The glaze must not lose cohesion and so the glaze drops must be bond one with the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          What does that mean? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Suppose you through on a desk simultaneously and violently a little mayonnaise and honey.
          Mayonnaise, since it\u2019s not very viscous, will lose its cohesive force, splitting into several parts and leading to separate drops all over the surface. Honey, instead, thanks to its high viscosity, will be more compact, remaining still, exactly where it has been thrown (even if \u2013 of course – it slowly spreads over time because of its low flow limit value). In short, all this to say that our glaze should be more like the honey, and so more viscous, to keep its compactness once it has been discharged by the nozzles of the application machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          1. Glaze and application technologies The ceramic glaze application \u2013 both before and after the digital printing process \u2013 takes usually place by means of \u201canalogical\u201d systems: by spray \/ airless application systems. Nevertheless, some new application machines have been recently appeared on the market. They cannot be defined as completely digital, but they cannot […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":17340,"template":"","product-category":[136,135,137],"correlatore-category":[43],"class_list":["post-17358","lo-sapevi-che","type-lo-sapevi-che","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","product-category-binders-for-glazes-and-engobes","product-category-dispersants","product-category-levelling-agents-defoamers-surfactants","correlatore-category-smalti"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n#10 Digital glazing by means of non-piezoelectric systems - Z&S - Ceramco<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A digital knowledge hub on chemistry and ceramics, featuring clear, in-depth content with images and downloadable PDFs. 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