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A GLAZE SPECIFIC TO TILE INDUSTRY: LEAD FREE AND VITRIFICATION AT LOW TEMPERATURES



Carrying out his ceramic studies with his company in Germany, Erhan Baykara, has manufactured lead free glazes for the ceramics industry that stiffen at low temperatures. With these glazes, there’s no need for old systems that have no use in Europe anymore which involves silicon blasting after firing to prevent tiles absorb water.


Founded in 1969 at the heart of Kannenbäckerland where the biggest clay mines of Europe are located at, Baykara company has been manufacturing quality ceramic raw materials, linings, frits and glazes both in Germany and in Turkey for half a century. While giving technical support to customers they also assist them on producing their innovational materials and formulas.


Erhan Baykara, the founder of the company, has first studied fine arts education (graduated from Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts) but then had an education in the State Ceramics School (Staatliche Fachhochschule) which is the Germany’s best in its‘ field. Making great efforts in this industry for years, Baykara has recently manufactured a lead free glaze for the roof tile industry that can be sintered at low temperatures. Erhan Baykara denotes his purpose for manufacturing these glazes as follows: “As you may well know tiles in Turkey is still being fired in Hoffman furnaces and blasted with silicon in order to prevent them absorb water after firing. Whereas this old system is not in use in Europe, particularly in Germany. There’s a minority of companies that manufacture tiles in tunneled gas furnaces in Turkey. Firing is made at 925- 950 C° and engobe is used. Our new products, lead free glazes that vitrifies at low temperatures, can be used in gas furnaces at temperatures starting from 900 C° up to 980- 1000 C° and more.“

Firing time of the product developed by Baykara for the roof tile industry that vitrifies at low temperatures is starting from 110 – 120 minutes. For this reason this products can not be utilized for 45 minutes and lower temperatures. There’s also a separate lead free receipt fro quick firing and temperatures of 980 C° and above. In case the expansion coefficients of various tile body structures and glazes on them are different, with the help of R&D staff, it’s possible to treat it against likely to happen surface cracks with ceramic raw material additives. It’s also possible to color transparent colorless glazes by adding oxide and clay.


Baykara GmbH company and H.J. Schmidt company are working together in ceramics industry. Ceramic galzes and linings are being manufactured by H.J.Schmidt in Bendorf, Germany.


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