The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the addition of ulexite to the sintering behavior of a ceramic body. Ulexite is a boron mineral that is known as sodium calcium borate. The effects of ulexite, as a powerful flux, on the properties such as the water absorption, bending strength, and shrinkage and on the colors of ceramic tiles were studied. The microstructures of a standard and tiles with the additive were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The properties of with ulexite added tiles were compared with that of standard tiles and it was concluded that tiles having the additive had more favorable physical properties than the standard ones. Adding ulexite decreased the sintering temperature of the tiles, which in turn led to an increase in the bending strength of the tiles, a decrease in water absorption, and an increase in shrinkage. The SEM analyses have shown that ulexite additions increased the vitrification in the body.

Keywords: Ulexite, Ceramic, Sintering, Microstructure, Boron mineral.