Depending on the specific material crystalline structure, all technical ceramics will have some amount of inherit surface roughness. The purpose of a glaze is to fill in the rough surface of the material which can have numerous advantages.
Advantages of Technical Ceramic Glazing
- Less susceptible to dirt
- Easier to clean
- Increased mechanical performance
- Increased chemical resistance
- Improved electrical properties
- Better surface appearance
Glazing involves brushing, spraying, or dipping the technical ceramic component with a glass coating. After the ceramic component has been covered in glass it must be fired to sinter the glass coating. Depending on the type of ceramic and application technique, different finishing techniques like grinding may be necessary.