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What is the meaning of Vitrified as it applies to dinnerware?
By admin | January 22, 2009
There are a couple of definitions for Vitrified.
A fully vitrified body is not porous, it is solid. Accordingly, it expands and contracts at the same rate, unlike a porous body that contains air and moisture. A porous body will weaken much faster than a vitrified body. Professional restaurant dinnerware usually is made with a vitrified body.
Another measure of vitrification for dinnerware is the amount of water in the ceramic body, after it has been fired. Most factories measure a vitrified ceramic as containing less than 1% water in the body. Semi-vitrified ceramic contains 1% to 3% water in the body.
So why is Vitrified so important?
A Vitrified ceramic body is much stronger than a non-vitrified body. It is more chip and crack resistant, and will handle the stresses of temperature change caused by dishwashers, microwaves, ovens, and freezers far better than a non-vitrified body.
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