| Drying operations relate to plastic forming | | | | incorporating built-in driers, the slip must |
| operations and casting operations. Forced | | | | be controlled as to particle size, specific |
| drying in controlled driers expedites | | | | gravity, and viscosity. The slip must be in |
| production and guarantees continual | | | | the flocculated state during filter pressing |
| controlled production flow.Driers are usually | | | | and subsequent operations. If not controlled, |
| built into automatic casting machines and | | | | the ware may not dry properly after forming |
| roll forming machines. The drier is often | | | | and the operations can be drastically slowed |
| designed to accommodate the different stages | | | | down. Drier losses due to cracking or |
| of drying. Airflow is adjustable throughout | | | | distortion can be dramatic. Airflow control |
| the drier.When a piece of ceramic ware is | | | | by adjustable jets can eliminate |
| first formed, the particles are separated by | | | | losses.Drying of cast ware is less critical |
| a water layer which can be easily and safely | | | | except for automatic casting machines. Slip |
| removed. For that reason, excessive heat can | | | | control is again the most important function |
| be supplied at this stage of drying.Once the | | | | to prevent loss.See the reference for more |
| particles touch, the process becomes | | | | information on the drying process, slip |
| diffusion controlled and the water molecules | | | | control, and industrial driers.John T. Jones, |
| must move slowly through the body | | | | Ph.D. (, a retired VP of R&D for Lenox China, |
| matrix.Finally, the last tightly held water | | | | is author of detective & western novels, |
| must be removed.These last two steps require | | | | nonfiction (business, scientific, |
| careful heat and humidity control in the | | | | engineering, humor), poetry, etc. Former |
| drier. Airflow must be controlled locally. | | | | editor of Ceramic Industry Magazine, Jones is |
| See Ceramics: Industrial Processing and | | | | Executive Representative of International |
| Testing by John T. Jones and M. F. Berard.For | | | | Wealth Success. He calls himself "Taylor |
| automatic plastic forming operations | | | | Jones, the hack writer. |