Evaluation of Opaline obtained from Ordu-Ünye bentonites as a glazed material

In this thesis, the effect of bentonite waste opal stone obtained from Ünye region of Ordu province on ceramic glazes was investigated. Ceramics are obtained by shaping and firing inorganic materials; clay and bentonite are the basic raw materials of this process. Bentonite, with its high plasticity, is widely used in ceramic clays and glazes. Opal, chemically rich in silica, is a waste product produced during bentonite production. Within the scope of the study, experimental applications were made by incorporating opal stone into different glaze recipes; technical and aesthetic results on glaze surfaces were evaluated. Particularly positive results were achieved with recipes containing high levels of flux, demonstrating that opal could be functionally incorporated into glazes. Thus, the idea that opal, a waste material, could be utilized in ceramic art was developed, and applications were undertaken accordingly. It was aimed at investigating the effects of Opal stone obtained from Ordu- Ünye bentonites on the glaze, which has an important place in the ceramic industry, and to minimize the environmental damage of waste materials. Experimental results showed that recipes with high flux content yielded positive results and were used on ceramic surfaces with coloring oxides and underglaze paints. It has been concluded that opal, which has a high silica content and is a waste material in the production of bentonite, can be used in the glaze.