In one aspect, the present invention comprises providing an additive or aggregate to be applied directly to one or more of the components of a ceramic coating and which is constituted by carbonate apatites particles which are maintained as aggregates within a matrix of silicoaluminates at firing temperatures of the ceramic coatings, where the main function of these aggregates is to provide the ceramic coating properties selected from the group comprising: low effusivity, wear resistance, resistance to chemical attack and resistance to staining. In other aspects, the present invention comprises providing a ceramic coating incorporating said additive and a method for providing a ceramic coating with properties selected from the group comprising: low effusivity, wear resistance, resistance to chemical attack and resistance to staining.

Ceramic tile having a ceramic base layer and a cover glaze layer including a printed pattern, where the surface of the ceramic tile has a relief having structural features corresponding to the printed pattern. The relief being basically formed as a plurality of excavations present in the generally plane upper surface of the ceramic tile and the structural features have a depth such that they are completely situated above the ceramic base layer.

Ceramic tile having a ceramic base layer and a cover glaze layer including a printed pattern, where the surface of the ceramic tile has a relief having structural features corresponding to the printed pattern. The relief being basically formed as a plurality of excavations present in the generally plane upper surface of the ceramic tile and the structural features have a depth such that they are completely situated above the ceramic base layer.

A ceramic product includes a glass layer having 0.1 wt % to 9 wt % of a luster pigment for providing a metallic look. The glass layer includes 40 wt % to 60 wt % of silicon dioxide, 15 wt % to 35 wt % of boron oxide, 18 wt % or less of one or more alkali metal oxides selected from the group consisting of lithium oxide, sodium oxide, and potassium oxide, 4 wt % or less of one or more alkali metal oxides selected from lithium oxide and sodium oxide, and 5 wt % or more of potassium oxide.

A particulate mixture, suitable for use in ceramic article production, wherein the mixture includes from 30 wt % to 80 wt % recycled aluminium silicate material. The particulate mixture has a particle size distribution such that: (i) the d.sub.50 particle size is from 10 μm to 30 μm; (ii) the d.sub.70 particle size is less than 40 μm; and (iii) the d.sub.98 particle size is less than 60 μm.

A particulate mixture, suitable for use in ceramic article production, wherein the mixture includes from 30 wt % to 80 wt % recycled aluminium silicate material. The particulate mixture has a particle size distribution such that: (i) the d.sub.50 particle size is from 10 μm to 30 μm; (ii) the d.sub.70 particle size is less than 40 μm; and (iii) the d.sub.98 particle size is less than 60 μm.

The invention relates to the field of building ceramic materials, and specifically discloses a soft light super-wear-resistant diamond glaze, a ceramic tile and a preparation method thereof. The main raw materials of the super-wear-resistant diamond glaze in parts by weight are as follows: 30-70 parts of a frit, 20-55 parts of an aggregate, 0.1-6 parts of an additive, 30-50 parts of water; the frit contains Al.sub.2O.sub.3≤10%, Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O≤3%. Correspondingly, the present invention also discloses a super-wear-resistant diamond glazed ceramic tile and a preparation method thereof. The diamond glaze disclosed in present invention has the characteristics of excellent transparency, good wear resistance and stain resistance and almost has no air bubbles.

A process for manufacturing glazed ceramic tiles from a substrate of green clay having at least one groove extending within the surface of the tile, wherein the groove is imparted to the tile while the substrate is still green clay before the substrate is bisque or glaze fired. A tile fabricated using this process is also part of the invention.

A process for manufacturing glazed ceramic tiles from a substrate of green clay having at least one groove extending within the surface of the tile, wherein the groove is imparted to the tile while the substrate is still green clay before the substrate is bisque or glaze fired. A tile fabricated using this process is also part of the invention.

A process for the production of a ceramic article includes the steps of: (a) preparing a particulate mixture; (b) contacting the particulate mixture to water to form a humidified mixture; (c) pressing the humidified mixture to form a green article; (d) optionally, subjecting the green article to an initial drying step; (e) optionally, glazing the green article to form a glazed green article; (f) subjecting the green article to a heat treatment step to form a hot fused article; and (g) cooling the hot fused article to form a glazed ceramic article. The particulate mixture includes from 30 wt % to 80 wt % recycled aluminium silicate material. The particulate mixture has: (i) a d.sub.50 particle size from 10 μm to 30 μm; (ii) a d.sub.70 particle size of less than 40 μm; and (iii) a d.sub.98 particle size of less than 60 μm. Steps (c) and (f), and optionally steps (d) and (e) are continuous process steps.