Disclosed herein are methods of forming a hydrous kaolin clay product. The method can include (i) refining coarse crude kaolin clay to form a refined, coarse kaolin clay, and/or refining a tertiary, fine crude kaolin clay to form a refined, fine, hydrous kaolin clay, (ii) centrifuging the refined, coarse kaolin clay; the refined, fine, hydrous kaolin clay, or a blend thereof to provide a hydrous kaolin stream, and (iii) refining the hydrous kaolin stream to form the hydrous kaolin clay product. The hydrous kaolin stream can be blended with a delaminated, coarse kaolin clay, prior to refining the hydrous kaolin stream. The hydrous kaolin clay product can have a total alkali content of 0.2% or less by weight of the hydrous kaolin clay product. Compositions including cordierite ceramics, industrial coatings, paints, adhesives, inks, and fillers comprising the hydrous kaolin clay product are also described herein.

A stirrer (1; 100) for stabilizing liquid binding unfinished products intended to form ceramic items comprising a support shaft (2) individuating a longitudinal rotation axis (Y) and contained into a mixing tank (V) of the liquid binding unfinished product, motorization means (3) operatively connected with the support shaft (2) in order to rotate it around the longitudinal axis (Y), and a main operating blade (4), coupled with the support shaft (2) through interconnection means (5) in such a way as to be contained into the mixing tank (V) in order to interfere with the liquid binding unfinished product and cause its continuous mechanical mixing action inside the mixing tank (V) itself when the support shaft (2) rotates around the longitudinal axis (Y). In this case, the stirrer (1) includes a thermoregulation circuit (6), which extends within the support shaft (2) and within the main operating blade (4) and is connected with an external source for supplying a heat transfer fluid crossing the thermoregulation circuit (6) in such a way as to exchange heat with the liquid binding unfinished product within the mixing tank (V), in order to bring the it to a predefined temperature, while the support shaft (2) and the main operating blade (4) integral with it rotate around the longitudinal axis (Y).

A stirrer (1; 100) for stabilizing liquid binding unfinished products intended to form ceramic items comprising a support shaft (2) individuating a longitudinal rotation axis (Y) and contained into a mixing tank (V) of the liquid binding unfinished product, motorization means (3) operatively connected with the support shaft (2) in order to rotate it around the longitudinal axis (Y), and a main operating blade (4), coupled with the support shaft (2) through interconnection means (5) in such a way as to be contained into the mixing tank (V) in order to interfere with the liquid binding unfinished product and cause its continuous mechanical mixing action inside the mixing tank (V) itself when the support shaft (2) rotates around the longitudinal axis (Y). In this case, the stirrer (1) includes a thermoregulation circuit (6), which extends within the support shaft (2) and within the main operating blade (4) and is connected with an external source for supplying a heat transfer fluid crossing the thermoregulation circuit (6) in such a way as to exchange heat with the liquid binding unfinished product within the mixing tank (V), in order to bring the it to a predefined temperature, while the support shaft (2) and the main operating blade (4) integral with it rotate around the longitudinal axis (Y).

A rotating member of the present disclosure mainly includes ceramics and includes a first through-hole into which a shaft is inserted and a second through-hole into which a key protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft or a solid lubricant in direct or indirect sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft is inserted. The second through-hole is a polygonal shape if viewed in an axial direction of the first through-hole and includes a notch part extending along the axial direction at at least one corner.

A rotating member of the present disclosure mainly includes ceramics and includes a first through-hole into which a shaft is inserted and a second through-hole into which a key protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft or a solid lubricant in direct or indirect sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft is inserted. The second through-hole is a polygonal shape if viewed in an axial direction of the first through-hole and includes a notch part extending along the axial direction at at least one corner.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.