Optimization of thermomechanical properties in Sri Lankan red clay-based terracotta cookware through systematic ceramic formulation

Terracotta-based ceramic cookware has demonstrated historical significance due to its aesthetic appeal, eco-sustainability, and organoleptic enhancement properties. Consumer demand necessitates high-performance ceramic bodies with superior thermomechanical characteristics. This study investigated the optimization of ceramic properties, including mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and thermal shock resistance, through systematic formulation of ceramic raw materials comprising ball clay, silica (quartz), and potassium feldspar with variable compositional ratios and slip casting techniques. Critical ceramic parameters, including slip density, linear drying and firing shrinkage, weight loss on ignition (LOI), flexural strength (modulus of rupture), and thermal shock resistance, were systematically evaluated. Results demonstrate that indigenous red clay compositions from various geological regions of Sri Lanka can be effectively utilized as primary ceramic constituents to enhance overall performance characteristics. Optimized ceramic formulations exhibiting superior flexural strength and reduced linear shrinkage indicate significant potential for advanced sustainable ceramic cookware manufacturing applications.