Ball Clay: Bikaner, Rajasthan
K Grade – This grade ball clay is available in few mines situated near Kolayat region of Bikaner and hence the name K-Grade. This clay is medium plastic in nature and the free silica content is higher than the M-Grade clay. The shrinkage is low for this clay compared to M-Grade. The firing colour varies from buff to Creamish and the iron and titanium impurities are lower in this grade clay. The green strength is lower than the M-Grade clay and the deflocculant response to this clay is very good and with very low addition of deflocculant this clay develops good fluidity.
In most of the Tile, Sanitary ware, and Porcelain Insulator body formulation this clay is used irrespective of location in India – East or West or South or North in India. But no miner owner is processing this clay for improving the characteristics. If at all, the clay is well beneficiated by using special process technology, which is very essential to improve the characteristics of this clay, the value addition will make this clay equivalent to world standard.
