GREEN STRENGTH ENHANCERS AGENT

Ceramic body strengthening agents are mainly binders used to enhance the mechanical strength of the product in the green (unfired) state, helping to reduce losses due to breakage during drying, glazing, and transportation.

1. Organic additives (Binders)
Organic additives are the most important group for improving plasticity and green strength of ceramic bodies.

Material	Mechanism and Application
CMC (Carboxymethyl Cellulose)	Primary binder. Forms a polymer film that coats and binds mineral particles together, increasing the plasticity and flexural strength of the ceramic body by 2–3 times. CMC burns out completely without leaving ash or carbon residue, and does not affect the fired color of the product.
Sodium Lignosulphonate	Binder and plasticizer. A yellowish-brown powder used as a binder in ceramic and glazed tile bodies. It helps increase body strength and improves lubrication of the mixture, enhancing workability.
PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)	Synthetic binder. Provides excellent binding and adhesion properties for ceramic components, helping to maintain plasticity and ensure easy forming.
Bentonite	Super-plastic clay additive. Although it is a mineral, bentonite is added in small amounts (below 3%) to enhance plasticity and water retention, indirectly increasing strength by improving interparticle bonding.

2. Inorganic additives (Fillers)
Certain minerals and oxides also play a direct or indirect role in producing a harder and more durable ceramic body after firing :

Material	Role and Function
Alumina (Al2O3)	Primary strength-enhancing component. In glaze formulations, Al₂O₃ increases glaze hardness and scratch resistance. In ceramic bodies (especially technical ceramics) ultrafine Al₂O₃ helps increase density and compressive strength.
Silica Fume (SiO2 siêu mịn)	Increases density, reduces porosity and shrinkage. Used to improve the strength and hardness of high-end granite and ceramic tiles.
Kaolin	Fundamental component. As a major raw material, kaolin imparts plasticity and thermal resistance to the ceramic body, and its fired strength plays a key role in determining the hardness of the finished product.
Zirconium Silicate (ZrSiO4)	It enhances hardness and flexural strength, especially in premium ceramic products or technical tiles, owing to its intrinsic hardness and toughness.