Porcelain cups are primarily made from inorganic non-metallic mineral materials such as clay (including kaolin, porcelain stone, and porcelain clay), quartz, and feldspar, and may also contain auxiliary materials such as colorants, blue-and-white pigments, and lime glaze. These materials undergo processes such as shaping and sintering at high temperatures to form sturdy and durable ceramic products.
The accumulation of residue often occurs in overglaze-decorated porcelain dinnerware, which is caused by excessive use of color pigments. To avoid this issue, you can choose underglaze-decorated or in-glaze-decorated porcelain dinnerware when making your purchase. Additionally, by paying attention to proper cleaning when using them, you can prevent the accumulation of residue.
Cracking in porcelain dinnerware may be caused by factors such as too much moisture in the body when it enters the kiln, too rapid preheating and cooling, etc. For minor cracks, they can be glued together with adhesive. However, for severe cracks, it is recommended to replace the tableware with new ones.
The black dots mainly come from heavy metals in the glaze material or impurities that have not been completely burned during the production process. Although they do not affect the functionality of the product, they may affect its aesthetics.
Clean promptly after use to avoid residue and stains.
Avoid using rough cleaning tools or detergents to prevent scratching the glaze surface.
Regularly wipe the surface of the dinnerware with a soft cloth to maintain its shine.
Avoid sudden temperature changes to prevent cracking.
It is not suitable to use porcelain dinnerware to hold acidic or strongly alkaline foods to prevent corrosion of the glaze surface.
Try to avoid using overglaze color dinnerware to hold high-temperature foods to prevent the release of pigments.
Light Transmission: High-quality porcelain dinnerware has even light transmission, and bone china is often more translucent than hard porcelain.
Hardness: Gently scratch the surface with a fingernail or a hard object. High-quality porcelain glaze has a high level of hardness and is unlikely to leave marks.
Weight: For dinnerware of the same size, bone china tends to be relatively lighter.
Examine the Material: Prioritize bone china or high-quality ceramics. Bone china has a delicate texture and good translucency.
Inspect the Craftsmanship: Choose underglaze or in-glaze color as a priority, and avoid overglaze color as it may fade over time and may not be as safe for long-term use.
Examine the Appearance: Check if the surface of the tableware is smooth and free of impurities, as well as any flaws such as black spots or cracks.
Listen to the Sound: Gently tap the tableware. High-quality ceramics will produce a clear and melodious sound.
Overglaze color: Decorative paper made of pigments is attached to the glaze surface or pigments are directly painted on the surface of the product, and then fired at low temperature. The decorative pattern cannot sink into the glaze, and there is a concave-convex feeling when touched.
Underglaze color: All decorations are applied to the biscuit (unglazed ceramic body) before glazing, and then fired at high temperature in a single firing. The decorative pattern is covered by the glaze layer, making it shiny, smooth, and with a smooth touch.
In-glaze color: The firing temperature allows the glaze material to melt, sinking the pigments into the glaze. After cooling, the pigments are covered by the glaze layer, resulting in a smooth surface with no significant concave-convex feeling when touched.
The main materials of porcelain dinnerware include clay inorganic non-metallic minerals such as kaolin. According to the different materials and processes, porcelain dinnerware can be divided into white porcelain, bone china, magnesium porcelain, color glaze porcelain and so on. Among them, bone china is fired by adding animal bone meal to clay, with a fine texture and a relatively high price.
