INVESTIGATION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF USING GRANITE RAW MATERIAL FROM THE BİLECİK-BOZUYUK REGION IN TWO- COMPONENT SYSTEMS AT 1050°C, 1100°C AND 1200°C TEMPERATURES IN GLAZING RECIPES

Natural stones and ceramic materials have played various roles throughout human history in architecture, art, and daily life practices, serving as significant components of cultural heritage and technological advancement. In parallel with modern technological developments, ceramic production has increased, and this led to the rapid depletion of natural raw material resources. Within this context, the exploration and reassessment of alternative raw material sources in line with sustainability principles have become increasingly important. Granite rocks are considered promising alternative raw materials for the ceramic industry due to their appropriate chemical composition and the presence of minerals such as feldspar, quartz, mica, and amphibole. This study examines the potential application of naturally occurring granite from the Bozüyük district of Bilecik Province in ceramic glaze compositions. Although this granite is currently used as a filling material in the construction sector, it remains underutilized in the ceramic industry. However, the Bilecik District possesses rich and diverse mineral deposits, offering significant potential for the use of local resources in ceramic technologies. During the research, the chemical and mineralogical properties of the granite were analyzed, and the material was combined with fluxing agents such as boric acid, borax decahydrate, colemanite, ulexite, and tincal to create binary systems. Standard glaze formulations containing kaolin, quartz, boric acid, and borax decahydrate were applied to red and white ceramic bodies, and firing tests were conducted at 1050 °C, 1100 °C, and 1200 °C. The findings reveal that Bozüyük granite is technically viable for use in ceramic glazes and presents an environmentally sustainable, locally sourced alternative raw material for the industry.