doi:10.1016/j.clay.2024.107447engAnsón-Casaos, AlejandroBerges, José-MaríaCiria, José CarlosMaser, Wolfgang K.Benito, Ana M.Duboys, Jean-MarieControlling clay slips with a process vibrational viscometerART-2024-138836The apparent viscosity of concentrated clay dispersions is a key control parameter in the ceramic industry, particularly in the manufacture of sanitaryware. Slips, the final industrial dispersions, are complex in their rheological behavior, featuring non-Newtonian flow and thixotropy. In this work, a resonance vibrating-rod viscometer (VRV) was utilized to evaluate the viscosity evolution over time, showing advantages over a classical rotational viscometer. Notably, while both viscometers were sensitive to small quantities of a deflocculant, the VRV effectively described the typical increase in the viscosity of clay dispersions at rest (thixotropy), the experimental data being properly fitted by a phenomenological model. As a relevant technical aspect, the superior suitability of the VRV for in-line process control was highlighted in the continuous monitoring of stirred clay dispersions and slip casting in plaster moulds. Additionally, a fitting model was developed to elucidate viscosity evolution during the casting process. In summary, this study underscores the versatility of the VRV as a control instrument in the sanitaryware industry.2024http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/13581810.1016/j.clay.2024.107447http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/135818oai:zaguan.unizar.es:135818Applied Clay Science 257 (2024), 107447by-nc-ndhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.esinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess