Resumen: The 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. Idioma: Inglés DOI: 10.1016/j.clay.2024.107447 Año: 2024 Publicado en: Applied Clay Science 257 (2024), 107447 ISSN: 0169-1317 Factor impacto JCR: 5.8 (2024) Categ. JCR: MINERALOGY rank: 1 / 31 = 0.032 (2024) - Q1 - T1 Categ. JCR: CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL rank: 57 / 185 = 0.308 (2024) - Q2 - T1 Categ. JCR: MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 129 / 460 = 0.28 (2024) - Q2 - T1 Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.077 - Geochemistry and Petrology (Q1) - Water Science and Technology (Q1) - Soil Science (Q1) - Geology (Q1)