Humans have used clay since 14.000 B.C. Clay is a fine-grained natural rock or soil material that combines one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Clays are plastic due to their water content and become hard, brittle and non–plastic upon drying or firing.

Clays are distinguished from other fine-grained soils by differences in size and mineralogy. Generally there are three or four main groups of clays: kaolinite, montmorillonite-smectite, illite and chlorite.

Clays exhibit plasticity when mixed with water in certain proportions. When dry, clay becomes firm and when fired in a kiln, permanent physical and chemical changes occur. These changes convert the clay into a ceramic material.

Because of these properties, clay is used for making construction products, such as bricks, wall and floor tiles. Different types of clay, when used with different minerals and firing conditions, are used for other products like porcelain, special ceramics, medical parts, etc.

Sinterkraft has developed special chemical expertise for the optimized processing of clay. Based on three EU Patents and different additives, we can optimize your production processes significantly !