CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria is a country blessed with abundant raw materials for ceramic production. Despite the availability of these raw materials, and the attempts being made to utilize these local raw materials, there is still much to be done especially in the area of low-temperature glazes. The trend of research into ceramic raw materials today is assuming a dynamic one. This has never been so in the past. It is believed that if this trend continues,it may soon be heading for an industrial ceramic revolution considering the abundant natural ceramic resources available all over the country and Benue State in particular.  It is noted by Aluwong (1988) that, the most important issues in ceramics today are the replacement of expensive imported materials for glaze formulation by ideal raw materials and how to improve their qualities. The complaint of most practicing ceramists is that there is no equipment for raw processing. Countries noted for high-quality products of ceramics today however, started from the scratch and developed with time.

It is a challenge for the Nigerian ceramists to brace up and tackle the problem of ceramic development in the country in order to put the country on the world map of notable ceramic producers. According to Ahuwan (2003), the first move to modern pottery in Nigeria was in1902 by D. Roberts, though this was not successful until 1952 when Michael Cardew arrived. Differentceramic industries have folded up and part of the problem is attributed to low or lack of technical knowledge production of local glazes to sustain ceramic production.

In addition Chigbo (2009) observed that the ceramic industry covers up to 7,000 products and processes, and Nigeria has enough raw materials in this field to support a vigorous ceramic industry and to make a great difference in the productivity of those industries that need the ceramic products. The ceramic industry in modern times is a very large one that holds potentials for the growth and development of the nation‟s economy, but the issue of glaze is another problem confronting ceramic industries, because a great deal of energy is needed for firing the products in the kilns. There are various ways of trying to further reduce the consumption of energy within the ceramic industry. One possible way is by modifying the ingredients and recipe that can be achieved by using specified additives that cause the clay or glaze to sinter effectively at a lower temperature. Additives that lower the sintering temperature are natural or compounds containing chemical elements that already exhibit a flow-type or sintering type of behaviour at a lower temperature as noted by Hans and Hans (2011).

Earthenware glazes are based on low melting materials. Most of such materials for lowtemperature glazes earthenware can be obtained from commonly available indigenous sources. These include clays, wood ash, rice husk ash, and limestone. Earthenware glazes are fired in the range of 900°C-1100°C, as stated byNorsker and Danisch(1993).Materials used Boron is a naturally occurring element. In nature, it is found combined with oxygen and other natural elements forming several different compounds called borates. Borates are widely distributed in nature and found in the oceans, sedimentary rocks, and coal shale and some other soils.

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