Using the pyrometric cone equivalent test to evaluate materials

The Pyrometric Cone Equivalent (PCE) test has been used for the evaluation of raw materials and body compositions for 70 years. It is used by raw material suppliers, manufacturers and users of ceramic products to evaluate the refractoriness or the quality of materials and to examine the changes in body compositions. The combined effects of time and temperature (and sometimes atmosphere) determine the proper firing conditions for a ceramic body. One of the most simple and convenient procedures for measurement and control of these factors is using a pyrometric cone - a ceramic composition that deforms under its own weight. The degree that the pyrometric cone bends is determined by how much heat it has absorbed. 1 ref.