The compositions and pore structures of Benshanzhu Zisha ceramic

Abstract Yixing Zisha ceramics are popular traditional tea sets with a long history in China but there are seldom studies to explore their compositions and microstructures. In this work, Benshanzhu-Zisha, a typical representation of Zisha from Yixing City of China, is investigated. The XRD results demonstrate that the Benshan Zhu clay is the natural mineral compound, which contains the high hematite content. After sintering, in comparison with pottery and porcelain, Benshanzhu-Zisha has the highest hematite (11.5 wt%) and amorphous phase (71.2 wt%) and the lowest mullite (10.7 wt%). Moreover, there are many dispersed and thin pores in Benshanzhu-Zisha ranging from nanometer to micron, and there are large numbers of hematite particles in the pores. It is the unique pore structures that make Benshanzhu-Zisha be perfect brewing tea vessel, impermeable to water but breathable to gas.