Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this manuscript, the author explores the possibility of manufacturing functionally graded plaster molds for producing ceramic objects with variable thickness. They propose a strategy to manufacture ceramic bodies with controllable wall thickness by controlling only the material composition of the plaster molds. The manuscript is clear, well-organized, and easy to understand. I suggest it be accepted for publication after major revisions.

The following comments will help to improve the quality of the manuscript:

1-    Author must provide the mineralogical composition of the clay used in their work. XRD measurement is a useful technique to identify crystalline phases.  

2-    Please explain the rationale for choosing the specific drying parameters of plaster molds: (e.g., 24 days at specified room conditions  (line 92 ), and at 60 °C for 3 hours(line 97 )).

3-    The choice of the sintering temperature cycle for the ceramics must also be justified by an experimental measurement (e.g. dilatometry) or a bibliographic reference.

4-    The author must provide the standard deviation in Fig. 1, Fig.4 and Table 1.

5-    The resolution of graphs presented in Fig.6 is too low.

6-    Microscopic observation should be considered to improve the microstructural characterization.

 

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper introduces a method that enhances the traditional slip casting technique’s potential to fabricate ceramic objects with variable thickness. The variability depends on the different filtration rates offered by plaster moulds of varying densities. The results suggest the possibility of producing double-curved ceramic objects (e.g. custom ceramic tiles or sanitaryware) with graded thickness, tailored to their desired structural and functional performance.This work is interesting, and MINOR REVISION is required before publication

 

1. The key words are too verbose.

2. The information of raw materials are required, including D50, purity and producer.

3. The conclusions should be simplified.

4. Some pictures are in low resolution

5. Some literatures are suggested to better reveal this work.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijplas.2024.104103

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

As the variable thickness casting is the entire point,  it is disappointing that the results in Figure 10 are presented as a grayscale. While we can visualize this qualitatively, the quantitative local thickness values that exist are impossible for the reader to extract.  Could the software that produced these grayscales instead display the thickness information another way, perhaps as a contour map. Some thickness variation appears in Figure 7, but it is difficult to relate to figure 10

 

This is particularly important for the linear tiles, as the thickness does not change sharply at the boundaries between 1:2 and 1:1, or 1:1 and 2:1.  Also in the 2:1 region the grayscale is blotchy.  Does that mean that the top surface was not smooth?

 

 The radial tile also has considerable over-extension of the 1.5:1 to 2:1 boundaries.  This must mean that the water absorption was not all in the vertical direction.

 

While the porosity and pore diameter are presented in Figure 7, there is no direct measurements of capillary suction pressure or mold permeability, which of course both vary with pore size.  These are terms which appear in the kinetics of slip casting.  It would be a stronger paper if these could be included.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have implemented all the recommended revisions. The manuscript is suitable for acceptance and publication in ceramics.