Volumetric vs Gravimetric Body Colour Batching for Porcelain Tiles
Compare volumetric and gravimetric body colour batching for porcelain tiles, including shade control, feeder accuracy, cost and production risk.
Body colour batching controls how pigments, stains or coloured powders enter a porcelain tile body. The difference between volumetric and gravimetric dosing matters because small colour errors can show across a full fired batch.
Quick choice
| Need | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Highest shade repeatability | Gravimetric batching | Weight control handles bulk-density variation better. |
| Simple low-cost dosing | Volumetric batching | Equipment is simpler when material flow is stable. |
| Frequent colour changes | Gravimetric batching | Recipes can be controlled and audited by mass. |
| Stable single colour with known powder | Volumetric batching | Can work if calibration is maintained. |
Volumetric batching
Volumetric batching doses material by screw speed, pocket volume, feeder opening or timed discharge. It assumes that a given volume delivers a predictable amount of material.
The risk is bulk-density drift. If pigment, granule or coloured powder becomes more aerated, compacted, moist or segregated, the same volume can carry a different mass. That change can shift fired shade.
Gravimetric batching
Gravimetric batching doses by weight, usually with load cells, loss-in-weight feeders or weigh hoppers. It is better suited to body colour systems where shade consistency, recipe traceability and batch records matter.
The trade-off is cost and maintenance. Load cells, feeder tuning and calibration need discipline. A gravimetric system that is not calibrated can give false confidence.
Comparison table
| Factor | Volumetric | Gravimetric |
|---|---|---|
| Control basis | Volume or time | Weight |
| Shade repeatability | Good only with stable bulk density | Better across material variation |
| Equipment cost | Lower | Higher |
| Recipe traceability | Weaker | Stronger |
| Main risk | Density drift, bridging, segregation | Calibration error, feeder instability, load-cell issues |
Control checks
- Measure pigment or coloured-powder bulk density at startup and after refilling.
- Calibrate feeders with real material, not only theoretical screw output.
- Track fired L*a*b* values or agreed shade standards.
- Clean feeders fully between colour families.
- Keep records of recipe, feeder rate, batch weight and fired result.
Bottom line
Use volumetric batching when the material is stable and the colour tolerance is forgiving. Use gravimetric batching when shade repeatability, auditability and recipe control matter. For porcelain body colour, weight-based control is usually the safer choice for premium or repeat orders.
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Written by
Venkatmani
Ceramic industry professional & content contributor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is volumetric body colour batching?
What is massic body colour batching?
Which is more accurate, volumetric or massic?
Why does slip density change during a shift?
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