Method for controlling the firing of ceramics

A method for firing a ceramic body comprising:

• a) establishing a core-surface temperature differential setpoint for the ceramic body:
• b) placing the ceramic body in a heating apparatus comprising a heating source;
• c) subjecting the ceramic body to a heating rate that results in the ceramic body exhibiting an elevated core temperature, Tc, and an elevated surface temperature, Ts;
• and
• d) controlling the elevated surface temperature, Ts, by adjusting continuously the amount of heat energy supplied to the interior of the heating apparatus from the heating source in response to a measured temperature difference between the elevated core temperature, Tc, and the elevated surface temperature, Ts, being greater than the core-surface temperature differential setpoint, such that the measured temperature between the elevated core temperature, Tc, and the elevated surface temperature, Ts, is maintained to be less than or equal to the core-surface temperature differential setpoint in order to obtain a fired ceramic product exhibiting substantially uniform properties, and is substantially crack and distortion free.