[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 46329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22078]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service
[T.D. (95-67)]


Crystallinity of Ceramic Tile

AGENCY: Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Request for comments on the percent of crystallinity necessary 
to satisfy the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States 
criteria that a ``ceramic article'' be a shaped product ``of 
crystalline or substantially crystalline structure.''

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SUMMARY: Customs is attempting to identify the amount of crystallinity 
necessary to satisfy the aforementioned phrase ``substantially 
crystalline'' as it applies to ceramic floor and wall tile. Ceramic 
articles of this nature are normally imported under Subheading numbers 
covered by U.S. Note 1 to Chapter 69 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States (HTSUS).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 1, 1995.

COMMENTS: Written comments (preferably in triplicate) may be addressed 
to and inspected at the offices of Laboratories and Scientific 
Services, room 7113, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert L. Zimmerman, Jr., Office 
of Laboratories & Scientific Services, (202) 927-1060.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    U.S. Note 1 to Chapter 69 reads in pertinent part ``For the 
purposes of this chapter, a ``ceramic article'' is a shaped article 
having a glazed or unglazed body of crystalline or substantially 
crystalline structure * * *''. The U.S. Customs Service wishes to 
define the concept of ``substantially crystalline'' in scientific terms 
based on state-of-the-art ceramic technology. In this request for 
comments, Customs is limiting the scope in defining the phrase to floor 
and wall tile. For this purpose Customs is soliciting comments from any 
interested party.
    In a recent study of nearly 300 floor and wall tiles, Customs has 
found that the percent crystallinity for this group of tiles was never 
less than 30 percent as determined by x-ray diffraction. Furthermore, 
over 90 percent of the tiles studied demonstrated a crystallinity in 
the range of 50 to 90 percent.
    The scientific literature indicates that the degree of 
crystallinity a ceramic attains is critically dependent on the raw 
materials used to make the tile and the heat treatment to which these 
materials are subjected. Often ceramic materials are engineered to meet 
the physical requirements for an intended use. Again in the case at 
hand, Customs is interested in ceramic floor and wall tiles. Two issues 
that Customs would consider in making the final determination of the 
degree of crystallinity include: the percent crystallinity necessary to 
impart resiliency to the tile for its intended use; the percent 
crystallinity at which a ceramic becomes a glass or a glass-ceramic. 
Customs does not wish to limit discussions to these two issues. All 
information provided will be given full consideration.
A.W. Tennant,
Director, Laboratories and Scientific Services.
[FR Doc. 95-22078 Filed 9-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P