A casting process for the preparation of whiteware ceramic articles employs a polyalkylene polyamine, such as tetraethylene pentamine, as an additive to increase the casting rate. The additive can be employed, e.g., in slip casting, vacuum casting and pressure casting. Optionally, the additive includes a binder such as a styrene butadiene latex in an amount effective to maintain the green strength of the articles prepared in the casting process.