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Pottery and Ceramics GlazeGlaze InfoGlaze is a thin layer of glass that sticks to the clay. |
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Glazes are made up of basically three components:
These three components react to each other in the heat of the kiln to make a glaze and each has a specific job to do: GLASSFORMERThis is the material that actually becomes glass.Silica is the only glassformer used. It has an extremely high melting temperature. Silica is found in sand, quartz, feldspar, clay and other minerals. REFRACTORIESA refractory is any material with a high melting point.Silica has a high melting point, so it is both a glassformer and a refractory. Silica is used in a glaze primarily for its glass forming properties. Alumina is the element most used in glazes for its refractory properties. Clay is the most common source of these elements. Clay is made up of both silica and alumina, plus water and lots of other good stuff. Clay increases the melted glaze’s viscosity so that it doesn’t melt into a thin liquid which would run off of the pottery and ceramic. Clay also keeps the raw glaze materials in suspension when mixed with water. FLUXESFluxes are materials which are used to lower the melting point of silica to a temperature that is practically attainable in the kiln such as, 1472˚ F to 2404˚ F.
Whiting or calcium carbonatefor calcium.Dolomitefor calcium and magnesium.Barium Carbonatefor barium, which is toxic!Zinc Oxidefor zincGerstley Boratefor boron.FELDSPARSFeldspars contain all three components of a glaze, the glassformer, silica, the refractory, alumina and several fluxes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, boron. Salt for sodium. The materials selected to be used in a glaze are mixed together as powders. Then water is added to make a mixture the consistency of cream, it is then strained through a strainer to make sure it is well mixed and there are no lumps or chunks. The glaze is then put onto clean bisqueware. This can be done by spraying, painting, or dipping our pottery or ceramic into a bucket of glaze. The glaze sticks to the porous bisque fired clay. The glazed pottery or ceramic is then loaded into the kiln and fire to the specific temperature at which the glaze mixture will melt just enough to form a layer of glass, but not run off the pottery or ceramic.
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All About Clay The best way of starting out is to take a few lessons. You will probably waste quite a bit in materials when you first get started. Figuring out how to truly make the clay mold correctly and shape into what you want it to be can be quite an ordeal. The different tools that a normal shop will have can be fun to try. You will soon see which ones you like to use the most and then when you are ready you will know which ones to buy. When you get all set up, just enjoy the hobby and have fun at it. Some people get pretty serious and start selling their creations at craft fairs and small stores, but others just like to create items for themselves, relatives, and friends. Whichever you desire, enjoy the hobby and have fun doing it. |
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