Art 151 Basic Glaze Technology
GLAZE
Glaze is a liquid suspension of finely ground minerals, that after being applied to the bisque ware and heated to the proper temperature, melt to form a glassy coating on the clay surface.
GLAZE CLASSIFICATION
Glazes are classified according to the following criteria:
1. Composition- i.e. Lead, Feldspathic, Saturated Iron, etc.
2. Surface texture- i.e. glossy, mat, crackle
3. Interior- i.e. transparent, translucent, opaque
4. Temperature- i.e. high, low, mid-range
5. Body- i.e. porcelain, stoneware, earthenware
GLAZE COMPONENTS
All standard ceramic glazes contain the following components:
1. Glass former- silica (SiO2), melting point 3119 degrees Fahrenheit
(RO2)
2. Flux- lowers the melting point of silica; provides the great variety of surfaces in ceramic glazes. The common fluxes are: sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, magnesium, zinc, lithium, and lead. (RO)
3. Stabilizer- alumina, keeps the glaze on a vertical surface; stiffens the melt. (R2O3)
TWO MATERIALS
These two materials play a key role in ceramics:
Kaolin- Al2O3 :2SiO2:2H2O, melting point 3164-3245 deg. F.
Feldspar- K2O :Al2O3:6SiO2, melting point 2228 degrees F.
A TYPICAL STONEWARE GLAZE
HT Celadon, Cone 10
Silica 20 (glass former)
Potassium Feldspar 30 (glass former, flux, stabilizer)
Kaolin 20 (glass former, stabilizer)
Whiting 30 (flux)
100
+ 2% Red Iron Oxide(color)
COLOR IN GLAZES
Color in glazes is most commonly attained by the addition of small amounts (10 % or less) of metallic oxides. An oxide is a chemical combination of any element with oxygen.
COMMON COLORING OXIDES (colors listed are for Cone 10 reduction firing)
Iron Oxide (FeO)- greens and browns
Cobalt Oxide (CoO)- blues and violets
Copper Oxide (CuO)- greens and reds
Chrome Oxide (Cr2O3)- greens
Manganese Dioxide (MnO2)- browns and purples
Nickel Oxide (NiO)- gray, green and brown tints
Rutile (TiO2 & FeO)- tan, brown and blue/gold
SOME COMMON GLAZE FLAWS
Crazing- fine network of cracks in the glaze surface. Called crackle if desired. Caused by the presence of high expansion oxides in the glaze and the resulting excessive shrinkage of the fired glaze (glaze is too small for the surface it is covering).
Shivering- opposite of crazing. Small slivers of glaze pop off the fired form. Caused by the lack of shrinkage of the fired glaze (the glaze is too big for the surface it is covering).
Crawling- the glaze pulls itself apart, leaving bare spots of clay on the fired surface. Can be caused by dirty bisque or excessive shrinkage of the raw glaze.
Pitting/Pinholing- small pits and/or pinholes in the fired glaze surface. Canbe caused by the surface of the clay, the composition of the glaze, the firing cycle or a combination of the three.
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