pottery clay is the clay used to make the three categories of pottery: earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Clay is baked in a kiln under intense heat, a process known as firing, and becomes solid. Firing is used both to harden the clay and to adhere glaze to it or color it. In this article, I will give a brief introduction as to the different types of clay available for pottery.
1. Earthenware – This type of clay is very common, and generally contains a fair amount of iron and is made from porous pottery clay fired at low temperatures. Because it is fired at low heat, the pottery clay retains its porous nature. Faience, delft, and majolica are all types of earthenware clays.
2. Stoneware – Stoneware is a clay that is generally a mixture of other clays. It has a high degree of plasticity which means it is very easy to manipulate, and is fired at a high temperature, and so becomes nonporous. You have probably eaten off of dinner plates made of stoneware.
3. Porcelain?This pottery is actually made with a mixture of several other types of clay and minerals. It is generally composed of kaolin, ball clay, feldspar and flint. Porcelain, also called china, is fired using very high heat, resulting in a white, nonporous, translucent pottery. It does not have much plasticity and can be a challenge to work with.
4. Ball clay? Ball clay is a rare mineral found in few places around the world. Its name dates back to the early methods of mining when specialized hand tools were used to extract the clay in rough cube shapes. As the corners were knocked through handling and storage, these cubes became rounded and ?ball’ shaped. This clay has a finer grain than fire clay, and shrinks a great deal during the firing process. For this reason, it is usually mixed with kaolin, as kaolin clay has a low degree of shrinkage.
5. Fire clay? There are two types of fire clay: flint clay and plastic fire clay. Because of its stability during firing, it can be used to make complex items such as pipes and sanitary ware. Fire clay can be easy to work with or not, as its degree of plasticity is variable. It usually has a very rough texture, and is often added to stoneware.
6. Kaolin? Kaolinite is a clay mineral and is very pure, with a white color. It does not shrink much when fired, and must be fired at a very high temperature. As it does not have a high degree of “plasticity,” it is usually used in conjunction with other clays.
So there you have it. Six different types of clay that you inspiring potters can try. I recommend trying them all and see what works best for you. What is use for my soy wax candles is the Earthenware clay. Everyone has a different opinion on which one is best. Use your own judgment when trying them to come to a conclusion.
Types of Pottery Clay
|
|
iHome iP43LVC Dual Alarm Clock Radio for your iPod/iPhone with Pillow Shaker (Blue) $75.95 iHome IP43 Desktop Clock Radio – Apple Dock Interface IP43LV Clocks… |
|
|
Dual Alrm Clck Rad Iphone/ipod Purple Charge Play Or Wake $91.77 iHome IP43UV Desktop Clock Radio IP43UV Clocks… |
|
|
Alex Super Baking set – 18 Piece Metal and Plastic Set $16.99 Measure, mix, prep, and bake some imaginary treats| This 18-piece set features a loaf pan, bear pan, heart pan, mixing bowl, rolling pin, whisk, measuring spoons and cup, pastry wheel, 2 star cookie cutters, 2 heart cookie cutter, and an oven mitt. Bon Appetit|… |
|
|
Passion of the Christ: Songs (Original Songs Inspired by the Film) $7.00 … |
|
|
Egyptian Hieroglyphs Made Easy $26.50 Learning and understanding of the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic language. The hieroglyphic script was the longest lived and earliest form of the Egyptian language. Its use was limited primarily to religious and monumental inscriptions, whereas a more cursive script called hieratic was preferred for administrative and epistolary purposes. Hieroglyphic Egyptian employs pictures of objects, each with… |
|
|
Promised Land [CD-ROM]
Queensryche’s follow-up to the double-platinum Empire is something of an acquired taste, but it’s well worth the effort. There’s considerable variety here; the heavy progressive-rock of “I Am I” and the ballad “Bridge” were hit singles, but there’s also the funk-inflected “Disconnected”, the edgy, spooky “Lady Jane”, and the piano-and-vocals “Someone Else?”. The title track is probably the stronge… |
|
|
Yoga Girl – Vinyl Wall Decals Murals Stickers Art Graphic – 25H x 35W – by üBer Decals Better than wallpaper, wall stickers are a perfect way to decorate your room and express yourself. They are a fun, easy and removable decor solution. These stickers are pre-cut and will only take you several minutes to apply on any surface – walls, doors, windows, and more. Each of our designs come with easy instructions to follow. This is an original design from uBer Decals. All other sellers are… |
|
|
2.5mm Hands-Free EarBud Headset + Car Kit Vehicle Plug in Adapter + Home Travel Wall Charger for ATT Nokia Mural Grouper 6750 Cell Phone $5.99 Brand new premium quality MP3 Earbud and hands-free headset for your cell / smart / PDA phone. Acoustically tuned speaker for improved sound clarity even in noisy environments. Soft covered ergonomic earpiece for comfort even over extended periods. **Phone & Ear bud features are limited to the phone’s capability and the service provider’s default settings. Please consult with your phone’s user man… |
|
|
Modern Woman 6 – Vinyl Wall Decals Murals Stickers Art Graphic – 39H x29W – by üBer Decals Better than wallpaper, wall stickers are a perfect way to decorate your room and express yourself. They are a fun, easy and removable decor solution. These stickers are pre-cut and will only take you several minutes to apply on any surface – walls, doors, windows, and more. Each of our designs come with easy instructions to follow. This is an original design from uBer Decals. All other sellers are… |
|
|
Tiger Balm Analgesic Tiger Muscle Rub … |