Ceramic_Arts_Glossary.pdfVIP

Ceramic Arts Glossary: A Pottery and Clay Art Glossary from Ceramic Arts Daily Glossary A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A absorption The ability of a fired clay to absorb water. Used as a gauge of vitrification. acids In clay and glaze chemistry, the glass-formers, which combine with bases fluxes and neutrals refractories or stabilizers . Additive A A wood-extract product used as a clay additive to give greater plasticity, increase dry strength, and improve workability. Especially effective in bodies with a high percentage of kaolins. Does not change color of clay. agateware Wares featuring swirling marbleized colors, resulting either from surface slip effects or marbleized colored clays. air-floated; air-floating Industrial method used in processing of raw clays, where powdered clay is floated in an airstream to settle out heavier particles. air-set; air-setting Castable refractory or mortar, which becomes hard and strong while still damp as a result chemical interaction with water. air-shutter Adjustable shutter on the rear opening of an atmospheric burner, or on the blower intake of a power burner, used to regulate entrainment of primary air. Albany slip clay Traditional dark brown slip clay used as liner-glaze in high-fired Early American wares. No longer being mined -- use Alberta slip. Alberta slip clay Substitute for Albany slip. Highly fluxed with iron -- true slip clay -- will form glaze at HT. alkaline Basic, opposite of acidic -- chemical nature of many fluxes. alkaline earths A category of high-fire fluxes, which includes calcium, magnesium, barium, and strontium. Encourage hard, durable, but often matt glaze surfaces. alkaline fluxes In low-fire, boron fluxes. In high-fire, the feldspars. alumina hydrate Al OH -- alumina source, rarely used in claybodies or glazes, because all needed alumina comes from clay and 3 feldspar. Used primarily for shelf wash and wadding -- better adhesion and suspension