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How to Protect Ceramics From Crazing by Vicky Smith
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How to Protect Ceramics From Crazing |
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Business
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Crazing is one of the most bizarre effects on ceramics that can be both beautiful and hazardous. Understanding this effect can make the difference between enjoying a ceramic object and getting a bacterial infection. Crazing refers to the fine cracks that form on pottery due to stress on the glaze body covering the clay. Food particles can get stuck in these cracks and are hard to remove. Re-firing the same piece in the kiln or adding a filler will not solve this problem. The best way to protect ceramics from crazing is by using the following methods, before it is fired. Instructions Firstly, contact the product manufacturer to obtain information on the clay and glaze you are using. Determine the best possible combination of clay and glaze to obtain the best fit. Low-fire pottery, like earthenware, is more sensitive to crazing issues, as there is a much smaller window for the glazes to match the expansion of the clay during firing. Secondly, pay close attention to the recommended firing temperatures from clay and glaze manufacturers. As both materials expand during firing, glaze-fit is critical. The key is to find a combination that expands at the same rate when heated to that particular temperature. Test-fire pots using slightly different glaze/clay combinations. Thirdly, consider firing your ceramics to high-temperature. High-temperature pottery, such as stoneware or porcelain, is fired a few hundred degrees hotter at 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit. This extra heat allows the molecules to create stronger bond between the clay and the glaze. Fourthly, add talc to the low-fire clay which has a low expansion rate, making it a better surface to which the glaze can bond. Use 50 percent talc in the recipe and go higher, up to 80 percent, if necessary. See if this corrects the problem. Fifthly, avoid using potassium or sodium glazes, as these are prone to crazing. Use ready-mixed glazes or a reliable recipe to mix the glaze yourself. Keep testing different clay and glaze combinations until you find a good fit. Listen for crazing when unloading the pots from the kiln. Many pings indicate an ill-fitting glaze. Sixthly, fire your pottery to high temperature to resolve crazing issues if you need to produce resilient tableware. Do not fire low-temperature clay higher than recommended, as it will melt and create a mess in the kiln. Earthenware, for example, will melt at the temperatures used to cure high-temp clays like porcelain. It has a different composition that cannot take that kind of heat. Use a clay that can withstand high-temperature curing, such as stoneware or porcelain. Seventhly, stop using the pottery to prevent further crazing if it is a special piece. Re-fire the piece to the correct temperature to melt the glaze. This may not fix the problem but will make it look like new for some time. Less use will result in less stress on the ill-fitting glaze and will help to preserve its strength as a result. Ok, now let me have a conclusion. As a reputational business E-platform of promoting stone industry, we match global supply and demand resources and promote the mutual prosperity and development for worldwide stone industry trade. If you want to consult us freely, you can also see onyx countertop or become an honest follower of us by @ stonebtb of https://twitter.com.
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