| Monthly Tech-Tip  | No tracking! No ads!  | 
This clay was slurried in a mixer and then poured onto a plaster table for dewatering. During throwing it is splitting when stretched and peeling when cutting the base. Yet when this same clay is water-mixed and pugged in a vacuum de-airing pugmill it performs well. One might think that the slurry mixer would wet all the particle surfaces better than a pugmill - that is our typical experience. However, it appears the energy that a pugmill can inject into the mix is needed to develop the plasticity when there is a high talc percentage in the recipe.
| Materials | 
Talc
 A source of MgO for ceramic glazes, a flux or thermal expansion additive in clay bodies, also used in the manufacture of cordierite.  | 
| Glossary | 
Plasticity
 Plasticity (in ceramics) is a property exhibited by soft clay. Force exerted effects a change in shape and the clay exhibits no tendency to return to the old shape. Elasticity is the opposite.  | 
| Glossary | 
Artware
 Artware, to potters and hobbyists, is pottery made from white-burning clays fired at low temperatures with brightly coloured glazes and decorated using decals, underglazes, lustres, etc.  | 
| Glossary | 
Pugmill
 The practice of removing air from clay as it is pugged. Deaired clay has better forming properties and produces a smoother fired surface.  | 
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