Monthly Tech-Tip | No tracking! No ads! |
White agglomerates of New Zealand kaolin (NZK) have ruined both glaze and body (Zero4 fritware). Both were slurried up by propeller mixing (the latter dewatered on a plaster table). But in both cases, the action of our lab mixer, a very capable device, was not enough to break up the NZK agglomerates! The glaze appears to be the easiest to fix: Sieve it at 100 mesh. But does that really work? No. The particles are 10-20 times smaller than the openings so agglomerates of hundreds could easily remain intact. The body is another matter. It is just about impossible to sieve because it contains significant VeeGum that gels the slurry. However, I am a potter and don't need to make thousands of gallons. Blender mixing is the answer, on high speed it smashes the agglomerates. Even if I need to do multiple gallons it is easy to process the slurry in batches in the 2 litre jar of my mixer.
Glossary |
Agglomeration
The fine mineral, oxide and clay particles used in ceramics often aglommerate during storage or even in the latter stages of production. These must be broken down later. |
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Materials |
New Zealand Halloysite
The whitest burning kaolin we have ever seen. It is very sticky when wet, suspends glazes well & makes super white porcelain (with help from a white bentonite). |
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