Trial and Error

Trial and Error. This week was all about the mix. Students worked on tweaking consistency of the glazes and fine tuned recipes as they continued to work on the Growing in SC STEAM Grant. Glaze tiles will be fired over the weekend and into next week testing multiple temperatures. Tests will be conducted at cone 6,8, and 10. Fahrenheit temperatures ranging from 2165-2284! Glazes are made up of silica, fluxes and aluminum oxide. Silica is the structural material for the glaze and when you heat it high enough it turns to glass. Its melting temperature is too high for ceramic kilns, so silica is mixed with fluxes, a substance that prevents oxidation, lowering the melting point. Aluminum oxide is used as a stiffening agent, which allows the glaze to adhere to the surface of a bowl, vase or mug (whatever your ceramic piece) without running off. Glazes get their beautiful colors from a wide assortment of mineral oxides. When making and using your own glazes, it requires a lot of experimentation and practice. Many factors, like the kind of kiln, temperature, variations in the recipe and the kind of clay you use will impact the final result.