Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database

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Bentone MA

Glaze Suspender, Hectorite

Chemistry %

CaO	5.50
Li2O	1.30
MgO	22.70
Na2O	3.20
Al2O3	0.80
SiO2	53.20
Fe2O3	0.30

Volatiles %

LOI

12.70

Bentone grades HC, CT, EW are used as rheology modifiers in glazes. We are under the understanding that Macaloid and Bentone are the same material.

This material is an off-white flaky powder used primarily as a glaze suspender made from hectorite montmorillonitic ore (see Hectorite). It tends to suspend and harden the dried glaze while not extending the glazes drying time, as is the case with CMC gum. Thus it is common to use it and CMC together to control drying time, suspension and glaze hardness.

Bentone is valued for its long-time suspending properties which helps prevent uneven settling of material particles which have differing specific gravities (i.e. stain particles tend to be much heavier and settle first).

Bentone is lower in iron than bentonite and thus is valued as a plasticizer in porcelain bodies. Like bentonite, it increases water requirements and can be used in similar amounts.

To get maximum benefit from this material, it should be mixed thoroughly into the water with a power blunger (for hours if possible) before adding the other dry ingredients.

C.E.C.: 78 me/100 gm
Principle Exchange Ion: Na
pH (5% solids slurry): 8.5
Hectorite Content: 90%
Minus 50 mesh: 90%
Minus 325 mesh: 99.5%
Surface Area: 600 sq. meter/gram
Bulk Density (not compacted): 0.24-0.37 g/cc

Out Bound Links

(Materials - Related) Veegum - Glaze Hardener, Binder
Veegum T, Veegum CER, Veegum Pro
(Materials - Related) Bentonite
Montmorillonite
(Typecodes) 1: CLO - Clay Other
(MDT - Member) Ron Roy
This is the traditional Ron Roy materials file. He...
(MDT - Member) Crystal Glazes
These materials are specially defined for makers o...
(Minerals - Parent mineral) Montmorillonite, Bentonite
A clay mineral of extremely small particle size an...
(Minerals - Parent mineral) Hectorite
An uncommon fine grained highly plastic clay miner...

In Bound Links

(Materials - Substitute) Macaloid

XML for Import into INSIGHT

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<material name="Bentone MA" descrip="Glaze Suspender, Hectorite" searchkey="Macaloid" loi="0.00" casnumber="12173-47-6">
<oxides>
<oxide symbol="CaO" name="Calcium Oxide, Calcia" status="" percent="5.500" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Li2O" name="Lithium Oxide, Lithia" status="" percent="1.300" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="MgO" name="Magnesium Oxide, Magnesia" status="" percent="22.700" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Na2O" name="Sodium Oxide, Soda" status="" percent="3.200" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Al2O3" name="Aluminum Oxide, Alumina" status="" percent="0.800" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="SiO2" name="Silicon Dioxide, Silica" status="" percent="53.200" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Fe2O3" name="Iron Oxide, Ferric Oxide" status="" percent="0.300" tolerance=""/>
</oxides>
<volatiles>
<volatile symbol="LOI" name="Loss on Ignition" percent="12.700" tolerance=""/>
</volatiles>
</material>