There are many methods to flux and densify clay bodies and these are based on a number of different mechanisms.
- The use of kaolins containing significant alkalies is an excellent way to achieve greater body maturity coupled with white color. Lower feldspar enables replacing dirty ball clays with kaolin.
- Feldspar is the most important body flux for cone 2+. Many clays and other body materials contain feldspar. The classic cone 10 porcelain recipe is 25% each of feldspar, ball clay, silica and kaolin.
- This material is generally fluxes better than feldspars and produces whiter burning bodies.
Materials - TalcTalc in 1-4% amounts can be used in the cone 4-10 range to effectively increase body maturity. In some case 1% will move a body down by one cone.- This frit is an excellent body flux, 15% can move a cone 10 body down to cone 6.
- Red terra cotta clays are typically 6-8 cones more vitreous than is possible with feldspar-white clay mixes. Thus where a red clay can be tolerated, materials like this can be employed to create cone 02-2 stoneware.
- Assists in the formation of mullite at lower temperatures than formed by conventional alumina-silica sources.
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