Chemistry of glaze

What is in a glaze? FLUX Is any ingredient that is used to help melt the glaze STABILIZER Is any ingredient that is used to extend the melting range of a glaze and to stiffen the glaze

GLASS FORMER The main ingredient of a glaze and the one that needs additional melting from the fluxes and stiffening from the stabilizers. SILICA is the main glass former. OPACIFIER Makes the glaze more opaque by obstructing the light as it passes through COLORANT These ingredients add color to the base glaze and are used in small amounts. They are usually metals in some form

What is an oxide? Means an atom of oxygen combined with an atom of another element in various ratios. Ceramics is a study of oxides as almost all our ingredients are oxides after fusion in the kiln.

Find it on the periodic table: Most common fluxes: Sr (Strontium) Li (Lithium) Ba (Barium) Na (Sodium) Zn (Zinc) K (Potassium) Mg (Magnesium) Pb (Lead) Ca (Calcium) Bi (Bismuth)

Find it on the periodic table: Most common stabilizer: AI (Aluminum)

Find it on the periodic table: Most common glass formers: B (Boron) Si (Silicon)

Find it on the periodic table: Most common opacifiers: Ti (Titanium) Zr (Zirconium) Sn (Tin)

Find it on the periodic table: Most common colorants: V (Vanadium) Co (Cobalt) Cr (Chromium) Ni (Nickel) Mn (Manganese) Cu (Copper) Fe (Iron)