Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database



Alberta Slip

Albany slip substitute

Chemistry %

CaO6.50
MgO3.10
K2O3.00
Na2O2.20
P2O50.10
TiO20.40
Al2O313.80
SiO256.80
Fe2O34.80
 

Volatiles %

LOI9.30

This material was formulated as a physical and chemical substitute for the late and very popular Albany Slip from New York state. Like Albany it is a low melting iron stained clay. Alberta Slip is more consistent than Albany was since it is made from a blend of raw materials.

Alberta slip has a slightly lower iron content than Albany had so some glazes may not fire as dark (this can be counteracted by adding additional iron oxide). Alberta slip melts as well and works in most glazes that call for Albany. Alberta slip is more plastic (less silty) so recipes containing larger proportions may shrink and crack during drying.

Complete information on how it was formulated can be found in the book Magic of Fire available from Digitalfire Corp. and at the web site http://digitalfire.com.

Plainsman Clays has made this material for many years and it is established in the market place across North America. You can use it at 100% to create a chocolate brown glossy glaze at cone 10 (but there is a problem with doing this as we shall see in a moment). Many Albany glazes are based on the addition of an active flux that increases melt fluidity so much that greenish and yellowish crystals grow on cooling to completely change the character of the surface. Many black glazes are also based on Alberta Slip, since it already contains lots of iron you only need to add a little more and some extra cobalt or manganese.

The plasticity of Alberta Slip is helpful where smaller amounts are used since it can assume the burden of suspending the glaze.


Out Bound Links

In Bound Links


Pictures
Two runs of Alberta slip plus 20% frit 3134 in a flow test comparison at cone 6.


Alberta Slip in a common lithium/tin cone 6 glaze


Alberta slip melts well with very little frit at cone 6


2,3,4,5% rutile added to a 80:20 mix of Alberta Slip and Frit 3134 at cone 6


95% Alberta Slip plus 4% iron at cone 10R


Alberta Slip used as a straight glaze at cone 10R, it looks much like a Tenmoku.


Cone 10R beanpot glazed with Alberta Slip (100%).


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