Colemanite
Formula: 2CaO.3B2O3.5H2O or CaB3O4(OH)3·H2O | Oxide | Analysis | Formula |
| CaO | 27.30% | 1.00 |
| B2O3 | 50.80% | 1.50 |
| LOI | 21.90 |
| Oxide Weight | 160.49 | | Formula Weight | 205.49 |
| Enter the formula and formula weight directly into the Insight MDT dialog (since it records materials as formulas).
Enter the analysis into an Insight recipe and enter the LOI using Override Calculated LOI (in the Calc menu). It will calculate the formula. |
| DENS - Density (Specific Gravity) |
2.95 |
| HMOH - Hardness (Moh) |
4.5 |
| MLPT - Melting Point (MP) |
1050C |
| SLBY - Solubility |
in HCl but not in water |
Richard Willis
Colemanite has been a popular natural source of insoluble boron for many decades. It is similar to Ulexite in its oxide contribution to glazes (although the latter sources Na2O also). Frits are used as boron sources in industry whereas potters and smaller companies have used colemanite.
Colemanite does not melt as low or as uniformly as Ulexite. Gerstley Borate contained significant amounts of colemanite. Pure colemanite, however, is much higher in B2O3 than Gerstley Borate.
Colemanite is available from Turkey, Chile and California. The chemistry of these varies quite a bit, and of course, none of the available materials have the theoretical chemistry shown here.
Very high percentages of colemanite in a glaze can result in wrinkling of the fired surface, likely due to to a phenomenon called 'decrepitation' that occurs when colemanite is heated. Be sure to screen out any materials coarser than 200 mesh, or ball mill the glaze. Gum or other binders also help.
Out Bound Links
- (URLs)
GerstleyBorate.com
www.gerstleyborate.com - (URLs)
Colemanite at Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colemanite - (Materials - Related)
Ulexite - NaCaB5O9·8H2O - Sodium calcium borate
Television Stone
- (Typecodes)
1: GNM - Generic Material
- (Typecodes)
1: FLS - Flux Source
- (MDT - Member)
UK
We are working on this database and would apprecia... - (MDT - Member)
Ron Roy
This is the traditional Ron Roy materials file. He... - (MDT - Member)
North America
The decision about what materials to include in th... - (MDT - Member)
New Zealand
We are working on this database and would apprecia... - (MDT - Member)
Crystal Glazes
These materials are specially defined for makers o... - (MDT - Member)
Latin and South America
Latin America and South America. We are working on... - (MDT - Member)
Europe
Countries of Eastern Europe and former Soviet Unio... - (MDT - Member)
Australia
We are working on this database and would apprecia... - (MDT - Member)
Asia
All of Asia including Turkey, Russia, Indosnesia, ... - (MDT - Member)
Africa
All of continental Africa. We are working on this ...
In Bound Links
- (Materials - Related)
Gerstley Borate - Plastic Calcium Borate
Colemanite, Calcium Borate, Borocalcite
- (Materials - Related)
Turkish Ulexite - sodium calcium borate
- (Materials - Related)
Cadycal - Precipitated Calcium Borate
Cadycal Jan/00
- (Materials - Parent)
Turkish Colemanite - calcium borate
- (Materials - Parent)
ABC Colemanite - California colemanite
- (Materials - Parent)
Colemanite 38 - 2CaO.3B2O3.5H2O, Argentina Colemanite
- (Materials - Related)
Frit P2954 - Calcium Borate Frit similar to Gerstley Borate
PotteryCrafts Frit 2954
- (Materials - Related)
Ferro Frit 4112 - Calcium Borate Frit
- (Materials - Parent)
Colemanite AM
Calcium Borate
- (Materials - Related)
Calcium Borate - Ca(BO2)2 or CaO.B2O3
Anhydrous Borocalcite
- (Oxides - Material source)
B2O3 - Boric Oxide
- (Oxides - Material source)
CaO - Calcium Oxide, Calcia
- (Minerals)
Borate Minerals
The major borate minerals are Colemanite and Ulexi... - (Typecodes - Unspecified)
1: GBS - Gerstley Borate Substitutes
By Tony Hansen    
XML for Import into INSIGHT
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<material name="Colemanite" descrip="" searchkey="" loi="0.00" casnumber="1318-33-8">
<oxides>
<oxide symbol="CaO" name="Calcium Oxide, Calcia" status="" percent="27.300" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="B2O3" name="Boric Oxide" status="" percent="50.800" tolerance=""/>
</oxides>
<volatiles>
<volatile symbol="LOI" name="Loss on Ignition" percent="21.900" tolerance=""/>
</volatiles>
</material> | 
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