Kaolin
Hydrated alumina silicate, Pure clay mineral
Formula: Al2O3.2SiO2 or Al2Si2O5(OH)4
Alternate Names: China Clay | Oxide | Analysis | Formula |
| Al2O3 | 40.21% | 1.00 |
| SiO2 | 47.29% | 2.00 |
| LOI | 12.50 |
| Oxide Weight | 221.96 | | Formula Weight | 253.67 |
| 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) |
2.62 |
| MLPT - Melting Point (MP) |
1770C M |
A wide array of kaolin (also known as China Clay) products are available. These vary in plasticity, crystal and surface chemistry, particle shape and size, flow properties, permeability, etc. However the most common varieties most people will see are two: kaolins intended for plastic bodies or casting ones. Plastic kaolins can rival the workability of a ball clay, casting ones can be so short that it is difficult to even wedge or roll them without the plastic mass falling apart. Strangely, non-plastic kaolins are not necessarily whiter burning.
Pure kaolin is the clay of choice for bodies that need to be clean and white. Many porcelains contain only a kaolin mix as their clay complement. But kaolins have relatively low plasticity when compared to other raw clay types. Thus in non-casting plastic forming bodies it is often not possible to achieve enough plasticity employing kaolin alone. Additions of ball clays, bentonites and other plasticizers are thus common. Where translucency and whiteness are paramount, highly plastic kaolins and white burning ball clays and bentonites can be used .
Because kaolinite mineral has a much larger particle size than ball clay and bentonite materials, blending it with them in bodies can produce a good cross section of ultimate particle sizes (this imparts enhanced working and drying properties). Another advantage of the larger particle size of kaolins is that they are much more permeable to the passage of water. Thus kaolins, especially the larger sized ones, speed up casting rates in slurry bodies and drying rates in all bodies.
Kaolins are employed in glaze recipes to keep the silica, feldspar, frit and other particles from settling out (the surface chemistry of the particles and their interaction with water are responsible for this behavior). At the same time the oxide chemistry of kaolin makes it the primary source of alumina oxide for glazes.
Kaolin is a very refractory aluminum silicate. Kaolin-based bodies are used to make all kinds of refractory parts for industry. Kiln wash is often made from 50:50 mix of kaolin and silica. Cordierite is made mainly from kaolin. High heat duty grogs are made by calcining kaolin.
Kaolin is used in many industries other than ceramics, in fact the ceramics industry uses only a small amount of the total kaolin produced. Kaolin companies tend to be billion-dollar operations and kaolin is used in everything from paper to cosmetics, paint to agricultural products.
If you use kaolin in your production there is good reason to be doing routine quality control to make sure it is remaining consistent. Kaolins can sometimes have particulate impurities (can cause firing specks) and exhibit differences in soluble salts content, drying shrinkage, drying performance and behavior in slurries. Clays are often the most variable material that production departments have to deal with.
Kaolin transforms to mullite above 1000C, this is a key factor in the micro structure of porcelain and other types of bodies. This transformation is also exploited in engobes.
Mechanisms
Body Plasticity - Porcelain, Whtieware Bodies It is possible to make a plastic throwing body using 50% kaolin only, however you must choose one of the highly plastic varieties such as #6 Tile. Even then you will likely need a little bentonite to augment the kaolin. There is a huge range in kaolin plasticities, test for yourself to find out. Glaze Suspender - General Kaolin is the most common glaze suspender. Depending on the type of kaolin used, 15-20% should be enough. Many fritted glazes are composed solely of frit and kaolin. Some kaolins make the glaze gel, this is a helpful additional mechanism to keep it suspended.
Out Bound Links
- (Glossary - Unspecified)
Clay
Clays occur when parent clay-making rocks (there a... - (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin - Al2O3.2SiO2 or Al2Si2O5(OH)4 - Hydrated alumina silicate, Pure clay mineral
China Clay
- (URLs - Technical inforamtion)
Kaolin at Wikipedia.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaolin - (Hazards)
Kaolin
The hazards of using this material in the ceramic ... - (Typecodes)
1: GNM - Generic Material
- (Typecodes - Type)
1: KAO - Kaolin
- (URLs)
Information at Kaolin.com
http://kaolin.com/ - (MDT - Member)
Generic
Generic for building a completely custom MDT. Only... - (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, ... - (Minerals - Parent mineral)
Kaolinite
The most fundamental clay mineral. It is weathered... - (Glossary - Unspecified)
Porcelain
A comparatively white burning clay body (unless st... - (Tests - Unspecified)
SHAB - Shrinkage/Absorption
- (Tests - Unspecified)
SIEV - Sieve Analysis 35-325 Wet
- (MDT - Member)
Africa
All of continental Africa. We are working on this ... - (MDT - Member)
Latin and South America
Latin America and South America. We are working on... - (MDT - Member)
New Zealand
We are working on this database and would apprecia... - (MDT - Member)
North America
The decision about what materials to include in th... - (MDT - Member)
UK
We are working on this database and would apprecia... - (MDT - Member)
Glass Industry
The materials included in this MDT were selected i...
In Bound Links
- (Materials - Parent)
Ajax P Kaolin
Ajax P Casting Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Allen G Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Ajax Glomax Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
A Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Masterfil Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
600 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Albion Sperse - Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Avery Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
B Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Bell Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Puraflo 50 Kaolin - China clay, Kaolin
Puraflow 50 China Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
C Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Calcined Kaolin - Al2O3.2SiO2
Cal Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
CC China Clay - Devon China Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
CC31 China Clay - Devon China Clay
Kaolin CC31
- (Materials - Parent)
Ceraclay WTC Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
WTD Kaolin
Ceraclay WTD
- (Materials - Parent)
CF Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
D Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Diamond Kaolin - Secondary Intermediate Psd
- (Materials - Parent)
E Kaolin
Kaolin E
- (Materials - Parent)
English Kaolin - Al2O3.SiO2 - White Burning High Flux Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
EP Kaolin - Plastic White Firing Kaolin
EPK, Edgar Plastic Kaolin, EPK Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Ewing Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
F. C. Kaolin - COARSE GRAINED GEORGIA KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
Glomax LL Calcined Kaolin - Calcined Kaolin
Glomax Kaolin, Ajax Glomax Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Grolleg Kaolin - Fine White Burning English Kaolin, English China Clay
Grolleg China Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
Gunheath Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Hamilton Kaolin - Legacy kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Helmer Kaolin - Helmer clay
Helmar Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Hillman Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Hong Kong Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
IXL 34E - KAOLINIZED SAND
- (Materials - Parent)
IXL 34E/F 95 - KAOLINIZED SAND
- (Materials - Parent)
IXL RE - KAOLINIZED SAND
- (Materials - Parent)
JHC White Kaolin - ONTARIO KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
K1 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
K50 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Kamec Kaolin - Originally from Harris Mining Co. or Kaolin, Inc.
- (Materials - Parent)
Kampaku Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin - Al2O3.2SiO2 or Al2Si2O5(OH)4 - Hydrated alumina silicate, Pure clay mineral
China Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin Slurry
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin, Wilclay WC - WHITE AIRFLOATED KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaopaque 20 Kaolin - White Non Plastic Delaminated Kaolin
Kaopaque, Kaopaque Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Kingsley Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
KMS Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Korean Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
KT-Cast Kaolin
KT Cast Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
LG Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
LPC Kaolin
Ceraclay LPC
- (Materials - Parent)
Mastercast Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Masterfloat Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
McNamee Kaolin - South Carolina Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Monarch Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
No. 50 China Clay - Devon China Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
NSC Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Peerless 2 Kaolin - Casting kaolin
Peerless China Clay, Peerless Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Pioneer Kaolin - Medium plasticity kaolin
Georgia Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Piopot Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Pleyber S Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Putnam Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Putnam S Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Qc China Clay - Devon China Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
Rampant BB Kaolin - AUSTRALIAN KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
Remblend Kaolin - Englsih Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Rogers Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
SA-1 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
SAF Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Samson Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Sapphire Kaolin - Secondary Fine Particle Kaolin
Saphire Kaolin, Saphhire Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Snobrite Kaolin - White Burning Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Standard Porcelain Kaolin - A white burning high strength Cornish kaolin
English Standard Porcelain, Eng Stn Porc, Standard Porcelain China Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
Stannon Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Tile #6 Kaolin - Highly Plastic Fine Grained
Tile 6, Tile#6 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Treviscoe Kaolin - A white burning high strength Cornish kaolin
Treviscoe China Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
Plainsman Troy Clay - Kaolin, Halloysite
- (Materials - Parent)
Velvacast Kaolin - Large Particle Size Kaolin
Velva Cast
- (Materials - Parent)
WC-5 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Wilclay CR Kaolin - WHITE AIRFLOATED KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
Wilclay WC Kaolin - WHITE AIRFLOATED KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
Wilson Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
WS Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
KAOLIN-SERPENTINE
- (Materials - Parent)
Lampang Kaolin - Thai Kaolin from Lampang City
- (Materials - Parent)
Zedlec Kaolin - Unknown
- (Materials - Parent)
Delta Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolex D-6 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Laguna #1 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Snocal 707 Kaolin
Snowcal Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Grade C Kaolin - English Kaolin
C Grade Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Sovereign Kaolin - English Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin Natural BP - English Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Speswhite Kaolin - English Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Super Standard Porcelain - White burning high strength Cornish kaolin
Super Standard Porcelain Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Stockalite Kaolin - English kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Supreme Kaolin - English Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Topaz Kaolin - No longer available, was made by ECCI
- (Materials - Parent)
DB Float Kaolin - American Kaolin
DB-Float
- (Materials - Parent)
Allen Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
James Bay Stn Kaolin
JamesBay Stn
- (Materials - Parent)
JB Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin 111
Kaolen 111
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin 113
Kaolen 113
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin 114
Kaolen 114
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin 115
Kaolen 115
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin 143
Kaolen 143
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin 151
Kaolen 151
- (Materials - Parent)
Kaolin 171
Kaolen 171
- (Materials - Parent)
D'ARVOR Kaolin - Very plastic kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
H-1 Kaolin - Originally from Harris Mining Co.
- (Materials - Parent)
Sparks Kaolin - Originally from Harris Mining Co.
Sparks Clay
- (Materials - Parent)
609 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Layton Clay
Layton Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
1431 Kaolin - Ivory burning legacy kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
1433 Kaolin - Ivory burning legacy kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
1434 Kaolin - Ivory burning legacy kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
1479 Kaolin - White burning legacy kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
38 Kaolin - Ivory burning legacy kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Klondike Kaolin - Legacy white kaolin from Edgar Bros. Co.
- (Materials - Parent)
VC-1 Kaolin - Legacy kaolin from Paper Makers Co.
- (Materials - Parent)
A-1 Kaolin - Legacy kaolin from Paper Makers Co.
- (Materials - Parent)
Richardsons Kaolin - Legacy kaolin from Paper Makers Co.
- (Materials - Parent)
M+M China Kaolin - Legacy kaolin from Paper Makers Co.
M + M, M & M, M&M
- (Materials - Parent)
M.G.R. Kaolin - Legacy kaolin from Moore & Munger
MGR Kaolin, M. G. R. Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
M.W.M. Kaolin - Legacy kaolin from Moore & Munger
MWM Kaolin, M. W. M. Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
No. 44 Kaolin - Legacy kaolin from Moore & Munger
No 44 Kaolin, #44 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
No. 17 Kaolin - Legacy kaolin from Moore & Munger
No 17 Kaolin, #17 Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
372 Kaolin Kaolin - Legacy kaolin
No. 372 Kaolin, Kaolin 372
- (Materials - Parent)
Dixie Clay - SOUTH CAROLINA KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
Langford Kaolin - SOUTH CAROLINA KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
Bilt-Cote Kaolin - SOUTH CAROLINA KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
PAR Kaolin - SOUTH CAROLINA KAOLIN
- (Materials - Parent)
Snocal 40 - Yorkshire English Whiting
- (Materials - Parent)
Peerless 3 Kaolin - Casting kaolin
Peerless China Clay, Peerless Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Sterling Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Kernick Kaolin - English kaolin
- (Oxides - Material source)
Al2O3 - Aluminum Oxide, Alumina
- (Typecodes - Unspecified)
1: KAO - Kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Zettlitzer Kaolin
- (Oxides - Material source)
SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide, Silica
- (Glossary)
Plasticity
This term is used in reference to clays (or more o... - (Project - Unspecified)
Ceramic Materials Overview
The study of ceramic materials is at the center of... - (Materials - Related)
Ball Clay - Highly Plastic Fine Particle Clay
- (Project - Unspecified)
Troubleshooting Ceramic Process Problems and Links
It important to be in control of your process and ... - (Materials - Parent)
Caolín Gris (Cuba) - Cuban kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Caolín Damanueco (Cuba) - Cuban kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Caolín Mantua (Cuba) - Cuban kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Caolín Blanco (Cuba) - Cuban kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Caolín Santa Elena (Cuba) - Cuban kaolin
- (Materials - Parent)
Eckaglass Kaolin
Pictures
Ball clay and kaolin test bars side-by-side fired from cone 9-11 oxidation and 10 reduction.
Click for 494% larger
Large particle kaolin (left) and small-particle ball clay (right) DFAC drying disks demonstrate the dramatic difference in drying shrinkage and performance between these two extremes.
Click for 459% larger
By Tony Hansen    
XML for Import into INSIGHT
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<material name="Kaolin" descrip="Hydrated alumina silicate, Pure clay mineral" searchkey="China Clay" loi="0.00" casnumber="95077-05-7">
<oxides>
<oxide symbol="Al2O3" name="Aluminum Oxide, Alumina" status="" percent="40.210" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="SiO2" name="Silicon Dioxide, Silica" status="" percent="47.290" tolerance=""/>
</oxides>
<volatiles>
<volatile symbol="LOI" name="Loss on Ignition" percent="12.500" tolerance=""/>
</volatiles>
</material> | 
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