Manganese Dioxide

Alternate Names: Mno2, Pyrolusite, Manganese(IV) oxide, Manganese Oxide

Oxide	Analysis	Formula
MnO2	100.00%	1.00
Oxide Weight		86.90
Formula Weight		86.90

Notes

Above 1080C, half of the oxygen disassociates to produce MnO, a flux that immediately reacts with silica to produce violet colors in the absence of alumina, browns in its presence. Thus if it is being used in glazes fired below 1080C it should be considered as MnO2, if above it should be taken as 81.5 MnO and 18.5 LOI.

In glazes it will behave in a refractory manner, stiffening the melt. Because of the expulsion of oxygen at 1080, glazes using manganese should avoid this temperature range to reduce the chance of blistering and ruining of the glaze surface.

This material is available as a pure material or as a ground ore (pyrolusite). Thus while generically it is pure MnO2 the actual name-brand materials may only be 75% MnO2.

Manganese dioxide is the key to Rockingham brown wares which are made by employing about 3% iron oxide and 7% manganese in a transparent lead glaze of a recipe such as: Feldspar 28, Kaolin 14, Flint 4, Lead bisilicate 40, Whiting 4.

Manganese browns have a different, often more pleasant character than iron browns.

Manganese oxides can occur in a number of less common forms: (i.e. Mn2O₃, Mn3O₄, Mn2O7).

Related Information

Black stain powders vs. manganese dioxide at cone 6

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The stains are still powders, showing their advantage over using raw metal oxides to color glazes. Pretty well all black glazes employ manganese along with other metal oxides, double or triple their combined percentage is needed to stain a glaze black. Much of the reason for this is that they dissolve in the melt.

Manganese dioxide powder (left) and manganese carbonate (right)

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An original container of manganese dioxide

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This bag will give you a clue as to what manganese dioxide, MnO2, is mainly used for. Staining bricks.

A body containing manganese bubbles the glaze

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Laguna Barnard Slip substitute fired at cone 03 with a Ferro Frit 3195 clear glaze. The very high bubble content is likely because they are adding manganese dioxide to match the MnO in the chemistry of Barnard (it gases alot during firing).

How do metal oxides compare in their degrees of melting?

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Metallic oxides with 50% Ferro frit 3134 in crucibles at cone 6ox. Chrome and rutile have not melted, copper and cobalt are extremely active melters. Cobalt and copper have crystallized during cooling, manganese has formed an iridescent glass.

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An example of variegation on a tile surface that occurred when using raw manganese dioxide (likely due to gassing)

How do you turn a base cone 10R dolomite matte into this beautiful tan?

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You add up to 5% manganese dioxide. The base recipe is G2571A. The clay body is a buff burning stoneware having iron speckle. The quality of the surface is excellent and it is durable.

Cone 10R dolomite matte glaze with 5% manganese dioxide

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By Tony Hansen

Links

Hazards	Manganese Toxicity by Elke Blodgett A story of the struggle of one person to identify and deal with manganese toxicity
Hazards	Manganese: Creativity and Illness by Dierdre O'Reilly A story of one persons struggle with manganese toxicity
Hazards	Manganese and Parkinsons by Jane Watkins A story of one person and manganese poisoning.
Hazards	Manganese Inorganic Compounds Toxicology
Hazards	Manganese in Clay Bodies Manganese is used to stain clays (using black) and to impart fired speckling (as a decorative effect). It is dangerous?
URLs	https://digitalfire.com/4sight/datasheets/SDSManganeseDioxide.pdf SDS Prince Minerals Manganese Dioxide
Glossary	Metal Oxides Metal oxide powders are used in ceramics to produce color. But a life time is not enough to study the complexities of their use and potential in glazes, engobes, bodies and enamels.
Typecodes	Colorant Metallic based materials that impart fired color to glazes and bodies.
Typecodes	Generic Material Generic materials are those with no brand name. Normally they are theoretical, the chemistry portrays what a specimen would be if it had no contamination. Generic materials are helpful in educational situations where students need to study material theory (later they graduate to dealing with real world materials). They are also helpful where the chemistry of an actual material is not known. Often the accuracy of calculations is sufficient using generic materials.
Temperatures	Manganese dioxide decomposes to MnO (535-)
Materials	Manganese Oxide
Materials	Manganese Carbonate
Materials	Manganese Granular In ceramics, it is used primarily in clays and glazes to achieve fired speckle (including the brick industry).
Oxides	MnO2 - Manganese Dioxide
Oxides	MnO - Manganous Oxide
Minerals	Manganite Ore of manganese.
Minerals	HÃ¼bnerite A manganese mineral.

Data

Density (Specific Gravity)	4.9-5.0

Mechanisms

Body Color	When added to terra cotta bodies in amounts around 5% manganese dioxide will produce dark gray to black firing bodies.
Glaze Color	Large amounts of manganese can produce metallic effects in a glaze. However, these glazes must not be used on food surfaces.

By Tony Hansen
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