Array
(
    [status] => 200
    [status_message] => Material item
    [data] => Array
        (
            [material_id] => 1263
            [moddate] => 2022-03-26 18:10:19
            [name] => Sodium Carbonate
            [keywords] => The most common form of sodium carbonate
            [metadescrip] => 
            [chem_formula] => Na2CO3 H2O or Na2O.CO2.H2O
            [casnumber] => 3313-92-6
            [searchkey] => Soda Ash, Sodium Caronate Monohydrate, Na2CO3
            [unity] => 1
            [ratio] => 
            [ord] => 
            [minedat] => 
            [volatiles] => Array
                (
                    [CO2] => 35.48
                    [H2O] => 14.52
                )

            [analysis] => Array
                (
                    [Na2O] => 50.00
                )

            [weight] => 62
            [formulaweight] => 124
            [LOI] => 50
            [formula] => Array
                (
                    [Na2O] => 1.00
                )

            [notes] => The soda ash that the ceramic industry knows is a refined fine granular white material. It is very pure chemically and has been calcined (often referred to as dense soda ash). Grades (light, natural and dense) differ in the percentage of crystal water, particle sizes and bulk densities (the light grade has around 40 lbs/cubic foot, whereas dense is around 70). The dense grade may still lose up to 3% of it weight if calcined to about 400F.

The common ceramic use of soda ash is as a soluble deflocculant in ceramic slips and glazes. It works well in combination with sodium silicate to produce body slips that do not gel too quickly and whose rheology can be adjusted for changes in the hardness of the water (e.g. talc/ball clay body requires about 0.55% sodium silicate and 0.18% soda ash by weight of the clay powder, that would be 125g/40g). Higher soda ash proportions (vs sodium silicate) will produce a slip that gives a softer cast (stays wet longer). The total soda ash and sodium silicate amount should be tuned to create a slip that will eventually gel if left to stand. This thixotropic behavior will prevent it from settling. Sodium carbonate is also used for thinning glaze slurries.

Soda ash is not normally used as a source of Na2O in glazes because it is soluble. However, it is used as a key source of sodium in frits and glass. Its solubility makes it an ideal flux for Egyptian paste glazes. Although soda ash is a pure source of soda, a powerful flux in ceramics, by itself the powder of the dense version only begins caking at 1500F.

Soda ash production goes back to ancient times. Today, it is refined from Trona ore in the US (where the largest deposits are found). The ore is calcined, dissolved, and re-crystallized (other processes are used in other parts of the world). Soda ash is used in a very wide range of industries (glass is the single biggest user) so its chemical, physical and bulk properties are well understood and documented (General Chemical Industrial Products publishes an excellent booklet describing soda ash).

Monohydrate soda ash has 14.5% crystal water. This material is a textbook study of solubility and decomposition physics.
The individual crystals are fragile and handling equipment has to take this into account to preserve the grade.
It is not considered toxic, although micron-sized particles can be generated during handling.
Caking can occur during storage if the material absorbs water from the air. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, soda ash + carbon dioxide.
            [data] => Array
                (
                    [3116] => Array
                        (
                            [label] => Frit Softening Point
                            [value] => 851C M
                            [abbr] => GSPT
                            [test_id] => 14
                        )

                    [3115] => Array
                        (
                            [label] => Density (Specific Gravity)
                            [value] => 1.44
                            [abbr] => DENS
                            [test_id] => 1
                        )

                )

            [links] => Array
                (
                    [url] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => url/163
                                    [label] => http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/soda_ash/
                                    [descrip] => Statictics and Information
                                    [note] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => url/164
                                    [label] => http://www.sodaash.com
                                    [descrip] => www.sodaash.com
                                    [note] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [2] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => url/363
                                    [label] => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate
                                    [descrip] => Sodium Carbonate at WikiPedia
                                    [note] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [3] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => url/1189
                                    [label] => http://images.dharmatrading.com/pdf/MSDS/soda-ash.pdf
                                    [descrip] => Sample sodium carbonate data sheet
                                    [note] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                        )

                    [material] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => material/Sodium+Carbonate+Decahydrate
                                    [label] => Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate
                                    [keywords] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => material/Sodium+Nitrate
                                    [label] => Sodium Nitrate
                                    [keywords] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [2] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => material/Sodium+Bicarbonate
                                    [label] => Sodium Bicarbonate
                                    [keywords] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [3] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => material/Sodium+Hydroxide
                                    [label] => Sodium Hydroxide
                                    [keywords] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [4] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => material/Sodium+Silicate
                                    [label] => Sodium Silicate
                                    [keywords] => A sticky, viscous liquid. The most common deflocculant used in ceramics. Also used as a bonding agent.
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                        )

                    [hazard] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => hazard/Sodium+Carbonate+Toxicology
                                    [label] => Sodium Carbonate Toxicology
                                    [metadescrip] => 
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                        )

                    [typecode] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => typecode/GNM
                                    [descrip] => 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.
                                    [label] => Generic Material
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => typecode/FLS
                                    [descrip] => Materials that source Na2O, K2O, Li2O, CaO, MgO and other fluxes but are not feldspars or frits. Remember that materials can be flux sources but also perform many other roles. For example, talc is a flux in high temperature glazes, but a matting agent in low temperatures ones. It can also be a flux, a filler and an expansion increaser in bodies.
                                    [label] => Flux Source
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                        )

                    [temperature] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => temperature/55
                                    [label] => Sodium Carbonate decomposes (850-)
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => temperature/75
                                    [label] => Sodium Carbonate Dehydrates (370-)
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                        )

                    [supplier] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/General+Chemical+Industrial+Products+-+Tata+Chemicals+Limited
                                    [label] => General Chemical Industrial Products - Tata Chemicals Limited
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Llansa+SA
                                    [label] => Llansa SA
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [2] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Chemical+Store
                                    [label] => Chemical Store
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [3] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Allan+Chemical+Corp.
                                    [label] => Allan Chemical Corp.
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [4] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Del+Amo+Chemical+Co.
                                    [label] => Del Amo Chemical Co.
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [5] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Spectrum+Chemical+Mfg.+Corp.
                                    [label] => Spectrum Chemical Mfg. Corp.
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [6] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Credit+Chem+Group
                                    [label] => Credit Chem Group
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [7] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Seidler+Chemical+Co%2C+Inc
                                    [label] => Seidler Chemical Co, Inc
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [8] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Noah+Technologies
                                    [label] => Noah Technologies
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                            [9] => Array
                                (
                                    [link] => supplier/Prochem+Inc.
                                    [label] => Prochem Inc.
                                    [ord] => 0
                                )

                        )

                )

            [pictures] => Array
                (
                    [1524] => Array
                        (
                            [z] => maxwelaxeb
                            [alttag] => 
                            [titletag] => 
                            [title] => 50 lb bag of soda ash (or sodium carbonate).
                            [notes] => Soda Ash is soluble and is thus not useful in most ceramic glazes. However that very solubility makes it very useful to control the electrolytics of ceramic slurries. This is the dense variety, non-hydrous.
                            [filename] => emfyp9caek.jpeg
                            [path] => images/pictures/
                            [fullpath] => /var/www/digitalfire.com/4sight/images/pictures/
                            [fullurl] => https://digitalfire.com/4sight/images/pictures/
                            [picture_date] => 2022-03-26 18:11:02
                            [S3URL] => https://reference.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/pictures/emfyp9caek.jpeg
                            [S3Date] => 2022-03-26 18:15:02
                            [timelinephoto] => 0
                            [ord] => 0
                            [direction] => out
                            [url] => 
                        )

                    [1523] => Array
                        (
                            [z] => tomlowexeg
                            [alttag] => 
                            [titletag] => 
                            [title] => Back side of a bag of sodium carbonate (soda ash).
                            [notes] => Causes eye irritation. Prolonged contact with skin may cause irritation.
                            [filename] => hm5t74ka2t.jpeg
                            [path] => images/pictures/
                            [fullpath] => /var/www/digitalfire.com/4sight/images/pictures/
                            [fullurl] => https://digitalfire.com/4sight/images/pictures/
                            [picture_date] => 2022-03-26 18:09:26
                            [S3URL] => https://reference.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/pictures/hm5t74ka2t.jpeg
                            [S3Date] => 2022-03-26 18:10:02
                            [timelinephoto] => 0
                            [ord] => 0
                            [direction] => out
                            [url] => 
                        )

                )

        )

)

<!DOCTYPE HTML><html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="wquYW_n-3QEfIzDfV--8ElUewf7TIt04RGo55GfZySU" />
<meta name="have-i-been-pwned-verification" value="9223dcee7de5c9622c2a2abcff4adc81">
<meta http-equiv="P3P" content='CP="DSP IDC CUR ADMi DEVi TAIi IVDi IVAi CONi HISi OUR IND NAV COM UNI CNT INT ONL PHY PRE PUR STA DEM"'>
<meta name="author" content="Tony Hansen">
<meta name="description" content="Alternate names: Soda Ash, Sodium Caronate Monohydrate, Na2CO3 - Digitalfire Reference Library (no ads)">
<meta name="keywords" content="Sodium Carbonate, Soda Ash, Sodium Caronate Monohydrate, Na2CO3, The most common form of sodium carbonate, ceramic material, ceramic, mineral, glaze, physical properties, materials, ceramics, glazes, material science, glaze material">
<title>Sodium Carbonate</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@4.5.3/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" integrity="sha384-TX8t27EcRE3e/ihU7zmQxVncDAy5uIKz4rEkgIXeMed4M0jlfIDPvg6uqKI2xXr2" crossorigin="anonymous">
<style type="text/css">
.flexinline { width: 50%; height: auto; clear:left; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; }
@media (max-width: 640px) { .flexinline { width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; } }
.flexright50 { width: 50%; height: auto; float: right; margin: 5px 0px 10px 10px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; }
@media (max-width: 640px) { .flexright50 { width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; } }
.flexright33 { width: 33%; height: auto; float: right; margin: 5px 0px 10px 10px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; }
@media (max-width: 640px) { .flexright33 { width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; } }
.flexright25 { width: 25%; height: auto; float: right; margin: 5px 0px 10px 10px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; }
@media (max-width: 640px) { .flexright25 { width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; } }
.flexleft50 { width: 50%; height: auto; float: left; margin: 5px 15px 10px 0px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; }
@media (max-width: 640px) { .flexleft50 { width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 5px 10px 10px 0px; border: none; padding: none; } }
.flexleft33 { width: 33%; height: auto; float: left; margin: 5px 10px 10px 0px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; }
@media (max-width: 640px) { .flexleft33 { width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 5px 10px 10px 0px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; } }
.flexleft25 { width: 25%; height: auto; float: left; margin: 5px 10px 10px 0px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; }
@media (max-width: 640px) { .flexleft25 { width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 5px 10px 10px 0px; border: thin solid #dddddd; padding: 5px; } }
.pictureseries { overflow:scroll; width:auto; height:200px; float:left; margin: 5px 10px 10px 0px; padding: 5px; font-size:60%; font-style:italic;}
@media (max-width: 640px) { .pictureseries { overflow:scroll; width:auto; height:200px; float:left; margin: 5px 10px 10px 0px; border: padding: 5px; font-size:60%; font-style:italic;} }
.L2 { margin-left:0px; }
.L3 { margin-left:20px; color:#222222; }
.L4 { margin-left:40px; color:#444444; }
.L5 { margin-left:60px; color:#666666; }
.L6 { margin-left:60px; color:#888888; }
H2 { color:#222222; }
H3 { color:#444444; }
H4 { color:#666666; }
H5 { color:#888888; }
</style>


        <script>
		function validateForm() {
			var x = document.forms["emailform1"]["name1"].value;
			var r = true;
			if (x == "") { // alert("A name is required."); 
				document.getElementById("name1").textContent="Name Required";
				document.getElementById("name1").style.color="red";
				// document.emailform1.name1.focus() ; # does not work, should be getelementbyid
				r = false; 
			} else {
				document.getElementById("name1").textContent="Name";
				document.getElementById("name1").style.color="black";
			}
			if (document.forms["emailform1"]["subject1"].value == "") { 
				document.getElementById("subject1").textContent="Subject Required";
				document.getElementById("subject1").style.color="red";
				r = false; 
			} else {
				document.getElementById("subject1").textContent="Subject";
				document.getElementById("subject1").style.color="black";
			}			
			if (document.forms["emailform1"]["msg1"].value == "") { 
				document.getElementById("msg1").textContent="Message Required";
				document.getElementById("msg1").style.color="red";
				// alert("A message is required."); 
				r = false; 
			} else {
				document.getElementById("msg1").textContent="Message";
				document.getElementById("msg1").style.color="black";
			}
			var emailID = document.emailform1.email1.value;
			atpos = emailID.indexOf("@");
			dotpos = emailID.lastIndexOf(".");
			if (atpos < 1 || ( dotpos - atpos < 2 )) {
				document.getElementById("email1").textContent="Email Address Appears Invalid!";
				document.getElementById("email1").style.color="red";
				// alert("Your email address appears invalid.")
				r = false;
			} else {
				document.getElementById("email1").textContent="Email Address";
				document.getElementById("email1").style.color="black";
			}
			// Send the form
			if (r == false) return false;
			document.forms["emailform1"].submit();
        }
		</script>
</head>
<body>

<nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-light bg-light">
	<a name="pagetop" class="navbar-brand" href="https://digitalfire.com/home"><img src="/4sight/images/ReferenceLibrary.svg" height="40" alt=""></a>
	<button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbarSupportedContent" aria-controls="navbarSupportedContent" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation">
		<span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
	</button>
	<div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarSupportedContent">
		<ul class="navbar-nav mr-auto">
			<li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/home">Home</a></li>
			<li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/oxide/list">Oxides</a></li>
			<li class="nav-item active"><a class="nav-link" href="/material/list">Materials <span class="sr-only">(current)</span></a></li>
			<li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/recipe/list">Recipes</a></li>
			<li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/glossary/list">Glossary</a></li>
			<li class="nav-item dropdown">
				<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" id="navbarDropdown" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Others</a>
				<div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown">
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/article/list">Articles</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/hazard/list">Hazards</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/mineral/list">Minerals</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/property/list">Properties</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/schedule/list">Firing Schedules</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/temperature/list">Temperatures</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/trouble/list">Troubles</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/test/list">Tests</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/video/list">Media</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/picture/list">Pictures</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/typecode/list">Typecodes</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/project/list">Projects</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/consultants/list">Consultants</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/schools/list">Schools</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/stores/list">Stores</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="/potterytony/list">Buy-A-Mug</a>
					<div class="dropdown-divider"></div>
					<div class="dropdown-divider"></div>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="https://digitalfire.com">https://digitalfire.com</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="https://insight-live.com">Insight-Live.com</a>
					<a class="dropdown-item" href="https://digitalfire.com">Sign-Up</a>
				</div>
			</li>
		</ul>
		<form class="form-inline my-2 my-lg-0" action="https://digitalfire.com/index.php?searcharea=material" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="post">
		<input name="searchfor" title="Search from home to search in all areas" maxlength="20" class="form-control mr-sm-2" aria-label="Search" placeholder="Search" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="off" type="search" value=""><button class="btn btn-outline-success my-2 my-sm-0" type="submit" name="searchbutton">Search</button>
		</form>
	</div>
</nav>
<div class="container"><table style="width:100%; margin-bottom:10px;"><tr><td><b style="color:blue;"><a name="nlsignup">Monthly Tech-Tip</b> <nobr>from Tony Hansen</nobr> <a href="/index.php">SignUp</a></td><td><p style="float:right; font-size:80%; border:thin solid grey; margin:0px; padding:3px 5px 3px 5px; background-color:#eeffee;"><b>No tracking</b>! <b>No ads</b>!</p></td><tr></table>
<ul class="nav nav-tabs pt-1" id="myTab" role="tablist">
  <li class="nav-item">
    <a class="nav-link active" id="material-tab" data-toggle="tab" href="#material" role="tab" aria-controls="material" aria-selected="true">Materials for Ceramics</a>
  </li>
</ul>
<div class="tab-content mb-3" id="myTabContent" style="border-right:1px solid #ddd; border-left:1px solid #ddd; border-bottom:1px solid #ddd; padding:10px;">
  <div class="tab-pane fade show active" id="material" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="material-tab">
<a href="/material/list/1-9">1-9</a> | <a href="/material/list/A">A</a> | <a href="/material/list/B">B</a> | <a href="/material/list/C">C</a> | <a href="/material/list/D">D</a> | <a href="/material/list/E">E</a> | <a href="/material/list/F">F</a> | <a href="/material/list/Frits">Frits</a> | <a href="/material/list/G">G</a> | <a href="/material/list/H">H</a> | <a href="/material/list/I">I</a> | <a href="/material/list/J">J</a> | <a href="/material/list/K">K</a> | <a href="/material/list/L">L</a> | <a href="/material/list/M">M</a> | <a href="/material/list/N">N</a> | <a href="/material/list/O">O</a> | <a href="/material/list/P">P</a> | <a href="/material/list/Q">Q</a> | <a href="/material/list/R">R</a> | <a href="/material/list/S">S</a> | <a href="/material/list/T">T</a> | <a href="/material/list/U">U</a> | <a href="/material/list/V">V</a> | <a href="/material/list/W">W</a> | <a href="/material/list/X">X</a> | <a href="/material/list/Y">Y</a> | <a href="/material/list/Z">Z</a><br />
<nobr></nobr>
</div>
</div><p style="clear:left"></p><p style="clear:left"></p><h1>Sodium Carbonate</h1>
<p><b>Alternate Names</b>: Soda Ash, Sodium Caronate Monohydrate, Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub></p>
<p><b>Description</b>: The most common form of sodium carbonate</p>
<table class="table table-bordered table-sm" style="width:auto">
<thead class="thead-light">
<tr style="font-weight:bold">
<th class="text-center" scope="col" style="width:20%"><a href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/oxide">Oxide</a></th>
<th class="text-center" scope="col" style="width:20%"><a href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/analysis">Analysis</a></th>
<th class="text-center" scope="col" style="width:20%"><a href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/formula">Formula</a></th>
</tr></thead><tbody>
<tr><td class="label"><a href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/na2o">Na2O</a></td>
<td class="text-right"">50.00%</td>
<td class="text-right">
1.00
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="label"><a href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/co2">CO2</a></td>
<td class="text-right">35.48%</td><td class="text-right">n/a</td></tr>
<tr><td class="label"><a href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/h2o">H2O</a></td>
<td class="text-right">14.52%</td><td class="text-right">n/a</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2">Oxide Weight</td><td colspan="2" class="text-right">
62.00
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" class="text-right"><a href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/formula+weight">Formula Weight</a></td><td colspan="2" style="text-align:right">
124.00
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>Notes</h4><p>The soda ash that the ceramic industry knows is a refined fine granular white material. It is very pure chemically and has been <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/calcination">calcined</a> (often referred to as dense soda ash). Grades (light, natural and dense) differ in the percentage of crystal water, <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/particle+sizes">particle sizes</a> and bulk densities (the light grade has around 40 lbs/cubic foot, whereas dense is around 70). The dense grade may still lose up to 3% of it weight if calcined to about 400F.<br />
<br />
The common ceramic use of soda ash is as a soluble deflocculant in <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/ceramic+slip">ceramic slips</a> and glazes. It works well in combination with <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/material/1275">sodium silicate</a> to produce body slips that do not gel too quickly and whose <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/rheology">rheology</a> can be adjusted for changes in the hardness of the water (e.g. talc/ball <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/clay+body">clay body</a> requires about 0.55% sodium silicate and 0.18% soda ash by weight of the clay powder, that would be 125g/40g). Higher soda ash proportions (vs sodium silicate) will produce a slip that gives a softer cast (stays wet longer). The total soda ash and sodium silicate amount should be tuned to create a slip that will eventually gel if left to stand. This <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/thixotropy">thixotropic</a> behavior will prevent it from <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/suspension">settling</a>. Sodium carbonate is also used for thinning glaze slurries.<br />
<br />
Soda ash is not normally used as a source of <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/na2o">Na<sub>2</sub>O</a> in glazes because it is soluble. However, it is used as a key source of sodium in <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/frit">frits</a> and glass. Its solubility makes it an ideal <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/flux">flux</a> for Egyptian paste glazes. Although soda ash is a pure source of soda, a powerful flux in <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/ceramics">ceramics</a>, by itself the powder of the dense version only begins caking at 1500F.<br />
<br />
Soda ash production goes back to ancient times. Today, it is refined from Trona ore in the US (where the largest deposits are found). The ore is calcined, dissolved, and re-crystallized (other processes are used in other parts of the world). Soda ash is used in a very wide range of industries (glass is the single biggest user) so its chemical, physical and bulk properties are well understood and documented (General Chemical Industrial Products publishes an excellent booklet describing soda ash).<br />
<br />
Monohydrate soda ash has 14.5% crystal water. This material is a textbook study of solubility and <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/decomposition">decomposition</a> <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/physical+testing">physics</a>.<br />
The individual crystals are fragile and handling equipment has to take this into account to preserve the grade.<br />
It is not considered toxic, although micron-sized particles can be generated during handling.<br />
Caking can occur during storage if the material absorbs water from the air. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, soda ash + carbon dioxide.</p>
<h2 style="font-style:italic;">Related Information</h2>
<p style="clear:left"></p>

<h3 style="margin-top:30px;">50 lb bag of soda ash (or sodium carbonate).</h3>
<span style="font-size:80%; color:#888888">Tap picture for full size and resolution</span><br /><a href="https://digitalfire.com/picture/maxwelaxeb"><img class="flexleft50" src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/reference/images/pictures/emfyp9caek-400W.jpg" /></a>
<p>Soda Ash is soluble and is thus not useful in most ceramic glazes. However that very solubility makes it very useful to control the electrolytics of ceramic slurries. This is the dense variety, non-hydrous.</p>
<p style="clear:left"></p>

<h3 style="margin-top:30px;">Back side of a bag of sodium carbonate (soda ash).</h3>
<span style="font-size:80%; color:#888888">Tap picture for full size and resolution</span><br /><a href="https://digitalfire.com/picture/tomlowexeg"><img class="flexleft50" src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/reference/images/pictures/hm5t74ka2t-400W.jpg" /></a>
<p>Causes eye irritation. Prolonged contact with skin may cause irritation.</p>
<p style="clear:left"></p>
<h3>Links</h3><table>
<table class="table table-bordered"><tbody>
<tr>
<th scope="row">URLs</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/url/163">http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/soda_ash/</a>
<br /><i>Statictics and Information</i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">URLs</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/url/164">http://www.sodaash.com</a>
<br /><i>www.sodaash.com</i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">URLs</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/url/363">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate</a>
<br /><i>Sodium Carbonate at WikiPedia</i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">URLs</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/url/1189">http://images.dharmatrading.com/pdf/MSDS/soda-ash.pdf</a>
<br /><i>Sample sodium carbonate data sheet</i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Materials</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/material/sodium+carbonate+decahydrate">Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate</a>
<br /><i></i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Materials</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/material/sodium+nitrate">Sodium Nitrate</a>
<br /><i></i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Materials</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/material/sodium+bicarbonate">Sodium Bicarbonate</a>
<br /><i></i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Materials</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/material/sodium+hydroxide">Sodium Hydroxide</a>
<br /><i></i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Materials</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/material/sodium+silicate">Sodium Silicate</a>
<br /><i>A sticky, viscous liquid. The most common deflocculant used in <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/ceramics">ceramics</a>. Also used as a bonding agent.</i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Hazards</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/hazard/sodium+carbonate+toxicology">Sodium Carbonate Toxicology</a>
<br /><i></i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Typecodes</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/typecode/gnm">Generic Material</a>
<br /><i>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.</i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Typecodes</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/typecode/fls">Flux Source</a>
<br /><i>Materials that source <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/na2o">Na2O</a>, <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/k2o">K2O</a>, <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/li2o">Li2O</a>, <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/cao">CaO</a>, <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/oxide/mgo">MgO</a> and other fluxes but are not feldspars or <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/frit">frits</a>. Remember that materials can be <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/glossary/flux">flux</a> sources but also perform many other roles. For example, <a  href="https://digitalfire.com/material/1620">talc</a> is a flux in high temperature glazes, but a matting agent in low temperatures ones. It can also be a flux, a filler and an expansion increaser in bodies.</i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Temperatures</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/temperature/55">Sodium Carbonate decomposes (850-)</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Temperatures</th>
<td>
<a href="https://digitalfire.com/temperature/75">Sodium Carbonate Dehydrates (370-)</a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>Data</h3><table>
<table class="table table-bordered"><tbody>
<tr>
<th scope="row"><a href="https://digitalfire.com/test/14">Frit Softening Point</a></th>
<td>851C M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Density (Specific Gravity)</th>
<td>1.44</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><table style="margin-top:30px; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:20px; border-top:thin solid grey; border-bottom:thin solid grey;"><tr><td style="padding-right:10px">By <i>Tony Hansen</i><br /><span style="font-size:80%; color:#888888;">Follow me on<br /><a href="https://www.threads.net/@tonyatdigitalfire" target="_blank"><img src="https://digitalfire.com/images/threads.jpg" style="width:20px;" border="0"></a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/insightlive" target="_blank"><img src="https://digitalfire.com/images/facebook.jpg" style="width:20px;" border="0"></a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonywhansen/" target="_blank"><img src="https://digitalfire.com/images/linkedin.jpg" style="width:20px;" border="0"></a> <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/tonywhansen" target="_blank"><img src="https://digitalfire.com/images/pinterest.jpg" style="width:20px;" border="0"></a> <a href="https://instagram.com/tonyatdigitalfire" target="_blank"><img src="https://digitalfire.com/images/instagram.jpg" style="width:20px;" border="0"></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/@digitalfire" target="_blank"><img src="https://digitalfire.com/images/mastodon.jpg" style="width:20px;" border="0"></a> <a href="https://business.google.com/dashboard/l/01560183430720260477" target="_blank"><img src="https://digitalfire.com/images/google.jpg" style="width:20px;" border="0"></a></td><td><a href="https://tonyhansen.com/about"><img src="https://digitalfire.com/images/SignaturePhotoSmall.jpg" height="80"></a></td></tr></table><h3 style="margin-top:30px;">Got a Question?</h3><p style="margin-bottom:30px;"><a name="kofi">Buy me a coffee and we can talk</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://ko-fi.com/tonyhansen"><img style="width:40px" src="https://digitalfire.com/images/ko-fi.svg"></a></p>
<p></p><p></p><hr>
<img style="width:250px" src="/4sight/images/ReferenceLibrary.png">
<br />
<a href="https://digitalfire.com">https://digitalfire.com</a>, All Rights Reserved
<br /><a href="w3c/privacypolicy.php">Privacy Policy</a>
</div>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.5.1.slim.min.js" integrity="sha384-DfXdz2htPH0lsSSs5nCTpuj/zy4C+OGpamoFVy38MVBnE+IbbVYUew+OrCXaRkfj" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@4.5.3/dist/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js" integrity="sha384-ho+j7jyWK8fNQe+A12Hb8AhRq26LrZ/JpcUGGOn+Y7RsweNrtN/tE3MoK7ZeZDyx" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

</body>
</html>