Granular Rutile

Oxide	Analysis	Formula
SiO2	1.00%	1.00
ZrO2	1.00%	0.49
Fe2O3	1.00%	0.38
TiO2	97.00%	72.96
Oxide Weight		6,010.00
Formula Weight		6,010.00

Notes

Processed rutile ore (upgraded to 95%+ TiO2 by smelting). Available in a variety of sizes. It can be used at a speckling agent in glazes, however it settles quickly because of the high specific gravity. It can also be used as a speckling agent in bodies, try around 0.2% to start.

Related Information

Possible to grind your own ceramic grade rutile?

Yes, the granular and powdered grades of pure rutile are the same material. But, for producers, the milling process it is very difficult because the raw mineral is so hard. Commercial ceramic grade powder is minus 325 mesh, the companies doing this obviously have very good grinding equipment. They also have patience because even in this efficient porcelain ball mill, 90 minutes was only enough to get 50% to minus 325 mesh! The color of the powder is a good indication of its quality, the finer the grind the lighter tan it will be. That means you can use the color to gauge the mesh size. And, if you have a ball mill you can milled it more if needed.

0.02% manganese, ilmenite, rutile granular in a buff stoneware at cone 6

Clearly, the manganese is blossoming and producing far better speckle than the other two.

Links

Typecodes	Colorant Metallic based materials that impart fired color to glazes and bodies.
Materials	Rutile A raw TiO2-containing mineral used in ceramics to color and variegate glaze surfaces.
Materials	Ilmenite
Materials	Granular Ilmenite
Materials	Manganese Granular In ceramics, it is used primarily in clays and glazes to achieve fired speckle (including the brick industry).
Materials	Magnetite Granular
Materials	Ceramic Rutile Rutile mineral ground to a very fine particle size (e.g. 325 mesh) contributes titanium and iron that colors and variegates ceramic glazes.

Mechanisms

Glaze Variegation	Granular rutile is popular as a specking agent. Start with 0.2%. This material is heavy and will settle in glaze with a thin slurry.

By Tony Hansen
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