Pearl Ash

Alternate Names: Potassium Carbonate, K2CO₃, Pearlash

Oxide	Analysis	Formula
K2O	68.16%	1.00
CO2	31.84%	n/a
Oxide Weight		94.20
Formula Weight		138.20

Notes

This is the only material in ceramics that can deliver K₂O in the exact amount required without bringing other oxides with it, however, it is water-soluble. The most common source of K₂O in glazes is feldspar and normally all the other oxides that feldspar supplies are also needed (so it is rare that pure and much more expensive pure K₂O is needed). Sometimes this is used to modify the color in glazes.

In the manufacture of frits, pearl ash can be an important source of potassium.

Related Information

Links

URLs	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_carbonate WikiPedia description
Materials	Potassium Nitrate
Materials	Potassium Carbonate Trihydrate
Materials	Pearl Ash Calcined
Hazards	Potassium Carbonate Toxicity
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.
Typecodes	Flux Source 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.
Glossary	Water Solubility The water solubility of ceramic materials is an important consideration to their usability in the process. Glazes are suspensions of insert powders, solubles present problems to this system.
Oxides	K2O - Potassium Oxide

Data

Frit Softening Point	896C M
Density (Specific Gravity)	2.30

By Tony Hansen
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