F (Fluorine)

Notes

Fluorine is used in super low melting frits. In combination with Li₂O and small amounts of Bi2O₃, boron frits containing fluorine can melt as low as 1100F (600C).

Generally, F is considered to exist in its elemental form in glasses and glazes. Its presence is time-dependent, it will volatilize as F2 gas if firing is extended. Fluorine is very reactive.
Materials like Cryolite and Fluorspar present complex challenges to model the chemistry of their firing.

F2 (or perhaps F) is often listed separately in analyses from manufacturers (not included in general LOI) because the hazardous nature of this gas (produced during firing).

Is that recipe you found online really what you think it is?

It contains significant Frit P-25, I googled that to Digitalfire, it contains 1.8% fluorine! When much of that gases off during firing are you really equipped to deal with fluorine gas in your studio? One answer is to substitute my own frits (which of course do not contain fluorine). I did the calculations in my account at insight-live.com (see the recipes side-by-side). In the formula, I substituted the F (fluorine) for a mix of CaO/MgO. In the recipe, I substituted Ferro Frit 3110 (it is also a high-sodium frit) for the P-25, then I juggled the rest of the recipe to match up the oxides. More Gerstley Borate supplies the lost B₂O₃, more ball clay supplies the lost Al₂O₃ and less silica is needed (because the ball clay brought along more). I ended up with a recipe that is going to suspend much better (more clay) and was able to eliminate the whiting (because the rest of the new recipe is supplying more CaO). This recipe has a high thermal expansion, that means crazing. Would it not be easier to simply add a red stain to a clear glaze you already have that is working well on your clay bodies?

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