On the right is L213, a body made using Texas talc and Kentucky ball clay. On the left is L3778H, a translucent cone 6 porcelain made using Grolleg kaolin, Nepheline syenite and silica. These test tiles were in the same cone 04 firing. Since both of these bodies have similar porosities and fired strengths at cone 04, does that mean one could use the porcelain? It appears the answer is yes. Why is that again? Because low-temperature artware clay doesn’t need vitrification; all the bodies are porous.
What could make this work? This crystal clear glaze, G1916QL1, fits the L213 but crazes after a few days on the porcelain. Increasing the firing temperature to cone 03 extends that time to 3 weeks. Cone 02 would likely extend it further. Adjustments to the glaze recipe (e.g. 400 mesh silica and increasing its percentage) would lower the thermal expansion and improve fit even more. This whole scenario is doable for DIY potters who mix their own bodies and glazes, especially for casting. The materials to make the porcelain are kaolin, silica and feldspar, even inexpensive kaolins would produce a body almost as white as this one at low fire.
| Glossary |
Artware
Artware, to potters and hobbyists, is pottery made from white-burning clays fired at low temperatures with brightly coloured glazes and decorated using decals, underglazes, lustres, etc. |
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