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This high boron cone 04 glaze is generating calcium-borate crystals during cool down (called boron-blue). This is a common problem and a reason to control the boron levels in transparent glazes; use just enough to melt it well. If more melt fluidity is needed, decrease the percentage of CaO. There is a positive: For opaque glazes, this effect can actually enable the use of less opacifier.
The mug on the left is a brush-on version of a boron-based clear glaze for cone 05. Three coats were applied and the often-encountered clouding occurred. The one on the right is an 85:15 lead bisilicate:kaolin mix. Three coats were also applied. It is an absolutely "knock your socks off" crystal-clear hyper-glossy surface that transmits the terra cotta color beautifully. And my lead testing kit passes it with no detectable lead release. Underglaze brushwork here we come! I have sought this effect for decades, this is it! Recent realizations about the slipware tradition in the UK (and their standard use of this same glaze) motivated me to get some of the frit. All I could get was a sample of the frit shards, but these milled down to a powder easily in our ball mill.
Of course, to be safe, I would still glaze the insides of pieces with a boron clear, likely as thin a layer as possible of G1916Q (with 2% added iron as a fining agent for the micro-bubbles). And, I will obviously fire these lead glazed pieces with the kiln exhaust system turned on.
Glossary |
Boron Blue
Boron blue is a glaze fault involving the crystallization of calcium, boron and silicate compounds. It can be solved using ceramic chemistry. |
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Glossary |
Crystallization
Ceramic glazes form crystals on cooling if the chemistry is right and the rate of cool is slow enough to permit molecular movement to the preferred orientation. |
Glossary |
Transparent Glazes
Every glossy ceramic glaze is actually a base transparent with added opacifiers and colorants. So understand how to make a good transparent, then build other glazes on it. |
Glossary |
Opacity
Opacity of ceramics glazes is normally achieved by adding an opacifier like tin oxide or zircon. However, there are chemical profiles that can turn transparent glazes milky and make it cheaper to opacify them. |
Glossary |
Reactive Glazes
In ceramics, reactive glazes have variegated surfaces that are a product of more melt fluidity and the presence of opacifiers, crystallizers and phase changers. |
Oxides | B2O3 - Boric Oxide |
Oxides | CaO - Calcium Oxide, Calcia |
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