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The clay is Plainsman 3B.
Left: Without processing, other than grinding to 42 mesh (currently the finest we can grind on a practical scale), if fired toward zero porosity it burns like this (at cone 6, 8, 9, 10 and 10R bottom to top). Of course, this material is mainly used in non-vitreous bodies at cone 6, so these are not issues. The speckle and bloating are caused by impurity iron-bearing particles and others having an LOI (they decompose and produce gases that cause the bloats).
Right: The impurity particles make up a small percentage, they can be removed in our lab by sieving to produce a natural porcelain that fully vitrifies by cone 6 (the middle bar). Only about 5% of the material was removed to produce this amazing product (we call it MNP).
Imagine what could be done if we were able to mine raw material further east, where clay quality is much better!
This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.
These are Plainsman PR3B and PR3D. The 3B bars are fired from cone 8 down to 2 (top to bottom) and the 3D ones from cone 9 down to 3. The 3B has added Nepheline to achieve zero porosity below cone 4 (to make an even better MNP). When plus 325 mesh particles are removed from the 3D is becomes quite plastic, suitable as a stoneware by itself (which we call MNS). And it reaches zero porosity around cone 6. 3D is lighter burning and cleaner, 3B is more vitreous and plastic.
Projects |
Make your own sieve shaker to process ceramic slurries
All you need is an inexpensive vibration motor from Amazon, a five-gallon pail, some metal and welding and 3D-printed collars to hold the sieve in place. |
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