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L3724F - Cone 03 Terra Cotta Stoneware

Modified: 2020-12-14 12:11:35

An experimental Zero3 using Plainsman 3D clay

Notes

This was version 1 of the Zero3 low fire red-burning plastic stoneware recipe. We were attempting to make use of a Plainsman material. While it worked version well we eventually decided to go back to the original concept of using pure Redart clay, to make it useful in all of North America. That is L3724N2.

The original goal was a terra cotta clay with added frit to make it vitrify at cone 03. The previous version to this one, L3724E, had 5 frit. The former has better red color as a slip, this one is better as a body itself. Although the development effort spanned a year, it ended in only partial success. It was found that this body (and many variations of it) was too volatile, there is too narrow a temperature window between too mature and too porous. When too mature, the fired shrinkage was very high, the color went from red to brown and the glaze was filled with bubbles from decomposition occurring within the over-fired body. When too open, the color was good but it was too susceptible to absorption of water into the matrix, this could be seen at sites of glaze imperfections where the water could get through. However, if you carefully watch glaze fit and make sure there are no imperfections in the glaze surface, this body could be successfully used at cone 04 to make quite strong ware.

The L3724N2 version, which we recommend, also has the possibility of being a casting body.

Related Information

A vitreous terra cotta slip over a white low fire stoneware

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L3724F fluxed terra cotta slip applied over a white burning stoneware (L3685R) fired at cone 03. Most slips in use are not adequately fluxed and do not adhere well to the body below. The frit in this one attaches much better and even enables it to develop a sheen. Also, because of its volatility of color in the cone 03 range, variations in the shade and degree of sheen will impart an appearance like flashing.

One small pinhole in a terra cotta mug and we have a problem

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This is L3724E terra cotta stoneware. The inside slip is L3685S, a frit-fluxed engobe that is hard like the body and attaches well to it (engobes are often insufficiently fluxed). The glaze (G1916Q) is Frit 3195, Frit 3110 and 15% ball clay. The body has about 3% porosity, enough to make very strong pots. However that porosity is still enough to absorb water (and coffee). Although not too visible here, the pinhole in the inner surface has enabled absorption and there is a quarter-sized area of discoloration below the glaze. The piece could possibly be fired a cone higher, but testing would be required to see if the slip is still firing-shrinkage and thermal-expansion compatible with the body and that the body would not be over-fired. A better solution is adjust the firing curve to heal the glaze better. High temperature stoneware can easily have a 3% porosity also, so this is not just a low fire issue.

Double-slip layer incised decoration: A challenge in slip-body fitting

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An example of a white engobe (L3685T) applied over a red clay body (L3724F), then a red engobe (also L3724F) applied over the white. The incised design reveals the white inter-layer. This is a tricky procedure, you have to make sure the two slips are well fitted to the body (and each other), having a compatible drying shrinkage, firing shrinkage, thermal expansion and quartz inversion behavior. This is much more complex that for glazes, they have no firing shrinkage and drying shrinkage only needs to be low enough for bisque application. Glazes also do not have quartz inversion issues.

What does it take to get a crystal-clear low fire transparent? A lot!

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These three cups are glazed with G1916S at cone 03. The glaze is the most crystal clear achieved so far because it contains almost no gas producing materials (not even raw kaolin). It contains Ferro frits 3195 and 3110 plus 11 calcined kaolin and 3 VeeGum. Left is a low fire stoneware (L3685T), center is Plainsman L212 and right a vitreous terra cotta (L3724F). It is almost crystal clear, it has few bubbles compared to the kaolin-suspended version. These all survived a 300F/icewater IWCT test without crazing!

Low fire red burning Zero3 engobe on white low fire stoneware

This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

L3724E ball milled flocculated slip has been applied to L3685U low fire white stoneware. Notice how silky smooth it is. What is the secret of getting a perfectly even layer that does not drip: Thin the slip until it is fairly watery (stays in motion for 10 seconds or more after stirring) and then flocculating it using powdered Epsom salts until it gels enough to stay in motion for less than 2 seconds.

Links

XML to Paste Into Insight-live

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