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Article: Complex clay and complex ions: the chemistry of ceramics from Earth to fired finish.
- Article from:
- Canadian Chemical News
- Article date:
- April 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Chemical Institute of Canada. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Decorate your home, furnish your reception area, or brush up on the chemistry of materials and light emission--with ceramics.
The ceramic process first began with the earliest discovery that earth mixed with water can be moulded into shapes. All pottery contains some amount of clay in combination with other materials. Clay allows the material to be easily manipulated and to maintain its new form with strength. Flux is another material present in pottery. It melts in the high temperatures of a kiln and reacts with other materials, increasing the pottery's strength. The remainder of the composition is filler--non-reactive material providing rigidity. Once clay ...