ceramics vocab

clay

a compound of decamped and altered feldspathic rock consisting of aluminum along with non-plastics, such as quartz and organic matter

porcelain

pale body of primary clay with a distinctive ring when struck

stoneware clay

secondary clays that are not as fine grained as other clay bodies

absorption

the capacity of a material to soak up liquid

shrinkage

contraction of the clay or glaze in either drying or firing

slip

a suspension of clay in water

grog

fired clay that has been crushed into granules which may be added to clay body to increase strength control drying and reduce shrinkage

plasticity

the quality of clay that allows it to be easily shaped and maintain its form

leather hard

the condition of raw clay when most of the moisture has evaporated leaving it still soft enough to be carved or joined to other pieces

bone dry

the condition of unfired clay that has no assorted moisture other than natural humidity. the form is read

bisque ware

clay that has been fired once, unglazed

blowout

the explosion of clay in the kiln caused by the sudden escape of steam resulting from rapid heating of thick clay or the presence of impurities

blistering

air bubbles appearing in a glaze after a fast firing

order of moisture in clay

1. slip

2. plastic

3. leather hard

4. bone dry

5. bisque ware