Ceramics vocab quiz

clay

a compound of decomposed and altered feldspathic rock consisting of various hydrated silicates of aluminum along with nonplastics, such as quartz, and organic matter. It is also used as a source of alumina and silica in glazes. Long term exposure to clay dusts can cause lung disease.

glaze

a glass-like coating, fusion bonded to a ceramic surface by heat.

slip

A suspension of clay or glaze materials in water.

firing

The heating of clay or glaze to a specific temperature.

wedging

Mixing and removing the air from plastic clay but cutting it diagonally and slamming the pieces together.

trimming

The method of paring away excess clay while the leather-hard form is rotating on the potter’s wheel.

burnish

The use of a smooth object to polish the surface of leather-hard clay

impressing

Method of decorating by stamping into a plastic clay surface.

rib

a handheld tool made of hard material used to shape ceramic ware.

plasticity

The quality of clay that allows it to be easily manipulated and still maintain its shape.

porosity

The capacity of a fired clay body to absorb moisture.

blowout

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

translucency

The ability to transmit diffused light.  

opacity

a glaze that completely covers the clay body; does not allow light to show through

slab building

a hand building technique that requires the use of a rolling pin to roll out a flat piece of clay, that can be used to build ceramic pieces.

how many stages does clay have?

5

what are the five stages of clay?

slip, wet/plastic, leather hard, bone dry (or greenware), bisque

which stage of clay is a mixture of clay and water; consistency of pudding?

slip

which stage of clay is new clay from the bag and very workable?

wet/plastic

which stage of clay is clay that has lost all moisture but can be carved into?

leather hard

which stage of clay is totally dry clay and all moisture is gone, making it ready to fire in the kiln?

bone dry (or greenware)

which stage of clay is a clay piece that has been fired ONE time?

bisque