The effect of distinct Firings on a Glaze

A glaze seen in two distinct firing protocols.

Both firings are to Cone 10 in an electric Kiln, though the first firing is a hot cone 10,
with the cone 11 slightly more than tipped.

The first firing is slowed on the way up with an hour hold at 2170 deg F, and an additional half-hour hold at
2270 deg F. In addition, it has a slower temperature rise for the last segments of the up part of the firing.

The intent had been to increase the time available for slower reacting materials to enter the glaze melt,
without firing to a higher cone. This result was only partially achieved.

It is interesting that the result of firing the glaze longer seems to have had the effect of preventing the
development of the coppery colored metallic crystals seen in the second firing.

The holds on the way down in the first firing differ as well, an artifact of the inconvenience of programming
more than 8 ramps for the kiln controller. Perhaps the differing holds on the way down, rather than the
extra time at the top is the cause of the loss of the features. I doubt this as those crystals did appear in
other glazes in that first firing. I conjecture that the neucli, "seeds" for the crystal growth did not
form in that first firing.



Image of the glaze satIron_ZG_0_PK_MLi in Firing One

full view

section of glaze without distracting decoration



Image of the glaze satIron_ZG_0_PK_MLi in Firing Two

full view

inside

full view

outside

bowl is ~ 4 inches in diameter.



oxidation firing to cone 10 in an electric kiln

Firing profiles

First Firing

Up Fire profile Firing 1

150 deg F an hour to 250 deg F

400 deg F an hour to 1800 deg F

300 deg F an hour to 2170 deg F with a hold of 1 hour at 2170 deg F

120 deg F an hour to 2250 deg F

60 deg F an hour to 2270 deg F with a hold of 30 minutes at 2270 deg F

60 deg F an hour to 2310 deg F with a hold of 20 minutes at 2310 deg F

Down Fire Profile Firing 1

300 deg F an hour to 1750 deg F then a 4 hour hold at 1750 deg F

25 deg F an hour to 1650 deg F then a one hour hold at 1650 deg F



Second Firing

Up Fire profile Firing 2

150 deg F an hour to 250 deg F

400 deg F an hour to 1800 deg F

300 deg F an hour to 2050 deg F

120 deg F an hour to 2310 deg F with a hold of 20 minutes at 2310 deg F

Down Fire Profile Firing 2

300 deg F an hour to 1800 deg F then a 2 hr hold at 1800 deg F

300 deg F an hour to 1750 deg F then a 1 hr hold at 1750 deg F

50 deg F an hour to 1700 deg F then a three hour hold at 1700 deg F

25 deg F an hour to 1650 deg F then a one hour hold at 1650 deg F

Clay body is a grolleg porcelain from Tacoma Clay Art Center.



glaze composition

Empirical Formula satIron_ZG_0_PK_MLi :

K2O        0.12
Na2O       0.69
CaO        0.18
MgO        0.01

Al2O3      0.64
Fe2O3      0.22

SiO2       3.23
P2O5       0.10

molecular percent Silica 62.2%



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