Ceramics vocab

Question 1

An earthy fine grained natural material found in the ground. It is mostly made of alumina, silica, and water

Answer 1

Clay

Question 2

low fire (1700-2000 F). This is a clay used in ceramics A. It shrinks 10% after it dries and is fired

Answer 2

Earthenware, clay bodies

Question 3

mid to high fire (2000-2370 F)

Answer 3

Stoneware, clay bodies

Question 4

high fire (2,190-2550 F)

Answer 4

Porcelain, clay bodies

Question 5

low to high, able to withstand thermal shock (quick temperature change)

Answer 5

Raku, clay bodies

Question 6

clay with a lot of water added to it to make it more fluid. Can be used as “clay glue”. Stained or colored slip can be used as decoration.

Answer 6

Slip, stages of clay

Question 7

The ability of clay to be shaped and hold its shape. Clay is soft and formable. This is the stage when you can begin all your projects. Clay is plastic because its particles are flat and stick together. The particles slide and support each other when manipulated.

Answer 7

plasticity or plastic, stages of clay

Question 8

Clay is starting to set up but isn’t dry. This is a good stage to do decorating such as carve impress, etc. Clay will feel cool when touched.

Answer 8

Leather hard, stages of clay

Question 9

All physical properties of water have dried up. Clay is brittle at this stage making it hard for repairs. Clay will feel like room temperature when touched. Clay will feel powerdry or chalky .

Answer 9

Bone dry, stages of clay

Question 10

A project that is finished, the clay is bone dry, but it’s hasn’t been put in the kiln to fire and mature.

Answer 10

Greenware, project stages

Question 11

A project that has been fried and matured. It is now a permanent long lasting object. The clay can no longer be recycled. Your project will not outlive you whole or in pieces.

Answer 11

Bisqueware, project stages

Question 12

A thin layer of glass that is fused to the surface of the project when melted in the kiln. It is mostly made of alumina, silica and flux. Two main reasons for this is it would make the project waterproof and for decoration.

Answer 12

Glaze

Question 13

Is added to the glaze to lower the melting point so your glaze melts before your project does.

Answer 13

Flux

Question 14

A piece of equipment used to fire and mature the ceramic pieces. The kiln reaches extreme temperatures that your oven isn’t even close to reaching, over 2000 F.

Answer 14

Kiln

Question 15

Piece of equipment used to remix (recycle) clay

Answer 15

Pug mill

Question 16

Equipment used to push clay though a shaped opening to create coils and other shapes.

Answer 16

Extruder

Question 17

The process of kneading the clay to remove the clay of air bubbles and to mix the clay.

Answer 17

Wedging

Question 18

Scratching the surfaces of the clay to be attached

Answer 18

Score

Question 19

add slip (liquid clay) to scored the clay

Answer 19

slip

Question 20

Blending parts together

Answer 20

Meld,

Question 21

not accurate but you look through the peephole to see when the color is a glowing yellow-orange

Answer 21

Color, measuring temperature in the kiln

Question 22

Represented by a triangle, they melt at very specific temperatures. (our small kilns use cones

Answer 22

Cone, measuring temperature in the kiln

Question 23

An instrument for measuring high temperatures, especially in furnaces and kilns.

Answer 23

Pyrometer, measuring temperature in the kiln

Question 24

is in sand, when melted makes glass

Answer 24

Silica

Question 25

Try to maintain consistent thickness in your clay It will help your project dry more evenly and create less cracks.

Answer 25

Tip 1 (don’t worry about memorizing this)

Question 26

Avoid trapping air in your clay. Remember air expands when heated, this will cause your project to break the kiln.

Answer 26

Tip 2 (don’t worry about memorizing this)

Question 27

Always keep clay projects wrapped with plastic and airtight. This keeps the clay from drying out or drying to quickly

Answer 27

Tip 3 (don’t worry about memorizing this)