Difference between revisions of "Ball clay"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
A fine, soft, very plastic clay. Ball clay is a relatively pure, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=secondary clay secondary clay] composed of [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=kaolin kaolin] (20-90%), [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=mica mica] (5-45%), and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=quartz quartz] (1-70%). The high quality clay is found in England (Wareham, Dorset, Devon) and the U.S. (Kentucky, Tennessee). Originally, ball clay was dug up and made into 30-35 pound balls for transportation by horses. The fine-grain clay contains small amounts of carbon and other organic materials that give it an intial dark color. These materials are combusted during firing leaving a white vessel. Ball clay is very plastic and has a high shrinkage rate of up to 20 %. It is often mixed with other clays to increase their plasticity. Ball clay is used in the manufacture of ceramics, whiteware, porcelain, glass, and tiles.
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A fine, soft, very plastic clay. Ball clay is a relatively pure, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=secondary%20clay secondary clay] composed of [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=kaolin kaolin] (20-90%), [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=mica mica] (5-45%), and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=quartz quartz] (1-70%). The high quality clay is found in England (Wareham, Dorset, Devon) and the U.S. (Kentucky, Tennessee). Originally, ball clay was dug up and made into 30-35 pound balls for transportation by horses. The fine-grain clay contains small amounts of carbon and other organic materials that give it an intial dark color. These materials are combusted during firing leaving a white vessel. Ball clay is very plastic and has a high shrinkage rate of up to 20 %. It is often mixed with other clays to increase their plasticity. Ball clay is used in the manufacture of ceramics, whiteware, porcelain, glass, and tiles.
  
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
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== Authority ==
 
== Authority ==
  
* G.S.Brady, G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 428
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* G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 428
  
* Ralph Mayer, Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
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* Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  
* Richard S. Lewis, Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
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* Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  
* Henry Hodges, Henry Hodges, ''Artifacts: An Introduction to Early Materials and Technology'', Ronald P. Frye, Kingston, Canada, 1988
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* Henry Hodges, ''Artifacts: An Introduction to Early Materials and Technology'', Ronald P. Frye, Kingston, Canada, 1988
  
* Robert Fournier, Robert Fournier, ''Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery'', Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA, 1992
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* Robert Fournier, ''Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery'', Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA, 1992
  
* Random House, Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
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* Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  
 
* ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996  Comment: "Ceramics"
 
* ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996  Comment: "Ceramics"

Revision as of 07:35, 24 July 2013

Description

A fine, soft, very plastic clay. Ball clay is a relatively pure, secondary clay composed of kaolin (20-90%), mica (5-45%), and quartz (1-70%). The high quality clay is found in England (Wareham, Dorset, Devon) and the U.S. (Kentucky, Tennessee). Originally, ball clay was dug up and made into 30-35 pound balls for transportation by horses. The fine-grain clay contains small amounts of carbon and other organic materials that give it an intial dark color. These materials are combusted during firing leaving a white vessel. Ball clay is very plastic and has a high shrinkage rate of up to 20 %. It is often mixed with other clays to increase their plasticity. Ball clay is used in the manufacture of ceramics, whiteware, porcelain, glass, and tiles.

Synonyms and Related Terms

argile plastique (Fr.); argila gorda (Port.)

Authority

  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 428
  • Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • Henry Hodges, Artifacts: An Introduction to Early Materials and Technology, Ronald P. Frye, Kingston, Canada, 1988
  • Robert Fournier, Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery, Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA, 1992
  • Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  • The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: "Ceramics"

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