What can I use as a Deflocculant?

Sodium silicate, also referred to as liquid glass, is another commonly used deflocculant in slip preparation. In ceramics, sodium silicate can also be used in surface decoration to create a crackled surface texture on pots.

Is sodium silicate a Deflocculant?

Sodium silicate is commonly used in ceramics as a deflocculant in slip preparation by neutralizing the charges of particles in the slip, allowing for more even suspension and thinning.

What are Deflocculating agents?

Definition of deflocculant

: an agent that causes deflocculation specifically : a chemical (as sodium carbonate) added to a clay slip to minimize settling out.

What is darvan made of?

DARVAN 7-N, is a clear to slightly opalescent solution of sodium polymethacrylate. It shows very little tendency to foam.

Is Vinegar a flocculant?

While there are more effective flocculants (e.g. calcium chloride, epsom salts), vinegar is popular among potters simply because it is so available.

Difference between flocculated and deflocculated suspension

Is sodium carbonate a Deflocculant?

Sodium carbonate and sodium silicate are well known deflocculants used for sanitary ware ceramic slips. Mixtures of these two chemical agents are usually the most satisfactory.

How do you make liquid glass?

How do you make a slip without a blender?

Or if you don't have a blender, you can use a fork. Then add some small pieces of broken bone dry clay to the liquid. Leave the clay to slake down and then stir the mixture together.

How does a Deflocculant work?

Deflocculants are electrolyte-sourcing liquids or powders (like sodium silicate, Darvan, Displex) that are added in small amounts. They work their magic by imparting electrical charges to clay particles making them repel each other (more accurately it is said to be a condition where repulsive forces predominate).

What is a Deflocculant in ceramics?

In ceramics, deflocculants are materials that you add to your slips and glazes to make them smoother, flow a little better, and even apply a little better. How, exactly, do they work though? Sometimes when a dry, powdery material is placed in water, it dissolves evenly, creating a homogeneous solution.

How can flocculation be achieved?

In dispersed clay slurries, flocculation occurs after mechanical agitation ceases and the dispersed clay platelets spontaneously form flocs because of attractions between negative face charges and positive edge charges.

What does soda ash do in a glaze?

Sodium carbonate, or SODA ASH, is a common glaze chemical for ceramics. Soda glaze produces a surface blush of color low firing, and becomes a unpredictable vapor at high temperatures. This unpredictability is valued by potters, since it produces a unique piece each time.

What does soda ash do in casting slip?

SODA ASH Soda ash works with sodium silicate to aid in deflocculating. The correct combination of the two will give proper casting qualities. Soda ash works to dissolve lignite in clay. It works as a deflocculant, but if only soda ash is used as a deflocculant, your clay will become sticky.

Is soda ash a flux?

Although soda ash is a pure source of soda, a powerful flux in ceramics, by itself the powder of the dense version only begins caking at 1500F. Soda ash production goes back to ancient times. Today, it is refined from Trona ore in the US (where the largest deposits are found).

Is Epsom salt a flocculant?

Epsom salts are my flocculant of choice. Other flocculants exist but Epsom salts are easy for me to find and they work really well. Epsom salts, like the ones you can buy at the drug store and bathe in, are made of magnesium sulphate.

What to add to glaze to make it brushable?

CMC gum is a ceramic glaze additive that can be used to help improve brushability in glazes that are mixed for dipping. Not only can CMC gum help improve brushability, but it can also help potters get better results when stamping glazes.

How much Epsom salt do you put in a glaze?

Then add this solution slowly and carefully to the glaze while continuously stirring the glaze. It should require less than approximately one teaspoon of Epsom salt solution per gallon of glaze.

What does Epsom salts do to glaze?

Epsom salt additions can be invaluable for glazes, its enables creating a thixotropic (gelled) slurry that applies evenly, holds in place and goes on in the right thickness on porous or dense bisque ware. When the slurry has a sympathetic specific gravity, about 2g per gallon of epsom salts should gel it.

What does bentonite do to a glaze?

Binder: Bentonite binds particles together in ceramic bodies to make them stronger in the green or dry state. Its minute particles fill voids between others to produce a more dense mass with more points of contact. Adding bentonite to glazes also imparts better dry strength and a harder and more durable surface.