Feel free to contact us anytime with questions or suggestions you may have. We would love to hear from you.
A few ceramic fun facts:
Most ceramics involve using clay as the basic material. Clay itself originates from _____ ?
"decomposed granite" Clay is formed by the weathering of the igneous rock granite. The sheets of alumino-silicates are weathered and deposited in hollows and low-lying areas. Pure weathered granite will decompose into kaolinite, from which porcelain is made. If the clay has been transported and mixed with other refractory materials, it may become either stoneware or earthenware clays, which melt at lower temperatures than the purer kaolinite.
Ceramics must be heated in order to harden the clay and make it durable. The tool used to heat the clay is called a _____ ?
"kiln" Kilns come in all shapes and sizes, and burn all types of fuel. They range from a small electric jewelry kiln the size of a shoebox, to a large tunnel kiln used in industry that may be over one hundred yards long.
The potter's wheel was invented by the ______ ?
"Egyptians" The potter's wheel was invented in Egypt around the year 3000 BC. The flat rotating area upon which pots were made had a longer shaft and a flywheel added, which allowed the potter to make more pots with proportionately less energy expended.
Pottery and glass are made from the same raw materials.
"True" The proportions are different, but the materials are the same. Most clays, when heated to a higher temperature, will melt into a glass.
The material on the surface of a piece of ceramics is called ____ ?
"glaze" Although all of the incorrect answers may in fact be found on the surface of a piece of pottery, the ceramist intentionally adds glaze to the surface of the piece to decorate the pot and make the surface impermeable to water, rendering the piece useful in daily life. The glaze is heated along with the pot and is transformed into a glassy surface when the proper temperature is achieved. |
