Air Bubbles Definition Ceramics

Aligning the halves of clay will help free the clay of air bubbles.

Air bubbles definition ceramics.

Working the clay up and down in a cone shape on the wheel to align the platelates in a spiral formation and thus increase control in centering and throwing. Check the clay s readiness. Alternate kneading the clay with cutting and layering it until you have kneaded the clay between 50 and 60 times. Clay manufacturers extract the air bubbles from clay using a special machine known as a pug mill.

Process of kneading the clay with the hands to remove air bubbles and ensure homogenous mass. Air bubbles may form when the clay is prepared and they should be removed to avoid cracks in the pots you make. A sharp instrument used to cut pierce and incise designs on clay. Cutting the clay and rearranging the layers ensures that all parts of the clay mix together evenly.

If not done thoroughly any remaining air bubbles with cause a ceramic piece to explode in the kiln damaging the piece and the kiln. To wedge means to cut clay into manageable pieces and push and press on clay to expel all air bubbles trapped in the clay. The bigger the air bubbles the more difficult it becomes. Fritted glazes generate far fewer bubbles although they can still come from the clay portion of the recipe used for suspending the glaze slurry binders used for hardening and from colorants under the glazes.

The process of removing air bubbles from clay can be performed manually and is known as clay wedging. To wedge clay means to cut it into workable pieces and then manipulate it to expel any air bubbles trapped in the clay. You may have heard air bubbles will cause your piece to explode. Wedging most certainly helps to get rid of them.