Clay glossary

Various hard substances used for grinding, cutting or polishing softer substances, e.g. fused alumina.

Non-crystalline, having no determinable form or crystalline structure, e.g. glass.

Relation between the volume of a mass and the volume of the water absorbed when the mass is immersed.

Large storage tank or container, e.g. Glaze Ark, Slip Ark, etc.

An airtight chamber, usually of steel, used for heating articles under pressure, used for a crazing or moisture expansion test.

A piece of machinery used in the ceramic industry for the grinding of materials. It consists of a lined cylinder rotating about its horizontal axis and charged with flint pebbles or special ceramic grinding media, plus the material to be ground. The mill may be operated dry or wet.

1. Plaster or wooden form used to enable the movement of ware without handling.

A coating of refractory material applied to saggars, kiln furniture, etc, to prevent sticking during firing.

Fired but not yet glazed ware.

Small blister or bubble on fired clay surface.