Raw Materials

A refractory material used to reduce shrinkage in clay bodies. Because of its interlocking crystal structure it also gives strength to clay bodies. 

Donated to Cornell by Nan Zantal. All proceeds will go to supporting Sinclair Community College Students looking to attend workshops at Cornell. Th...

It is a source of Lithia for glazes. A strong flux, beginning to aid in the melting of glazes at 1472°F. Used extensively as a secondary flux in le...

Source of magnesium in glazes. Imparts strength and color with little shrinkage. In larger proportions, it produces a dry opaque quality to glazes.

Good substitute for Custer Feldspar. A selected white firing high grade potassium feldspar ground to 200 mesh for ceramic applications. Moderate po...

A weak coloring agent. In an alkaline glaze, a blue-purple or plum color can be obtained. In leadless glazes, a purple-brown may result. It is a po...

A black powder which gives red, brown, purple or black tones to clay bodies and glazes. A strong flux when added in large amounts to clay bodies.

Donated to Cornell by Nan Zantal. All proceeds will go to supporting Sinclair Community College Students looking to attend workshops at Cornell. A ...

A soda spar. It can reduce crazing tendencies when added to a clay body. Also used in glazes where a soda spar is required.

Common glaze colorant. Green nickel produces a variety of browns, blues, grays and yellows depending on the presence of other materials in the glaze.

A natural hydrated earthy ferric oxide. Contains hydrated iron oxide. Can be calcined at 550-600°C.

Also known as Pearl Ash. It is a strong flux and can be used as a color modifier in glazes.

Can be used to increase plasticity in porcelain bodies instead of Potash Feldspar; a complex material similar to and sharing properties with Potash...

USG Pottery Plaster is great for all types of ceramic slip casting applications. Pottery plaster is formulated for long life and reduced breakage (...

A type of feldspar which can be used in glazes. It is not desirable in clay bodies.

Ferric oxide. Basically the same as black iron oxide except not as concentrated.

A titanium dioxide tan colorant which contains a small amount of iron. Used both for color and its tendency to provide various mottled textures.

This is classified as a Dark Rutile. This is the same mineral as the ceramic grade rutile but this has not been calcined.

Opaque glaze in the Laguna Cone 5 Dry Glaze Series.

Donated to Cornell by Nan Zantal. All proceeds will go to supporting Sinclair Community College Students looking to attend workshops at Cornell. AK...

325 mesh silica is typically used in glazes.

AKA Flint. The most common source of silica in clay bodies and glazes. Increases the thermal expansion in clays and decreases thermal expansion in ...

Feldspathic silica sands which can be used in place of grog in clay bodies to add texture and strength.

This is an active flux which serves an important function as a deflocculant in preparing liquid slip. It increases strength and workability and red...