G2934 was born from a recipe we used for testing dolomite

Share from Insight-live.com (Lab Documentation and Calculation System) by Digitalfire. https://digitalfire.com

We maximized the MgO in a cone 6 glaze recipe to put it on a tipping point that makes it sensitive to changes in dolomite chemistry. It has enough B2O3 to melt well but also enough Al2O3 and SiO2 to enable translucency and even transparency (giving more comparison information than would a matte).


Cone 6 Dolomite-Comparison Glaze

Code #

L3728

Materials Amt
Ferro Frit 3124 20.000
EPK 21.000
Dolomite 27.000
Silica 32.000

Total:100.00

Auto Unity Formula

CaO 0.54
MgO 0.40
Na2O 0.06
(KNaO) 0.06
B2O3 0.11
Al2O3 0.26
SiO2 2.37

Ratios

Si:Al: 9.1:1
SiB:Al: 9.5:1
R2O:RO: 0.1:0.9

Expansion

5.9 (Molar:5.8)

LOI

16.0

Cost

0.20 per kg

Notes

This was the parent of our G2934 cone 6 matte glaze recipe. It was done as a formula-to-batch calculation to derive a recipe having as much MgO as possible (past the upper normal limit of 0.35). This puts it on a tipping point that makes it sensitive to changes in dolomite chemistry (dolomite being the source of the MgO). The recipe has enough B2O3 to melt well but also enough Al2O3 and SiO2 to enable translucency (and a good glass). Differences in the translucency give extra information, and enable seeing into the glass rather than just the surface (which would not be the case if it was a typical MgO matte).

Pictures

L3728 Dolomite Comparison Glaze

Two brands of dolomite are being compared, demonstrating how sensitive this recipe is for this purpose.

Typecodes

MAT-^6 glazes typecode

XML (to paste into Insight)

<?xml version="1.0"?> <recipes version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"> <recipe name="Cone 6 Dolomite-Comparison Glaze" id="56793" key="4nWfp4bL" date="2025-03-23" typecodes="MAT" codenum="L3728" picturebasename=""> <recipelines> <recipeline material="Ferro Frit 3124" amount="20.000" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="EPK" amount="21.000" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Dolomite" amount="27.000" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Silica" amount="32.000" tolerance=""/> </recipelines> </recipe> </recipes>

Born: 2014-03-04, Modified: 2025-03-23 00:23:09

High Dolomite glaze glossed with more SiO2

Code #

G2934A

Materials Amt
Ferro Frit 3124 17.540 17.56%
EPK 14.400 14.42%
Dolomite 23.600 23.63%
Silica 44.350 44.40%

Total:99.89

Auto Unity Formula

CaO 0.54
MgO 0.40
Na2O 0.06
(KNaO) 0.06
B2O3 0.11
Al2O3 0.22
SiO2 3.13

Ratios

Si:Al: 14.4:1
SiB:Al: 14.9:1
R2O:RO: 0.1:0.9

Expansion

5.5 (Molar:5.4)

LOI

13.4

Cost

0.14 per kg

Notes

This is an adjustment to L3728 dolomite testing glaze to get an Si:Al ratio of 14:1 for high gloss. This has the regular stock dolomite (used here for 35 years), and the proposed new dolomite from the IMASCO plant in Sirdar, B.C.
Did not fire gloss, still matte.

To make this a function silky matte:
-Cut the Si:Al ratio in half (doubling the Al2O3).

Pictures

G2924 vs G2924A at cone 6

G2934 is clearly a better matte yet the melt fluidity is almost as good as G2934A.

Typecodes

MAT-^6 glazes typecode

XML (to paste into Insight)

<?xml version="1.0"?> <recipes version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"> <recipe name="High Dolomite glaze glossed with more SiO2" id="56794" key="eW5B5zLt" date="2025-03-21" typecodes="MAT" codenum="G2934A" picturebasename=""> <recipelines> <recipeline material="Ferro Frit 3124" amount="17.540" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="EPK" amount="14.400" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Dolomite" amount="23.600" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Silica" amount="44.350" tolerance=""/> </recipelines> </recipe> </recipes>

Born: 2014-03-24, Modified: 2025-03-21 20:07:07

Cone 6 Magnesia Matte Base

Code #

G2934

Materials Amt
Ferro Frit 3124 19.400 19.01%
EPK 18.300 17.93%
Dolomite 23.500 23.03%
Silica 26.960 26.42%
Calcined Kaolin 13.900 13.62%

Total:102.06

Auto Unity Formula + Analysis

CaO 0.54 9.77%
MgO 0.39 5.06%
K2O 0.01 0.19%
Na2O 0.06 1.23%
(KNaO) 0.07
TiO2 0.00 0.07%
P2O5 0.00 0.04%
B2O3 0.12 2.61%
Al2O3 0.45 14.85%
SiO2 2.71 52.42%
Fe2O3 0.00 0.14%

Ratios

Si:Al: 6.0:1
SiB:Al: 6.2:1
R2O:RO: 0.1:0.9

Expansion

5.8 (Molar:5.7)

LOI

13.6

Cost

0.17 per kg

Notes

This matte recipe was developed from our high-dolomite recipe originally used to compare shipments of dolomite for consistency. In our standard firings, this recipe produces both good mattenss and a very functional surface coupled with a low chance of crazing on almost any body. This is not a reactive matte, it is intended for functional and durable surfaces. This is also adjustable, the degree of matteness can be controlled by blending in a glossy or cooling rate.

WARNING: The degree-of-matteness is very dependent on cooling rate in the kiln. Fast cooling (e.g. our PLC6DS firing schedule in a lightly-loaded or smaller kiln) produces a silky matte or even glossy surface. Slower cooling (e.g. a heavily loaded kiln or the C6DHSC schedule) may produce a matter surface than you need (which is more subject to cutlery marking). Control the degree of mattness by either adapt the firing curve or blending in some glossy G2926B (simply the slurries pouring together, volumetrically is a good way to determine the ratio needed).

This has a very low thermal expansion, meaning it won't craze on just about any clay body. However, on some, it could shiver or lead to glaze compression issues. Use G2934Y2 if this is a problem for you.

https://plainsmanclays.com/g2934 documents this recipe using a variety of stains.

Pictures

G2934 with Hemlock Green, Pansy Purle Stains

Cone 6 GBMF tests: 10 gram balls have been melted down onto a tile at cone 6.
Top: G2934 with normal flow.
Left: 8% 6213 Hemlock Green. Needs significant flux.
Right: 8% 6305 Violet stain. Flowing a little less, needs a little flux.

True mattes should still be matte if overfired

GBMF test to compare.
The G2934 is a high-MgO matte, it melts well and does not cutlery mark or stain easily. As evidence that it is a true matte, notice that it is still matte when fired to cone 7 or 8. VC71, while having a similar pleasant silky matte surface at cone 6, converts to a glossy if fired higher (suggesting that its cone 6 matteness is due to incomplete melting). For the same reason the VC71, it is whiter in color (but as soon as it begins to melt and have depth the color darkens).

G2934 + 5% Titanium thinner/thicker on M390

Incredible cone 6 speckle body with G2934 matte glazes

This clay, L4115J3S, a Plainsman 3D-based body, fires vitreous and dense, yet there is no hint of bloating. With these matte glazes very durable and functional pieces are produced.

Outside glaze on both is G2934W (adds 10% zircopax). In our C6DHSC firings this produces as matte a surface as is possible without having excessive staining problems. To add a little gloss we blend in 15% of the G2926B Glossy clear.

Inside glazes:
Left mug: L4423A (85:15 mix of G2934 matte/G2926B clear glossy). It does not contain any zircopax.
Right mug: G2926B ball milled glossy, producing a striking visual yet highly functional surface.

These mugs look as close to cone 10R dolomite-glazed ware as we have ever seen! Especially the L4423A recipe

Melt flow comparison: G2934 with Frit 3124, Frit F-19

Fusion Frit F-19 is giving a more fluid melt.

The difference cooling-rate makes

These are the G2934 black glaze at cone 6. The piece on the left was fired using the C6DHSC firing schedule (drop-and-hold at 2100F then 150F/hr to 1400F). The one on the right was fired using the PLC6DS schedule (drop-and-hold at 2100F then free-fall from there). The slow cool gives the glaze on the left time to crystallize, creating a stony matte.

G2934 Cone 6 Matte + 4% iron oxide

Left: PLC6DS firing
Right: C6DHSC firing

URLs

Prepared public do..om Plainsman Clays

Typecodes

C6-Cone 6 Glazes

Alternate Code Number:MG6CDM

XML (to paste into Insight)

<?xml version="1.0"?> <recipes version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"> <recipe name="Cone 6 Magnesia Matte Base" id="56852" key="Hij3iNup" date="2025-03-21" typecodes="C6" codenum="G2934" picturebasename=""> <recipelines> <recipeline material="Ferro Frit 3124" amount="19.400" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="EPK" amount="18.300" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Dolomite" amount="23.500" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Silica" amount="26.960" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Calcined Kaolin" amount="13.900" tolerance=""/> </recipelines> </recipe> </recipes>

Born: 2014-03-21, Modified: 2025-03-21 19:37:05