6% rutile is too much in this cone 6 oxidation glaze

Wednesday 9th June 2010

insight-live.com/material/1204">Rutile variegates glaze surfaces. But it also opacifies at higher percentages. The blue effect is a product of crystallization that occurs during cooling, it is thus dependent on a slower cooling cycle, especially above 1400F. This is GA6-C Alberta Slip glaze with 4, 5 and 6% rutile. At 6% the rutile crystallization has advanced to the point of completely opacifying the glaze. At 5% the blue is still strong, even on a buff burning body. The loss of color occurs suddenly, somewhere between 5 and 6 percent. Rutile chemistry varies from batch to batch. The blue develops differently on different bodies. So do you want to play "at the edge", with 5% in the glaze, in view of these other factors and the finicky firing curve needed. Change in any of which could push it into the blueless zone?

Pages that reference this post in the Digitalfire Reference Library:

Ceramic Rutile, Cone 6 rutile floating blue effect lost. Then regained., Cone 6 Drop-and-Soak Firing Schedule, Rutile Blue Glazes

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