These two frits have one difference in the chemistry: Al2O3.


Thursday 7th August 2014

These two insight-live.com/glossary/129">boron frits (Ferro 3124 left, 3134 right) have almost the same chemistry. But there is one difference: The one on the right has no Al2O3, the one on the left has 10%. Alumina plays an important role (as an oxide that builds the glass) in stiffening the melt, giving it body and lowering its thermal expansion, you can see that in the way these flow when melting at 1800F. The frit on the right is invaluable where the glaze needs clay to suspend it (because the clay can supply the Al2O3). The frit on the left is better when the glaze already has plenty of clay, so it supplies the Al2O3. Of course, you need to be able to do the chemistry to figure out how to substitute these for each other because it involves changing the silica and kaolin amounts in the recipe also.

Pages that reference this post in the Digitalfire Reference Library:

Al2O3, B2O3, What Determines a Glaze's Firing Temperature?, Ferro Frit 3124, Ferro Frit 3134, Glaze Chemistry


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