Wollastonite Porcelain

This cone 6 porcelain uses a combination of Wollastonite and Feldspar to mature at lower temperatures. This decreases the flux content needed, creating more room that can be given to silica (for better glaze fit) and kaolin (for better workability).

The idea came from research by Turkmen et al. and was used to successfully mix a translucent cone 6 porcelain body.

Version 1

There is a well known hard paste porcelain formula for cone 10. It is 25% Feldspar, 25% Silica, and 50% Kaolin. I adapt this clay body by removing 5% feldspar and replacing it with 5% Wollastonite. According to Effect of wollastonite addition on sintering of hard porcelain by Turkmen et al., this should theoretically decrease the maturation temperature by 125 degrees celsius. This should take the firing temperature down from cone 10 (1285C) to cone 4 (1162C).

A sample was mixed without any bentonite or other additives. The clay body was mixed from dry ingredients into a slurry, dewatered on a plaster slab, and then shaped into test tiles the same day. The clay was not aged. The clay samples were bisque fired to cone 05 and then fired to cone 6 in reduction.

The samples are an attractive cool white, typical of glassy porcelains. The sample was slightly translucent where thin (approximately 3mm).

Version 2

Created 2024-07-22.

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