Material Matters

Linda Swanson is an artist whose interests are grounded in the metamorphic nature of ceramic materials and processes. Her works have been exhibited around the United States, Canada and Europe with recent exhibitions in Paris, Bucharest, Chicago and Milwaukee.Linda Bloomfield trained as a materials scientist before fulfilling her dream of becoming a potter. She has made thrown porcelain tableware in her West London studio since 2003 and sold her ranges to retailers such as Liberty and Harrods.

A gem for a chemically inclined potter, a geologist or a glaze nerd. Packed full of info, formulae, recipes, molecular weights, graphs, firing guidance and some incredible illustrations, this is a one off reference bible.

• Introduction Chapter 1: Geology and the origins of clay Rocks, Clay minerals, Residual and sedimentary clay, Sedimentary and metamorphic processes, Rocks and chemistry, Collecting natural materials Chapter 2: Clay Understanding clay, Kaolin, Ball clay, Stoneware clay, Fire clay, Earthenware clay, Bentonite, Additional terms for clay Chapter 3: Clay bodies Clay in clay bodies, Flux in clay bodies, Glass former in clay bodies, Filler in clay bodies, Colour, Clay body types, Clay body applications, Testing, faults and remedies, Glaze fit and thermal expansion Chapter 4: Clay as liquid Slip, Deflocculation, Terra sigillata, Casting slip, Slip density, Slip - engobe, Local clay, Egyptian paste and solubility Chapter 5: Glaze Clay versus glaze, Glaze oxides, Alumina, Silica, Boron, Phosphorus, Sodium, Potassium, Lithium, Calcium, Magnesium, Barium, Strontium, Zinc, Lead Chapter 6: Glaze materials Materials and the oxides they supply, Using local and recycled materials Chapter 7: Glaze chemistry and calculation Composition of a glaze, Unity molecular formula Chapter 8: Colourants and opacifiers Colourants and their effects, carbonates, oxides and sulphates, Opacifiers, Stains Chapter 9: Firing Important stages during firing, Measuring temperature and heat work, Oxidation and reduction, Wood firing, soda firing, Adjusting firing temperature, Glaze faults, Special effect glazes Chapter 10: Health and Safety Soluble materials, Toxic materials, Studio practice, Firing safely Conclusion ReferencesResources on sustainability GlossaryAppendices Periodic Table, Natural Sources of Ceramic Materials, Directions for processing local clay, and moreIndexAcknowledgements