Electric Kiln Anatomy
The coils that heat up the inside of an electric kiln
What are elements?
The two different types of burners that are used to heat gas kilns
What are forced air and natural draft (venturi) burners?
This is the temperature that physical water is driven off during a bisque firing.
what is 220 degrees F. (100 degrees C)?
These are formulated to melt at specific tempuratures. We stick them into the kiln, and when they bend we know what temp the kiln is at.
What are pyrometric cones?
This is the cone tempurature we glaze fire to in this class
what is cone 04?
This device is a high tempurature thermometer that measures the tempurature of a kiln
What is a pyrometer?
This is located in the chimney and is used to control secondary airflow into the kiln.
What is a damper?
The tempurature range that chemical water is driven off during the bisque firing.
A mixture of alumina and kaolin that we paint onto kiln shelves to keep things from sticking during the firing.
What is kiln wash?
the type of clay we use in this class
What is earthenware?
Sticks inside of the kiln, and senses the tempurature. (attached to the pyrometer).
Hint: We have to be careful not to bump these when loading the kiln!
What is a Thermocouple?
The opening between the ware chamber and the chimney in a gas kiln.
What is a flue?
The tempurature Quartz Inversion occurs (we care about this temp because its when dunting can occur during a firing).
What is 1063 degrees F. (573 degrees C)?
these are made of a refractory material called cordiorite and we stack them into the kiln. They're expensive and breakable!
What are Kiln shelves?
a very fine slip that means "sealed earth". It is painted on greenware, and has a satiny finish.
What is terra sigilata?
This refractory material lines the inside of an electric kiln and acts as an insulator
What is soft brick?
One of the benifits of a gas kiln is that it can be fired in this reduced oxygen state
what is reduction?
oxidation of impurities: (mostly carbon and sulphur) burn out of the clay at this tempurature range.
What is 1292- 1652 degrees F (cone 018-09)?
The kiln needs to be below this tempurature in order to open and unload.
what is 500 degrees F?
The three components that make up a clay body.
The material that kiln elements are made of.
What is Nichrome?
tempurature of partial vitrification. (Vitrification is when clay starts to become glasslike aka ceramic).
1472 degrees F (800 degrees C, cone 015)
The defining characteristics of glaze
What are tempurature range, viscosity, shiny v matte, transparency, and color?