High-fired vitreous ware, literally as hard and durable as stone. Matures from 2200-2400° F. (cone 5–11).
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Sprung Arch
Kiln arch representing less than 180 degrees of curvature, and requiring buttressing to support outward thrust of the arch.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Sprigging Ceramics
Surface decorating technique in which small coils or balls of clay are affixed to the damp or leather-hard surface, usually with a layer of slip.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Spraying
Application of liquid slip, engobe, glaze, or stain, using mechanized spray equipment. Gives smooth glaze coating, but with less glaze pooling in recesses.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Spray Booth
Open-front enclosure with an exhaust fan at the rear, designed to draw off all overspray and other toxic dust or fumes.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Spodumene
Li2O×Al2O3×4SiO2—lithium feldspar—powerful high-temperature alkaline flux. Promotes copper blues—good for thermal-shock bodies and matching glaze. Toxic in inhalation.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Split
A specialized hardbrick, half the thickness of a standard brick.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Specific Gravity
The weight or density of a liquid measured in proportion to that of water. A glaze with a specific gravity of 1.2 is 1.2 times as dense as water per unit of measure.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Solvent
An agent that acts to accelerate the dissolution of a more resistant material. In glaze maturation, the flux-glass-former combination acts as a solvent on alumina.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Solution
A liquid mix where the components are fully dissolved (as in a water/soda ash solution for vapor-glazing), where materials will not settle out via gravity.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Softbrick
Insulating firebrick.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Soda Feldspar
Na2O×Al2O3×6SiO2—feldspars contributing sodium (and potassium), primarily as a high-temperature flux.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Soap
A specialized hard brick shape, half the width of a standard brick. Often used for posts in salt and wood firings.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Soaking
During firing or cooling ramp, the act of holding kiln at steady temperature for a period of time to allow proper formation or maturation of certain clay and glaze effects.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Slumping
Process of creating ceramic wares with a slump-mold. Firing defect where glassy-phase begins to dissolve sintered structure in clay, causing it to sag and deform.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Slump Mold
A typically shallow frame or mold into which a slab of clay is allowed to fall or settle in order to form a vessel. These can be frames with no bottom.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Slip Trailing
Application of decoration to wet or leather-hard clay by flowing on lines of slip with a fine pointed dispenser, such as a rubber syringe.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Slip Resist
Decorating technique where resist materials are applied to prevent slip from adhering to some areas.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Slip Glaze
A glaze with slip-clay or earthenware clay contributing the primary flux.
Source:
Clay: A Studio Handbook
Slip Clay
A naturally occurring clay that contains a high enough component of flux to form a glaze at high-fire temperatures.
High-fired vitreous ware, literally as hard and durable as stone. Matures from 2200-2400° F. (cone 5–11).
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Kiln arch representing less than 180 degrees of curvature, and requiring buttressing to support outward thrust of the arch.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Surface decorating technique in which small coils or balls of clay are affixed to the damp or leather-hard surface, usually with a layer of slip.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Application of liquid slip, engobe, glaze, or stain, using mechanized spray equipment. Gives smooth glaze coating, but with less glaze pooling in recesses.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Open-front enclosure with an exhaust fan at the rear, designed to draw off all overspray and other toxic dust or fumes.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Li2O×Al2O3×4SiO2—lithium feldspar—powerful high-temperature alkaline flux. Promotes copper blues—good for thermal-shock bodies and matching glaze. Toxic in inhalation.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
A specialized hardbrick, half the thickness of a standard brick.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
The weight or density of a liquid measured in proportion to that of water. A glaze with a specific gravity of 1.2 is 1.2 times as dense as water per unit of measure.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
An agent that acts to accelerate the dissolution of a more resistant material. In glaze maturation, the flux-glass-former combination acts as a solvent on alumina.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
A liquid mix where the components are fully dissolved (as in a water/soda ash solution for vapor-glazing), where materials will not settle out via gravity.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Insulating firebrick.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Na2O×Al2O3×6SiO2—feldspars contributing sodium (and potassium), primarily as a high-temperature flux.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
A specialized hard brick shape, half the width of a standard brick. Often used for posts in salt and wood firings.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
During firing or cooling ramp, the act of holding kiln at steady temperature for a period of time to allow proper formation or maturation of certain clay and glaze effects.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Process of creating ceramic wares with a slump-mold. Firing defect where glassy-phase begins to dissolve sintered structure in clay, causing it to sag and deform.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
A typically shallow frame or mold into which a slab of clay is allowed to fall or settle in order to form a vessel. These can be frames with no bottom.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Application of decoration to wet or leather-hard clay by flowing on lines of slip with a fine pointed dispenser, such as a rubber syringe.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
Decorating technique where resist materials are applied to prevent slip from adhering to some areas.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
A glaze with slip-clay or earthenware clay contributing the primary flux.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook
A naturally occurring clay that contains a high enough component of flux to form a glaze at high-fire temperatures.
Source: Clay: A Studio Handbook